וְדִבְּר֣וּ הַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֮ אֶל־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹר֒ מִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנָ֤ה בַֽיִת־חָדָשׁ֙ וְלֹ֣א חֲנָכ֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יַחְנְכֶֽנּוּ׃
At magsasalita ang mga opisyal sa bayan, na nagsasabi: “Sino ang lalaking nagtayo ng bagong bahay at hindi pa ito napapasinayaan? Umalis siya at bumalik sa kanyang bahay, baka siya mamatay sa digmaan at ibang lalaki ang magpasinaya rito.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Fol. 44) Our Rabbis were taught (Deut. 20, 5) Who has built a new house… . who has planted a vineyard… that hath betrothed a wife. Here the Torah teaches a lesson in manners, one should build a house, first, then plant a vineyard and then marry a wife. Also Solomon in his wisdom said (Pr. 24, 27) Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself, and afterwards build thy house; i.e., prepare without thy work, refers to a house; and make it fit in the field for thyself, refers to a vineyard; and afterwards build thy house, refers to marrying a woman. In another way this may be explained, prepare without thy work, refers to the reading of Scripture; and make it fit in the field for thyself, refers to the reading of Scripture and the studying of Mishnah; and make it fit in the field for thyself, refers to the discussion of the Talmud; and afterwards build thy house, refers to meritorious deeds. R. Elazar the son of R. Josi, the Galilean says: "Prepare without thy work, refers to the reading of Scripture, the studying of the Mishnah and the discussing of the Talmud; And make it fit in the field for thyself, refers to meritorious deeds; and afterwards build thy house, means that he should explain it to others and be rewarded for it."
Sifrei Devarim
(Devarim 20:3) "And he shall say to them "Hear, O Israel, who is the man that is fearful and faint-hearted...and the officers shall continue": Why was all this stated? So the cities of Israel should not be desolate. As Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai has said: Come and see how G-d cares for human dignity.When one [soldier] returns, the others would say "maybe he has just built a house" or "maybe he has betrothed a woman". All had to bring proof besides the fearful one whose situation was evident. He heard shields clashing and was scared, blaring trumpets and was shaken, he sees swords being wielded and loses control of his bodily functions.
Sifrei Devarim
Thus far the Cohein anointed for war speaks; from this point on, the officers. I might think (that they speak) their own words, but (8) "Then the officer shall speak further" already speaks of their own words. How, then, are we to understand "Then the officers shall speak"? As referring to the words of the Cohein appointed for war. How so? The Cohein spoke and an officer relayed what he said.