Old Testament · Law
Deuteronomy chapter 20
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When you go out to war against your enemies and see , and an army bigger than yours, don’t be afraid of them—because your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, is with you.When you’re about to go into battle, the will step forward and address the troops.He’ll say to them: ‘Listen up, Israel! You’re about to go into battle against your enemies today. of them.’‘Because Yahweh your God is the one , fighting for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’Then the will address the troops: ‘Has anyone here built a new house but hasn’t it yet? Go home—so you don’t die in battle and someone else dedicates it.’‘Has anyone planted a vineyard but hasn’t yet ? Go home—so you don’t die in battle and someone else enjoys it.’‘Has anyone to a woman but hasn’t married her yet? Go home—so you don’t die in battle and someone else marries her.’The officers will also say: ‘Is anyone here afraid or ? Go home—so the rest of the troops don’t lose courage too.’When the officers finish addressing the troops, they’ll appoint to lead them.When you approach a city to attack it, first offer them .If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, then everyone inside will become your and serve you.But if they refuse your offer of peace and choose to fight you, then lay siege to the city.When Yahweh your God hands it over to you, strike down every male with the sword.But the women, children, livestock, and everything else in the city—all the —you may take for yourselves. You may use what Yahweh your God gives you from your enemies.This is how you’ll deal with all the cities that are far from you—the ones that don’t belong to the peoples here in this land.But in the cities of the peoples that Yahweh your God is giving you as an , .You must them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—just as Yahweh your God commanded you.This is so they won’t teach you to imitate all the they do for their gods—which would make you Yahweh your God.When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting to capture it, by taking an axe to them. You can eat their fruit, so don’t cut them down. Only trees you know don’t produce food—those you may destroy and cut down. Use them to build against the city that’s fighting you, until it falls.