Deuteronomy Chapter 20
Going to War
1 “When you go to battle and see horses, chariots, and people more numerous than you, don’t be afraid. The LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, is with you. 2 When you’re getting ready for battle, the priests will come to remind you, 3 ‘Don’t be fainthearted, Israel. Don’t panic or tremble. 4 The LORD is with you to fight for you and save you.’ 5 The officers will also say,
‘Who has built a house and not dedicated it? He can go home so he won’t die in battle and somebody else dedicate it.
6 Who has planted a vineyard and not used its fruit? He can go home so he won’t die in battle and somebody else use it.
7 Who is engaged to a woman and not married her? He can go home so he won’t die in battle and somebody else marry her.
8 Who’s afraid? He can go home so he won’t make his companions’ hearts melt like his.’
9 When the officers have finished speaking, they’ll appoint commanders to lead the people.
Deut 20:1-9
10“When you approach a city beyond your promised territory, offer it terms of peace. 11 If it makes peace, its people will serve you as forced laborers. 12 But, if it doesn’t make peace with you, besiege it. 13 When the LORD gives it to you, strike the men with the sword. 14 Only the women, children, animals, and everything in the city take as spoil and use. 15 Do that to all distant towns. 16 In towns the LORD’s giving you as an inheritance, don’t leave anything that breathes. 17 Destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 18 That way they won’t teach you the disgusting things they do for their gods, so you won’t sin against the LORD your God.
19 “When you besiege a city, don’t cut down its fruit trees. You can eat from them later. Is a tree a person, that you should besiege it? 20 You can only cut down what are not fruit trees to build siege works.
Deut 20:10-20