Deuteronomy 20:9
And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֛ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֛ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 11
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כְּכַלֹּ֥ת
have made an end
H3615
כְּכַלֹּ֥ת
have made an end
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
2 of 11
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
הַשֹּֽׁטְרִ֖ים
And it shall be when the officers
H7860
הַשֹּֽׁטְרִ֖ים
And it shall be when the officers
Strong's:
H7860
Word #:
3 of 11
properly, a scribe, i.e., (by analogy or implication) an official superintendent or magistrate
לְדַבֵּ֣ר
of speaking
H1696
לְדַבֵּ֣ר
of speaking
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
4 of 11
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
הָעָֽם׃
the people
H5971
הָעָֽם׃
the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
6 of 11
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וּפָֽקְד֛וּ
that they shall make
H6485
וּפָֽקְד֛וּ
that they shall make
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
7 of 11
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
צְבָא֖וֹת
of the armies
H6635
צְבָא֖וֹת
of the armies
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
9 of 11
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern armies often conscripted entire populations, resulting in undertrained masses. Israel's selective system (dismissing specific categories) produced disciplined troops trusting God's deliverance. This strategy distinguished holy war (YHWH fights for Israel) from mere human conquest.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'distractions' (new ventures, unfinished business, divided loyalties) disqualify you from focused spiritual warfare?
- How does God's preference for quality (committed few) over quantity (anxious many) encourage you when you feel outnumbered?
- In what spiritual battles are you 'entangled with affairs of this life' rather than fighting with undivided focus?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people—After dismissing the fearful and distracted (vv. 5-8), leaders appoint sarei tseva'ot (שָׂרֵי צְבָאוֹת, 'army commanders'). This sequence prioritizes quality over quantity: a small, committed force exceeds a large, anxious mob. Gideon exemplified this—God reduced 32,000 to 300 (Judges 7:2-7), proving the battle is the LORD's (1 Samuel 17:47).
Spiritual warfare operates identically: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:4). God seeks wholehearted warriors, not halfhearted crowds. Paul commands Timothy: Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life (2 Timothy 2:3-4). The dismissed soldiers weren't cowards but distracted—equally disqualified. Effective spiritual warfare requires focused devotion.