Deuteronomy 20:5

Officers. The same word here translated “officers” is found in Ex. 5:6, 10, 14, 15, 19; Num. 11:16; Deut. 1:15; 16:18; Joshua 1:10; etc., and as “overseer” in Prov. 6:7. These men were civil magistrates, for the army of Israel was not a body of professional soldiers.

Dedicated. The verb thus translated is used of the dedication of an altar (Num. 7:10) and of the sanctuary (1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chron. 7:5), but here of a private house.

Not yet eaten. The owner could not lawfully eat the fruit of the vineyard for the first three years after planting (Lev. 19:23; etc.). In the fourth year he was to carry the fruit to Jerusalem and eat it there as a thank offering (Lev. 19:24). But from the fifth year, inclusive, the fruit was his (Lev. 19:25).

Betrothed a wife. This exemption was an act of consideration so that the man might not die without having children to perpetuate his name and interests. This exemption lasted one year (ch. 24:5). The three exemptions noted in vs. 5-7 could not fail to have a beneficial effect on the economy of the nation. They were an important alleviation of the insecurity and utterly disturbing effects of war upon the entire life of a people.