Deuteronomy 20
Overview
Deuteronomy 20 is a chapter that outlines the laws and guidelines for warfare in Israel, reflecting a unique approach that combines practical military considerations with moral and religious principles. Key aspects include:
Trust in God During Warfare: The chapter begins with instructions for the Israelites not to fear their enemies in battle, for the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt, will be with them and fight for them.
Role of the Priests in Battle: Before going to war, the priests are to address the troops, encouraging them and reminding them of God’s presence and support.
Exemptions from Military Service: The chapter specifies certain conditions under which men are exempted from military service, including those who have built a new house but not yet dedicated it, planted a vineyard but not yet enjoyed its fruit, betrothed a woman but not yet married her, and those who are fearful or faint-hearted.
Conducting Warfare Against Distant Cities: When approaching a city to attack it, the Israelites are to first offer it terms of peace. If the city accepts and opens its gates, the people are to be subject to forced labor. If the city refuses peace and engages in battle, the men are to be killed, but women, children, livestock, and everything else in the city can be taken as plunder.
Rules for Cities within the Promised Land: For cities that God gives to the Israelites in the Promised Land, no one is to be left alive. This is to prevent the Israelites from being influenced by the detestable practices of these nations in worshiping their gods, which would be a sin against the LORD.
Preservation of Fruit Trees During Sieges: The chapter ends with a law prohibiting the Israelites from cutting down fruit trees when they lay siege to a city, emphasizing the need to preserve resources and showing consideration for the environment even in times of war.
Deuteronomy 20 reflects the balance between the harsh realities of warfare and the need for ethical conduct in battle. The laws demonstrate a concern for the well-being and morale of the troops, the protection of non-combatants, and the preservation of resources. The chapter underscores the importance of relying on God in times of conflict and conducting war in a manner that aligns with the Israelites' covenantal relationship with God.
Trust in God During Warfare: The chapter begins with instructions for the Israelites not to fear their enemies in battle, for the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt, will be with them and fight for them.
Role of the Priests in Battle: Before going to war, the priests are to address the troops, encouraging them and reminding them of God’s presence and support.
Exemptions from Military Service: The chapter specifies certain conditions under which men are exempted from military service, including those who have built a new house but not yet dedicated it, planted a vineyard but not yet enjoyed its fruit, betrothed a woman but not yet married her, and those who are fearful or faint-hearted.
Conducting Warfare Against Distant Cities: When approaching a city to attack it, the Israelites are to first offer it terms of peace. If the city accepts and opens its gates, the people are to be subject to forced labor. If the city refuses peace and engages in battle, the men are to be killed, but women, children, livestock, and everything else in the city can be taken as plunder.
Rules for Cities within the Promised Land: For cities that God gives to the Israelites in the Promised Land, no one is to be left alive. This is to prevent the Israelites from being influenced by the detestable practices of these nations in worshiping their gods, which would be a sin against the LORD.
Preservation of Fruit Trees During Sieges: The chapter ends with a law prohibiting the Israelites from cutting down fruit trees when they lay siege to a city, emphasizing the need to preserve resources and showing consideration for the environment even in times of war.
Deuteronomy 20 reflects the balance between the harsh realities of warfare and the need for ethical conduct in battle. The laws demonstrate a concern for the well-being and morale of the troops, the protection of non-combatants, and the preservation of resources. The chapter underscores the importance of relying on God in times of conflict and conducting war in a manner that aligns with the Israelites' covenantal relationship with God.
Deuteronomy 20
1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;
4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
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5 And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.
6 And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.
7 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.
🔑 Devotion
9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.
10 When thou comest 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 is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.
12 And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:
13 And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, 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 unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD 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.
16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:
18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.
19 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege:
20 Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.
End of Deuteronomy 20
1 Year Plan: Mar 23 - Deut 20, Deut 21, Deut 22, Luk 14
2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;
4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
🔑 See & Share Jesus | 🔑 Confess Your Faith
5 And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.
6 And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.
7 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.
🔑 Devotion
9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.
10 When thou comest 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 is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.
12 And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:
13 And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, 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 unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD 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.
16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:
18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.
19 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege:
20 Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.
End of Deuteronomy 20
1 Year Plan: Mar 23 - Deut 20, Deut 21, Deut 22, Luk 14
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