Deuteronomy 20

King James Version

Full text for Deuteronomy Chapter 20

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.

2And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,

3And 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;

4For the LORD your God [is] he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

5And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man [is there] that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

6And what man [is he] that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not [yet] eaten of it? let him [also] go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.

7And what man [is there] that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.

8And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man [is there that is] fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.

9And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.

10¶ When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

11And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, [that] all the people [that is] found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

12And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:

13And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

14But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, [even] all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

15Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities [which are] very far off from thee, which [are] not of the cities of these nations.

16But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee [for] an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

17But thou shalt utterly destroy them; [namely], the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

18That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

19When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field [is] man's [life]) to employ [them] in the siege:

20Only the trees which thou knowest that they [be] not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Deuteronomy 20 outlines the laws of warfare for Israel, emphasizing divine assurance in battle and specific exemptions for those who have recently built a house, planted a vineyard, betrothed a wife, or are fainthearted. It distinguishes between engaging distant cities, where peace may be offered, and the cities of the Canaanite nations, which are to be utterly destroyed. The chapter also includes a command to preserve fruit trees during a siege.

Medium Summary

When Israel goes to war, they are commanded not to fear, for the LORD their God is with them and will fight for them. Before battle, a priest is to encourage the people, reminding them of God's presence. Officers then declare specific exemptions, allowing men who have not dedicated a new house, eaten from a new vineyard, or taken a betrothed wife to return home, along with those who are fearful. When approaching a distant city, Israel is to offer terms of peace; if accepted, the inhabitants become tributaries, but if rejected, all males are to be slain. However, for the cities of the Canaanite nations, a complete destruction of all living beings is commanded to prevent the adoption of their abominations. Lastly, during a siege, fruit trees are to be preserved and not cut down, while non-fruit bearing trees may be used for siege works.

Long Summary

Deuteronomy 20 provides detailed instructions for Israel concerning warfare. It begins by assuring the people that they should not fear their enemies, even if outnumbered, because the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt, is with them and will fight for them. Before battle, a priest is to address the army, strengthening their resolve and reiterating God's commitment to save them. Following the priest, officers are to proclaim specific exemptions from military service: any man who has built a new house but not dedicated it, planted a vineyard but not yet eaten of its fruit, or betrothed a wife but not yet taken her, is permitted to return home to prevent another from enjoying his labors should he die in battle. Additionally, any man who is fearful or fainthearted is also to return home, lest his fear spread among his brethren. After these exemptions, captains are appointed to lead the people. The chapter then differentiates between two types of cities to be conquered. For cities far off, not belonging to the immediate Canaanite nations, Israel is commanded to first proclaim peace. If the city accepts, its inhabitants become tributaries and servants. If it refuses and makes war, then upon its capture, all males are to be killed, but the women, children, cattle, and spoil may be taken. In stark contrast, for the cities of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—the nations given to Israel as an inheritance—the command is to utterly destroy every living thing. This severe command is given to prevent these nations from teaching Israel their abominable practices and idolatry, which would lead Israel to sin against the LORD. Finally, the chapter includes a specific environmental law for sieges: fruit trees are not to be cut down during a long siege, as they provide food, but non-fruit bearing trees may be felled and used for building bulwarks against the city until it is subdued.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Assurance in BattleIsrael is commanded not to fear their enemies, regardless of numerical superiority, because the LORD their God is with them and will fight on their behalf to save them.
  • Exemptions from Military ServiceSpecific individuals are permitted to return home before battle, including those who have not dedicated a new house, eaten from a new vineyard, taken a betrothed wife, or are fainthearted.
  • Laws for Distant CitiesWhen engaging cities far from Israel, an offer of peace must first be extended; if accepted, the inhabitants become tributaries, but if rejected, only the males are to be slain upon conquest.
  • Laws for Canaanite NationsFor the cities of the seven specified Canaanite nations, the command is to utterly destroy every living thing, saving nothing that breathes.
  • Rationale for Utter DestructionThe complete destruction of the Canaanite nations is commanded to prevent Israel from learning and adopting their abominable idolatrous practices, which would lead them to sin against God.
  • Preservation of Fruit TreesDuring a siege, Israel is forbidden from destroying fruit trees, as they provide food, but trees not bearing fruit may be cut down for building siege works.