Deuteronomy 20:1-20

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• Regulations for war.

• Remember that it is God who fights for you. This must influence how you prepare for (and fight) war.

Details and/or Comments

• You do not need a huge army (since it is God who will do the fighting), so anyone who has reason can leave the army.

• FOR DISTANT CITIES - Offer them peace first (and they can serve you); otherwise, destroy all males. (The rest is for your.)

• FOR CITIES IN CANAAN - These must be totally destroyed, or their influence will destroy you.

• Do not destroy the fruit trees in war; use the lumber trees as necessary.

Scripture

Deuteronomy 20:1-20 – Regulations for battle

• Since it is actually God who is doing the fighting (this assumes that the people are trusting him), things are a lot different from when those who trust in themselves go to war!

• See: War and Peace, Victory and Defeat.

• Environment-related verses come at the end of the passage.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Deu 20:1 When you go forth to battle against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, and a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Deu 20:2 It shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people, Deu 20:3 and shall tell them, Hear, Israel, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies: don't let your heart faint; don't be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them; Deu 20:4 for Yahweh your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.	Don't be afraid of the enemy, because it will actually be God who is fighting for you. Trust in Humans, Resources and Abilities - what not to do. The Need to Trust God God Fights for His People
Deu 20:5 The officers shall speak to the people, saying, What man is there who has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. Deu 20:6 What man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not used its fruit? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use its fruit. Deu 20:7 What man is there who has pledged to be married a wife, and has not taken her? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. Deu 20:8 The officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return to his house, lest his brother's heart melt as his heart.	This being the case, let anyone who has reason to go home do so!
Deu 20:9 It shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking to the people, that they shall appoint captains of armies at the head of the people.	Then organize the rest for the battle.
Deu 20:10 When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it. Deu 20:11 It shall be, if it makes you answer of peace, and opens to you, then it shall be, that all the people who are found therein shall become tributary to you, and shall serve you.	First offer peace to the enemy... if they surrender, they can serve you, pay tribute, etc.
Deu 20:12 If it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall besiege it: Deu 20:13 and when Yahweh your God delivers it into your hand, you shall strike every male of it with the edge of the sword: Deu 20:14 but the women, and the little ones, and the livestock, and all that is in the city, even all its spoil, you shall take for a prey to yourself; and you shall eat the spoil of your enemies, which Yahweh your God has given you. Deu 20:15 Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.	If they refuse to surrender, attack and destroy all the males. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THOSE LIVING IN CANAAN
Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these peoples, that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes; Deu 20:17 but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Yahweh your God has commanded you; Deu 20:18 that they not teach you to do after all their abominations, which they have done to their gods; so would you sin against Yahweh your God.	Those living in Canaan must be TOTALLY destroyed, or they will teach you their abominable ways. The Influence of Wicked People on Others Destruction of Wicked Nations
Deu 20:19 When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them; for you may eat of them, and you shall not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of you? Deu 20:20 Only the trees of which you know that they are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down; and you shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you, until it fall.	When at war, don't destroy the fruit trees! But you can use the lumber trees, if necessary. Plant Life

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—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.