Deuteronomy 20:2

When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army,

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The priest addresses the Israelite army at the moment they are about to engage an opposing force.

The words — The Hebrew כְּקָרַבְכֶם אֶל־הַמִּלְחָמָה (ke./ka.ra.ve./Khem 'el- ha./mil.cha.Mah) literally translates to "when you draw near to the battle." This phrase marks the exact trigger for the priest's required action.

The thread — The priestly role in battle preparation appears in Numbers 10:8 and Numbers 31:6, where Aaronic priests sound trumpets or accompany troops, and in 2 Chronicles 13:12, where priests sound trumpets as God fights alongside Israel.

Why it lands — The text requires the army to recognize divine presence before combat, shifting focus from enemy numbers to God's accompanying power.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְהָיָ֕הve./ha.Yahand/ it will be כְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖םke./ka.ra.ve./Khemwhen/ draw near/ you אֶל־'el-to הַמִּלְחָמָ֑הha./mil.cha.Mahthe/ battle וְנִגַּ֥שׁve./ni.Gashand/ he will come near הַכֹּהֵ֖ןha./ko.Henthe/ priest וְדִבֶּ֥רve./di.Berand/ he will speak אֶל־'el-to הָעָֽם׃ha./'Amthe/ people

King James Version

And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 13:12 Now behold, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with their trumpets sound the battle call against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”
Numbers 10:8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. This shall be a permanent statute for you and the generations to come.
Numbers 31:6 And Moses sent the thousand from each tribe into battle, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who took with him the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.
Judges 20:27 And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,
1 Samuel 14:18 Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)
1 Samuel 30:7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,