Deuteronomy 20
Deuteronomy 20 gives laws concerning warfare in ancient Israel’s covenant setting. It addresses fear before battle, exemptions from military service, treatment of distant cities, commands concerning Canaanite cities, and protection of fruit trees. Because the chapter concerns ancient war, it should be interpreted carefully and not applied simplistically to modern conflict.
1verseWhen you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
2verseIt shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people,
3verseand shall tell them, “Hear, Israel, you draw near today to battle against your enemies. Don’t let your heart faint! Don’t be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them;
4versefor the LORD your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
5verseThe 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.
6verseWhat 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.
7verseWhat man is there who has pledged to be married to 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.”
8verseThe 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.”
9verseIt shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall appoint captains of armies at the head of the people.
10verseWhen you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it.
11verseIt shall be, if it gives 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.
12verseIf it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall besiege it.
13verseWhen the LORD your God delivers it into your hand, you shall strike every male of it with the edge of the sword;
14versebut 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 the LORD your God has given you.
15verseThus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.
16verseBut of the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;
17versebut you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, as the LORD your God has commanded you;
18versethat they not teach you to follow all their abominations, which they have done for their gods; so would you sin against the LORD your God.
19verseWhen 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?
20verseOnly 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.
Structure and Flow
- Verses 1–4: The priest encourages the people not to fear, because the LORD goes with them.
- Verses 5–9: Officers announce exemptions for those with a new house, vineyard, betrothal, or fearfulness.
- Verses 10–15: Regulations are given for distant cities, including an offer of terms of peace.
- Verses 16–18: Separate commands are given for the Canaanite cities within the land, tied to the danger of idolatry.
- Verses 19–20: Fruit trees must not be destroyed during a siege.
Key Explanations
- The chapter presents war as subject to divine command and communal order, not merely to military ambition.
- The exemptions show concern for ordinary life events and for the effect of fear on the community.
- The distinction between distant cities and cities in the land reflects the specific conquest context of Deuteronomy.
- The rule protecting fruit trees places a limit on destruction, even in wartime.
Meditation Points
- How does fear affect a community facing crisis?
- What does it mean that even conflict is not allowed to become unlimited destruction?
- How should difficult ancient texts be read with attention to context, humility, and moral seriousness?
Apply It to Yourself
- In fear, practice grounding your response in trust rather than panic.
- When dealing with conflict, avoid unnecessary destruction of relationships, resources, or future possibilities.
- Read hard biblical passages carefully, resisting both avoidance and careless application.
