20Deuteronomy 20

1When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.Select Deuteronomy 20:1

2It shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people,Select Deuteronomy 20:2

3and shall tell them, “Hear, Israel, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies. Don’t let your heart faint! Don’t be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them;Select Deuteronomy 20:3

4for Yahweh your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”Select Deuteronomy 20:4

5The officers shall speak to the people, saying, “What man is there who has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.Select Deuteronomy 20:5

6What man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not used its fruit? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use its fruit.Select Deuteronomy 20:6

7What man is there who has pledged to be married a wife, and has not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.”Select Deuteronomy 20:7

8The officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, “What man is there who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest his brother’s heart melt as his heart.”Select Deuteronomy 20:8

9It shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall appoint captains of armies at the head of the people.Select Deuteronomy 20:9

10When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it.Select Deuteronomy 20:10

11It shall be, if it makes you answer of peace, and opens to you, then it shall be, that all the people who are found therein shall become forced laborers to you, and shall serve you.Select Deuteronomy 20:11

12If it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall besiege it.Select Deuteronomy 20:12

13When Yahweh your God delivers it into your hand, you shall strike every male of it with the edge of the sword;Select Deuteronomy 20:13

14but the women, the little ones, the livestock, and all that is in the city, even all its plunder, you shall take for plunder for yourself. You may use the plunder of your enemies, which Yahweh your God has given you.Select Deuteronomy 20:14

15Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.Select Deuteronomy 20:15

16But of the cities of these peoples, that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;Select Deuteronomy 20:16

17but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Yahweh your God has commanded you;Select Deuteronomy 20:17

18that they not teach you to follow all their abominations, which they have done to their gods; so would you sin against Yahweh your God.Select Deuteronomy 20:18

19When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them; for you may eat of them. You shall not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged by you?Select Deuteronomy 20:19

20Only the trees that you know are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down. You shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.Select Deuteronomy 20:20