Deuteronomy20

Deuteronomy 20 outlines the laws of warfare for Israel, emphasizing divine assurance in battle and specific exemptions for those who have recently built a house, planted a vineyard, betrothed a wife, or are fainthearted. It distinguishes between engaging distant cities, where peace may be offered, and the cities of the Canaanite nations, which are to be utterly destroyed. The chapter also includes a command to preserve fruit trees during a siege.

Preparation and Divine Assurance in War

1
"When you go out to fight your enemies and see horses, chariots and a force larger than yours, you are not to be afraid of them; because ADONAI your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. ​
2
When you are about to go into battle, the cohen is to come forward and address the people. ​
3
He should tell them, 'Listen, Isra'el! You are about to do battle against your enemies. Don't be fainthearted or afraid; don't be alarmed or frightened by them;
4
because ADONAI your God is going with you to fight on your behalf against your enemies and give you victory.' ​

Exemptions from Military Service

5
"Then the officials will speak to the soldiers. They are to say, 'Is there a man here who has built a new house, but hasn't dedicated it yet? He should go back home now; otherwise he may die fighting, and another man will dedicate it. ​
6
"'Is there a man here who has planted a vineyard, but hasn't yet made use of its fruit? He should go back home; otherwise he may die fighting, and another man will use it.
7
"'Is there a man here who is engaged to a woman, but hasn't married her yet? He should go back home; otherwise he may die fighting, and another man will marry her.'
8
"The officials will then add to what they have said to the soldiers: 'Is there a man here who is afraid and fainthearted? He should go back home; otherwise his fear may demoralize his comrades as well.' ​
9
When the officials have finished speaking with the soldiers, commanders are to be appointed to lead the army.

Rules for Engaging Distant Cities

10
"When you advance on a town to attack it, first offer it terms for peace. ​
11
If it accepts the terms for peace and opens its gates to you, then all the people there are to be put to forced labor and work for you.
12
However, if they refuse to make peace with you but prefer to make war against you, you are to put it under siege.
13
When ADONAI your God hands it over to you, you are to put every male to the sword. ​
14
However, you are to take as booty for yourself the women, the little ones, the livestock, and everything in the city - all its spoil. Yes, you will feed on your enemies' spoil, which ADONAI your God has given you.
15
This is what you are to do to all the towns which are at a great distance from you, which are not the towns of these nations.

The Law of Utter Destruction (Herem)

16
"As for the towns of these peoples, which ADONAI your God is giving you as your inheritance, you are not to allow anything that breathes to live.
17
Rather you must destroy them completely - the Hitti, the Emori, the Kena'ani, the P'rizi, the Hivi and the Y'vusi - as ADONAI your God has ordered you;
18
so that they won't teach you to follow their abominable practices, which they do for their gods, thus causing you to sin against ADONAI your God. ​

Rules Regarding Siege Warfare and Trees

19
"When, in making war against a town in order to capture it, you lay siege to it for a long time, you are not to destroy its trees, cutting them down with an axe. You can eat their fruit, so don't cut them down. After all, are the trees in the field human beings, so that you have to besiege them too? ​
20
However, if you know that certain trees provide no food, you may destroy them and cut them down, in order to build siege-works against the town making war with you, until it falls.

Study Notes for Deuteronomy 20

Verse 1

The command 'be not afraid' is grounded not in Israel's military strength (horses and chariots) but in the historical and ongoing presence of Yahweh, their deliverer from Egypt.

Verse 2

The presence of the priest (likely the one anointed for war, Num 31:6) signifies that warfare for Israel is a holy activity, sanctioned and directed by the covenant God.

Verse 4

This verse provides the core theological assurance: the Lord Himself is the warrior (Exod 15:3), fighting on behalf of His people to secure their promised inheritance.

Verse 5

These exemptions prioritize the completion of essential life tasks (home, provision, family) and ensure the fulfillment of blessings promised under the covenant before risk is taken in battle.

Verse 8

This provision is a psychological safety measure, preventing the spread of cowardice and panic through the ranks, recognizing that fear is contagious and undermines the army's morale.

Verse 10

Even when approaching a hostile city, Israel must first offer terms of peace. This establishes a high ethical standard, demonstrating that conquest is secondary to peaceful submission.

Verse 13

For distant, non-Canaanite cities, the destruction of the male population eliminates the military threat, while the women and spoil are taken, distinguishing this type of warfare from the total destruction required for local Canaanites.

Verse 18

This clarifies the purpose of *herem* (utter destruction) for the Canaanite nations. The extreme measure is not arbitrary cruelty but a theological necessity to prevent religious contamination and idolatry from spreading into Israel.

Verse 19

This is one of the earliest recorded environmental preservation laws. The prohibition against cutting down fruit trees during a siege emphasizes the importance of future food security and resource stewardship, even amidst conflict.

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