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1 When 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 Adonai your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery]. 2 * Deut 20:2 (Deut 20:1-4) (#1.51): T. The Cohen ·Priest· will lead the army into battle going ahead of the soldiers / R. Appoint a Cohen ·Priest· to speak with the soldiers during the war It shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people, 3 and shall tell them, “Sh'ma ·Hear obey·, Israel [God prevails], 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; 4 for Adonai your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
5 The 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 teshuvah ·completely return· to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. 6 What man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not used its fruit? Let him go and teshuvah ·completely return· to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use its fruit. 7 What man is there who has pledged to be married a wife, and has not taken her? Let him go and teshuvah ·completely return· to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.” 8 The 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 teshuvah ·completely return· to his house, lest his brother’s heart melt as his heart.” 9 It shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall appoint captains of armies at the head of the people.
(7) 10 † Deut 20:10 (Deut 20:10-18) (#6.409): T. When you advance on a town to attack it, to wage war according to the laws written in the Torah ·Teaching· / R. Offer peace terms to the inhabitants of a city while holding siege, and treat them according to the Torah ·Teaching· if they accept the terms When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it. 11 It 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. 12 If it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall besiege it. 13 When Adonai your God delivers it into your hand, you shall strike every male of it with the edge of the sword; 14 but 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 Adonai your God has given you. 15 Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations. 16 ‡ Deut 20:16 (Deut 20:16-18) (#6.410): T. Not to keep alive anything that breathes in the cities of the seven Canaanite nations / R. Not to let any of the seven Canaanite nations remain alive But of the cities of these peoples, that Adonai your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes; 17 § Deut 20:17 (Deut 20:16-18) (#6.411): To utterly destroy the seven Canaanite nations from the Land of Israel but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite [Descendant of Trembling fear], the Amorite [Descendants of Talkers], the Canaanite [Descendant of Humbled], the Perizzite [Descendant of Belonging to village], the Hivite [Wicked], and the Jebusite [Descendants of Thresher]; as Adonai your God has enjoined you; 18 that they not teach you to follow all their abominations, which they have done to their deities; so would you sin against Adonai your God. 19 * Deut 20:19 (Deut 20:19-20) (#8.529): Not to destroy fruit trees when making war or siege When 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? 20 Only 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.

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*20:2 Deut 20:2 (Deut 20:1-4) (#1.51): T. The Cohen ·Priest· will lead the army into battle going ahead of the soldiers / R. Appoint a Cohen ·Priest· to speak with the soldiers during the war

†20:10 Deut 20:10 (Deut 20:10-18) (#6.409): T. When you advance on a town to attack it, to wage war according to the laws written in the Torah ·Teaching· / R. Offer peace terms to the inhabitants of a city while holding siege, and treat them according to the Torah ·Teaching· if they accept the terms

‡20:16 Deut 20:16 (Deut 20:16-18) (#6.410): T. Not to keep alive anything that breathes in the cities of the seven Canaanite nations / R. Not to let any of the seven Canaanite nations remain alive

§20:17 Deut 20:17 (Deut 20:16-18) (#6.411): To utterly destroy the seven Canaanite nations from the Land of Israel

*20:19 Deut 20:19 (Deut 20:19-20) (#8.529): Not to destroy fruit trees when making war or siege

© 2016 Thomas Robinson