Deuteronomy20

English Standard Version

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¹When you to your , and and and an your own, you shall be of them, the Lord your is you, who brought you out of the of .

²And when you draw to the , the shall and to the

³and shall to them, , O , you are for your : let your . Do be in ,

⁴ the Lord your is he who you to for you your , to give you the .

⁵Then the shall to the , , any has a and has it? Let him to his , he in the and it.

⁶And is any has a and has enjoyed its ? Let him to his , he in the and enjoy its .

⁷And is any has a and has her? Let him to his , he in the and her.

⁸And the shall to the , and , any is and ? Let him to his , he the of his like his .

⁹And when the have to the , then shall be at the of the .

¹⁰When you draw to a to against , terms of to it.

¹¹And it to you and it to you, then the who are in it shall do for you and shall you.

¹²But it makes you, but you, then you shall it.

¹³And when the Lord your it into your , you shall its to the ,

¹⁴ the and the , the , and in the , its , you shall take as for yourselves. And you shall the of your , the Lord your has you.

¹⁵ you shall to the that are from you, are of the .

¹⁶ in the of the Lord your is you for an , you shall save that ,

¹⁷ you shall to complete , the and the , the and the , the and the , the Lord your has ,

¹⁸ they may you to according to their they have for their , and so you against the Lord your .

¹⁹When you a for a , against in order to it, you shall its by an them. You may them, but you shall . the in the , that they should be by you?

²⁰ the you are for you may and , that you may the that you, until it .

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 20.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Exhortation and proclamation respecting those who went to war. (1–9). Peace to be offered, What cities were to be devoted. (10–20).

vv1-9

In the wars wherein Israel engaged according to the will of God, they might expect the Divine assistance. The Lord was to be their only confidence. In these respects they were types of the Christian's warfare. Those unwilling to fight, must be sent away. The unwillingness might arise from a man's outward condition. God would not be served by men forced against their will. Thy people shall be willing, Ps 110:3. In running the Christian race, and fighting the good fight of faith, we must lay aside all that would make us unwilling. If a man's unwillingness rose from weakness and fear, he had leave to return from the war. The reason here given is, lest his brethren's heart fail as well as his heart. We must take heed that we fear not with the fear of them that are afraid, Isa 8:12.

vv10-12

The Israelites are here directed about the nations on whom they made war. Let this show God's grace in dealing with sinners. He proclaims peace, and beseeches them to be reconciled. Let it also show us our duty in dealing with our brethren. Whoever are for war, we must be for peace. Of the cities given to Israel, none of their inhabitants must be left. Since it could not be expected that they should be cured of their idolatry, they would hurt Israel. These regulations are not the rules of our conduct, but Christ's law of love. The horrors of war must fill the feeling heart with anguish upon every recollection; and are proofs of the wickedness of man, the power of Satan, and the just vengeance of God, who thus scourges a guilty world. But how dreadful their case who are engaged in unequal conflict with their Maker, who will not submit to render him the easy tribute of worship and praise! Certain ruin awaits them. Let neither the number nor the power of the enemies of our souls dismay us; nor let even our own weakness cause us to tremble or to faint. The Lord will save us; but in this war let none engage whose hearts are fond of the world, or afraid of the cross and the conflict. Care is here taken that in besieging cities the fruit-trees should not be destroyed. God is a better friend to man than he is to himself; and God's law consults our interests and comforts; while our own appetites and passions, which we indulge, are enemies to our welfare. Many of the Divine precepts restrain us from destroying that which is for our life and food. The Jews understand this as forbidding all wilful waste upon any account whatsoever. Every creature of God is good; as nothing is to be refused, so nothing is to be abused. We may live to want what we carelessly waste.

Key Words

go outH3318Hebrew

יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.

warH4421Hebrew

מִלְחָמָה: a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare)

againstH5921Hebrew

עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

enemiesH341Hebrew

אֹיֵב: hating; an adversary

seeH7200Hebrew

רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

horsesH5483Hebrew

סוּס: a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight)

chariotsH7393Hebrew

רֶכֶב: a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the upper millstone

armyH5971Hebrew

עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

largerH7227Hebrew

רַב: abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

thanH4480Hebrew

מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

Cross References

Deuteronomy 20

v1Psalms 20:7thematic

Direct contrast between trusting in worldly horses and chariots versus trusting in the Lord's name.

Supported by John Calvin

v2Numbers 10:9thematic

Establishes the duty of the priests to blow trumpets and minister before battle.