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. Yahveh 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 Yahveh 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 Yahveh 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 Yahveh’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 Yahveh 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 Only what aren’t fruit trees can you cut down to build siege works.

Deut 20:10-20