Deuteronomy 20:10-15

(3) TREATMENT OF CITIES IN FAR-OFF NATIONS (Deuteronomy 20:10-15)

10 When thou drawest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. 11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that are found therein shall become tributary unto thee, and shall serve thee. 12 And if it will make not peace with thee, then thou shalt besiege it: 13 and then Jehovah thy God delivereth it into thy hand, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: 14 but the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take for a prey unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which Jehovah thy God hath given thee. 15 Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 20:10-15

337.

For what particular cities were there instructions given? Why the difference in treatment of enemies?

338.

Does this scripture sanction slavery?

339.

Read Numbers 15:15-16 for further information concerning this section.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 20:10-15

10 When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it.
11 And if that city makes an answer of peace to you and opens to you, then all the people found in it shall be tributary to you and they shall serve you.
12 But if it refuses to make peace with you and fights against you, then you shall besiege it;
13 And when the Lord your God has given it into your hands, you shall smite every male there with the edge of the sword.
14 But the women, the little ones, the beasts, and all that is in the city, all the spoil in it, you shall take for yourselves, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies which the Lord your God has given you.
15 So shall you treat all the cities which are very far off from you, that do not belong to the cities of these nations.

COMMENT 20:10-15

PROCLAIM PEACE UNTO IT (Deuteronomy 20:10)They were to attempt peace negotiations on the terms specified.

SHALL BECOME TRIBUTARY (Deuteronomy 20:11)The Hebrew word mas Baumgartner defines as forced labourers. forced services, task word, and here specifically, be forced to taskwork. Thus the added phrase and shall serve thee.

THOU SHALT SMITE EVERY MALE (Deuteronomy 20:13)The rest of the people could be spared, and taken captive. Those children or women who settled in Israel, however, when then subject to Israel's law (Numbers 15:15-16).

The law towards those people living in the area of Israel's promised land, however, was far different. See below.