Commentary on Harmony of the Law Volume 1 Complete John Calvin (continued)
JOHN CALVIN
1. When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
1. Quum egressus fueris ad praelium contra hostes tuos ac videris equitatum, currus, et populum majorem te, non metues ab illis: quia Jehova Dens tuus tecum est, qui te eduxit e terra AEgypti.
2. And it shall be, when ye are come nigh untothe battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
2. Et quum occurreritis ad praelium, accedet sacerdos ad populum,
3. And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel; ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint; fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;
3. Ac dicet illis, Audi Israel, vos occurretis hodie ad praeliandum cum hostibus vestris: ne mollescat cor vestrum, neque timeatis, neque terreamini, neque paveatis a facie eorum:
4. For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
4. Quoniam Jehova Deus vester incredit vobiscum ad praeliandum pro vobis contra hostes vestros, et ad servandum vos.
1 When thou goest out to battle. This law also, which concerns their political government, is a Supplement to the First Commandment, enacting that they should carry on their wars under the auspices of God, and, trusting in His help, should follow Him as their leader. For it behoved them to give this proof of their piety, so as to look to God not less in war than in peace, and not to rest their hopes of safety on anything but the invocation of His name. Whence we gather that the worship of God should be by no means passed over in civil and earthly government; for, although its direct object is to preserve mutual equity between men, yet religion always ought to hold the first, place. The sum, therefore, is that, amidst the very clang of arms, they must not be in such confusion as not to recognize that they are under the guardianship of God, or to lose the confidence they will be safe in reliance on His power. He does not, however, encourage them rashly to engage in war, but takes it for granted that there is a legitimate cause for it; because this would be a gross abuse of God's name, to seek a prosperous issue from Him,