Midrash su Deuteronomio 20:2

MISHNAH: The priest anointed [as chaplain of the army] when he spoke to the people, he did so in the Hebrew language, as it is said (Deut. 20, 2) And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people in the Hebrew language. And he shall say unto them, 'Hear, O Israel,' etc., against your enemies, but not against your brethren, neither Juda against Simon, nor Simon against Benjamin. In such a case if one would fall in the hand of the other, then he would have mercy upon you, as it is said (II Chr. 28, 15) Then arose the men who have been expressed by name, took the captives, and with the psoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them., and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon the ashes, etc., but you are going against your enemies who, if you will fall in their hands will have no mercy upon you. (Deut. 20, 3) Let not your heart be faint, fear not and be not down-cast, and do not tremble because of them; i.e., let not your heart be faint because of the neighing of the war horse, nor of the brandishing of the enemies' swords; fear not, because of the noise of the shields, nor of the immense armies; do not tremble, because of the noises of the hornets, and do not tremble at the shouting voices. For it is God who goeth with you; i.e., they (your enemies) come relying on the strength of frail man, but ye are coming relying upon the strength of Heaven. The Philistines came relying upon Goliath and what was the result? He fell under the sword and they (his followers) fell with him. The children of Amnion relied on the strength of Shovach,' and the result was that he fell under the sword, and his people fell with him: but ye-ye are not so, for the Lord your God who goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to help you. This refers to the Holy Ark.

And when you approach the battle, the priest shall come forward and address the people (Deuteronomy 20:2): And so [too] does it state (Deuteronomy 21:5) "The priests, the Sons of Levi, shall come forward." And [regarding] anyone who serves the king, when the king makes a decree, he carries out his decree. And the Levites serve the Holy One, blessed be He, and carry out His decrees. "Be strong and resolute, be not in fear or in dread in front of them" (Deuteronomy 31:6). And why? "For the Lord your God Himself marches with you; He will not fail you or forsake you." He does not leave you, and He goes forth in front of you and makes war. And so Deborah says to Barak, "Rise, this is the day on which the Lord will deliver Sisera into your hands; is not the Lord going forth before you" (Judges 4:14). But Barak said to her (Judges 4:8), "If you go with me, I shall go." [So] she said to him, "Do you need me, 'is not the Lord going forth before you?'" [In the case of] a king of flesh and blood, his servants and his troops go forth to war and he is behind them. But the Holy One, blessed be He, is not like this, but rather He is first. And so is it written with David (II Samuel 5:23-24), "Do not go up, etc. but confront them at the baca trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baca trees, then go into action." As they are full of thorns. And why did the Holy One, blessed be He, reveal himself from the tops of the baca trees? Because Israel was in distress. Rabbi Berakhia said, "This is that which is stated, 'I am with him in distress'" (Psalms 91:15). "For the Lord will be going in front of you to attack within the Philistine camp." Hence, "For the Lord your God Himself marches with you." And in the world to come, "Then the Lord will come forth and make war on those nations as He is wont to make war on a day of battle" (Zechariah 14:3). So did Rabbi Tanchuma bar Abba expound.

(Devarim 20:2) "And it shall be, when you draw near to the battle": I might think that this refers to the day of the joining of the battle; but (Ibid. 3) "And he shall say to them: Hear, O Israel, you are drawing near today to do battle with your foes" already refers to the day of the battle. How, then, am I to understand "And it shall be, when you draw near to the battle"? When they approach the boundary, the Cohein presents to them all of the conditions that follow.