Deuteronomy 21:10

¶ When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,

When thou goest forth {H3318} to war {H4421} against thine enemies {H341}, and the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} hath delivered {H5414} them into thine hands {H3027}, and thou hast taken {H7617} them captive {H7628},

"When you go out to war against your enemies, and ADONAI your God hands them over to you, and you take prisoners,

When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive,

When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and Jehovah thy God delivereth them into thy hands, and thou carriest them away captive,

Commentary

Context

Deuteronomy 21:10 introduces a series of specific laws and regulations concerning the aftermath of war for ancient Israel. Following chapters that detail general commands for the nation and specific stipulations for kings and priests, this verse begins a section addressing the practical realities of conquest. It sets the stage for unique provisions regarding the treatment of female captives, distinguishing them from the general instructions for war found elsewhere in Deuteronomy. It presumes that Israel has gone to war at the LORD's command and has been victorious, taking prisoners.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty in Warfare: The verse explicitly states, "the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands," underscoring the belief that Israel's military successes were not merely due to their own strength but were a direct result of God's intervention and blessing. This theme is central to the Deuteronomic understanding of Israel's history and relationship with God.
  • Rules of Engagement and Conduct in War: Even in the context of ancient warfare, where brutal practices were common, this passage (and those immediately following) demonstrates that God imposed specific ethical guidelines and limitations on Israel's conduct towards their enemies, particularly concerning captives. This contrasts with the command to utterly destroy certain Canaanite nations (Deuteronomy 7:2), indicating different rules for different types of enemies or situations.
  • Consequences of Victory: The verse acknowledges the reality of war's spoils and the taking of captives, which was a standard practice in the ancient Near East. It initiates a legal framework to manage these consequences, particularly the delicate issue of integrating foreign individuals into Israelite society, even if under specific, regulated conditions.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "delivered them into thine hands" (or "into your hand") is a powerful and frequently used idiom in the Old Testament. It signifies God's active involvement in granting victory, power, or authority over an enemy or situation. It is not merely a description of military success but an attribution of that success directly to the divine will and power. This emphasis on God's active role in Israel's battles reinforces the covenant relationship where prosperity and victory are tied to obedience and divine favor, as seen throughout the book of Deuteronomy.

Practical Application

While the specific context of ancient warfare and captive treatment is far removed from modern military practices, the underlying principles of this verse offer valuable lessons:

  • Divine Providence: It reminds us that in all aspects of life, including struggles and victories, God's hand is at work. Believers are encouraged to acknowledge God's sovereignty and give Him credit for their successes and deliverances, recognizing that ultimate power and control rest with Him (Psalm 20:7).
  • Ethical Conduct: Even in challenging or adversarial situations, the call to follow divine guidance and maintain ethical standards remains. This passage, by providing rules for a difficult scenario, implies that God's people are always accountable for their actions, even when dealing with enemies.
  • God's Law Applies to All Areas: The detailed nature of the Deuteronomic code, extending even to the treatment of war captives, highlights that God's law and principles are meant to govern all aspects of life, leaving no area outside His moral framework.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 20:10

    ¶ When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

  • Deuteronomy 20:16

    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:

  • Joshua 21:44

    And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
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