The two men between whom the dispute lay, the accused and the witness, were to come before Jehovah, viz., before the priests and judges who should be in those days - namely, at the place of the sanctuary, where Jehovah dwelt among His people (cf. Deuteronomy 17:9), and not before the local courts, as Knobel supposes. These judges were to investigate the case most thoroughly (cf. Deuteronomy 13:15); and if the witness had spoken lies, they were to do to him as he thought to do to his brother. The words from "behold" to "his brother" are parenthetical circumstantial clauses: "And, behold, is the witness a false witness, has he spoken a lie against his brother? Ye shall do," etc. זמם, generally to meditate evil. On Deuteronomy 19:20, see Deuteronomy 13:12.

Deuteronomy 20:4 Parallel Commentaries

to fight

Deuteronomy 1:30 The LORD your God which goes before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;

Deuteronomy 3:22 You shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.

Deuteronomy 11:25 There shall no man be able to stand before you...

Deuteronomy 32:30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

Exodus 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

Joshua 10:42 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.

Joshua 23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fights for you, as he has promised you.

2 Chronicles 13:12 And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you...

2 Chronicles 32:7,8 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him...

Psalm 144:1,2 Blessed be the LORD my strength which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight...

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.