Deuteronomy 20:15

KJV

Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities [which are] very far off from thee, which [are] not of the cities of these nations.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus shalt thou do {H6213} unto all the cities {H5892} which are very {H3966} far off {H7350} from thee, which {H2007} are not of the cities {H5892} of these nations {H1471}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.

American Standard Version

Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 20:15 outlines specific divine instructions for the Israelites concerning warfare against cities located geographically distant from their promised inheritance and not belonging to the Canaanite nations. This verse establishes a crucial distinction in the laws of conquest, mandating an initial offer of peace for these "far off" cities, with the consequence of forced labor upon submission or the slaying of males in resistance, contrasting sharply with the complete annihilation commanded for the indigenous peoples of Canaan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the comprehensive laws of warfare articulated in [Deuteronomy 20](/deuteronomy/20 "Deuteronomy 20 - Laws of Warfare"). Moses, addressing the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, reiterates God's commands as they prepare to enter and conquer the Promised Land. The chapter meticulously differentiates between two distinct categories of cities Israel would encounter. Verses [Deuteronomy 20:10-15](/deuteronomy/20-10-15 "Deuteronomy 20:10-15 - Laws for Distant Cities") deal with "distant cities," specifying a protocol that begins with an offer of peace. In contrast, [Deuteronomy 20:16-18](/deuteronomy/20-16-18 "Deuteronomy 20:16-18 - Laws for Canaanite Cities") lays down the severe command for the complete extermination of the seven Canaanite nations, a unique divine judgment. Verse 15, therefore, serves as the concluding statement for the protocol concerning non-Canaanite, distant cities, explicitly defining them by their geographical separation and ethnic distinction.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Deuteronomy captures Moses' final addresses to Israel just before their entry into Canaan, a pivotal moment in their national history. The ancient Near East was characterized by frequent warfare, and conquest often involved brutal practices. However, Israel's warfare was uniquely governed by divine decree, not merely human ambition. The command in [Deuteronomy 20:15](/deuteronomy/20-15 "Deuteronomy 20:15 - Laws for Distant Cities") reflects God's sovereign authority over all nations, not just Israel. It distinguishes between a general form of warfare, common in the ancient world (though still divinely regulated for Israel), and the specific, unique, and limited judgment against the Canaanites, whose "iniquity was not yet complete" in [Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites"). This distinction highlights that Israel's conquest was not a blanket policy of ethnic cleansing but a divinely ordained, geographically and ethnically specific act of judgment and covenant fulfillment.
* **Key Themes:** The verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes in Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Distinction in Judgment**, demonstrating that God's justice is not arbitrary but discriminates based on specific criteria, in this case, the unique spiritual depravity and covenantal threat posed by the Canaanite nations versus other peoples. Secondly, it highlights **God's Sovereignty and Justice** over all nations, not just Israel. He dictates the terms of engagement, showing both mercy (offering peace to distant cities) and severe judgment (against the Canaanites). Thirdly, the underlying purpose of these laws, particularly the distinction, is the **Preservation of Israel's Holiness**. The severe command against the Canaanites was primarily to prevent their idolatrous and detestable practices from corrupting Israel, as emphasized in [Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1-6 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - Separation from Canaanites"). The different treatment of distant cities implies they did not pose the same immediate spiritual threat, thus allowing for a different, albeit still harsh, form of engagement.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **"very far off" (Hebrew, _rachōq mᵉʾōd'_):** This phrase emphasizes a significant geographical distance, indicating cities outside the immediate boundaries of the land promised to Israel. The repetition of "far" (רָחוֹק) and the intensifier "very" (מְאֹד) stress that these are not the nations within Canaan whom Israel was commanded to utterly destroy. This geographical distinction is tied to a theological one, as these nations are not under the same specific divine judgment as those whose land Israel was to inherit and whose practices posed a direct threat to Israel's covenant fidelity.
* **"not of the cities of these nations" (Hebrew, _lōʾ mēʿārê haggôyim hāʾēlleh'_):** This clause provides the crucial ethnic and theological qualification. "These nations" refers specifically to the seven Canaanite peoples listed in [Deuteronomy 7:1](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1 - Nations to be Dispossessed") (Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites). By explicitly excluding these, the verse reinforces the unique and specific nature of the judgment against the Canaanites, which was tied to their extreme idolatry, detestable practices, and the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. The distinction underscores that Israel's warfare was not a general policy of conquest against all peoples but a targeted, divinely commanded operation with specific parameters.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities":** This opening phrase establishes a direct, divine command, indicating a prescribed course of action for Israel in their military engagements. It signifies that Israel's conduct in warfare was not left to their discretion or the norms of the surrounding cultures but was strictly regulated by God's instructions given through Moses.
* **"[which are] very far off from thee":** This clause introduces the primary geographical criterion for the application of this specific law. It delineates the scope of the command, applying it only to cities located at a considerable distance from the land Israel was destined to inherit. This spatial separation is fundamental to understanding the different treatment prescribed.
* **"which [are] not of the cities of these nations":** This crucial qualifying clause adds the ethnic and theological distinction. It explicitly excludes the indigenous Canaanite nations from this particular set of instructions. "These nations" refers to the seven peoples within the Promised Land who were marked for complete destruction due to their extreme wickedness and the necessity of preserving Israel's spiritual purity and covenant integrity. This dual qualification (geographical distance and non-Canaanite identity) defines the precise context for the less severe, though still harsh, terms of engagement outlined in the preceding verses of [Deuteronomy 20](/deuteronomy/20 "Deuteronomy 20 - Laws of Warfare").

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 20:15 employs **Legal Distinction** and **Categorization** as primary literary devices. The verse functions as a precise legal clause, drawing a clear boundary between two types of cities Israel would encounter in warfare. This explicit **Contrast** with the subsequent command for the Canaanite nations ([Deuteronomy 20:16-18](/deuteronomy/20-16-18 "Deuteronomy 20:16-18 - Laws for Canaanite Cities")) highlights God's nuanced and specific justice. The **Repetition** of "cities" (twice in the verse) reinforces the focus on urban centers as the units of engagement. The use of specific descriptive phrases like "very far off" and "not of the cities of these nations" serves to precisely **Define** the scope of the law, leaving no ambiguity about its intended application.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 20:15, by distinguishing between different categories of cities and peoples, profoundly illustrates God's multifaceted justice and His sovereign prerogative to judge nations according to their actions and their relationship to His covenant purposes. It reveals that while God is just in judgment, He is also specific and not arbitrary. The unique and severe judgment against the Canaanites was tied to their unparalleled wickedness and the need to protect Israel's holiness, while other nations, though still subject to Israel's military might, were given an opportunity for peace and submission. This distinction underscores that God's commands are rooted in His character—holy, just, and sovereign—and His overarching plan for His people and the world.

* [Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites")
* [Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1-6 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - Separation from Canaanites")
* [Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24-28 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - Abominations of the Land")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific laws of ancient warfare in Deuteronomy 20:15 are not directly applicable to believers today, they offer profound insights into God's character and enduring principles. This passage challenges us to recognize God's absolute sovereignty and His right to command specific actions for specific times and purposes. It reminds us that God's justice is not uniform in its application but is perfectly tailored to the context and the moral state of those being judged. For the contemporary believer, the principle of guarding against corrupting influences remains paramount. Just as ancient Israel was commanded to be separate from the detestable practices of the Canaanites to preserve their holiness, Christians are called to discern and separate themselves from worldly systems and ideologies that oppose God's truth, seeking to live lives of purity and devotion. Our warfare is primarily spiritual, not physical, requiring us to stand firm against spiritual forces of evil and to contend for truth and righteousness in a fallen world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's specific and differentiated judgment in this passage inform our understanding of His character?**
* **In what ways are believers today called to exercise "distinction" or "separation" from the world's values, similar in principle to Israel's separation from the Canaanites?**
* **How can we apply the principle of "spiritual warfare" (as opposed to physical warfare) in our daily lives, drawing on God's commands for holiness and purity?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command different treatments for different cities/nations?**

Answer: God commanded different treatments because His judgments are specific, just, and tied to His overarching redemptive plan and the moral state of the nations involved. The Canaanite nations, explicitly excluded in [Deuteronomy 20:15](/deuteronomy/20-15 "Deuteronomy 20:15 - Laws for Distant Cities"), were under a unique divine judgment due to their extreme idolatry, child sacrifice, and other detestable practices that had "filled up their iniquity" ([Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites")). Their complete destruction was necessary to prevent the corruption of Israel and to clear the land for God's covenant people. Distant nations, while still subject to Israel's military might, did not pose the same immediate spiritual threat or fall under the same specific judgment, thus allowing for an offer of peace and a different outcome. This demonstrates God's justice is not arbitrary but perfectly calibrated to the context.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Deuteronomy 20:15 details ancient laws of physical warfare, its underlying principles find profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The distinction between those "far off" and "these nations" foreshadows the ultimate spiritual battle and the universal scope of God's redemptive plan through Christ. Jesus, the true [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), came not to bring physical conquest but spiritual liberation, conquering sin and death through His sacrifice on the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities")). He offers peace to all who are "far off" from God due to sin, inviting them into His kingdom not through forced labor but through grace and faith ([Ephesians 2:13-17](/ephesians/2-13-17 "Ephesians 2:13-17 - Peace Through Christ")). The "nations" that resist God's rule ultimately face a different kind of judgment, one administered by Christ at His return, where He will "strike down the nations" with the sword of His mouth ([Revelation 19:15](/revelation/19-15 "Revelation 19:15 - The Rider on the White Horse")). Thus, the principles of divine judgment, the necessity of holiness, and the ultimate establishment of God's righteous kingdom are all fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who brings both ultimate peace to the redeemed and ultimate judgment to the unrepentant.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.