Deuteronomy 20

Authorized King James Version

Study Interlinear PDF
Chapter Overview

Deuteronomy 20 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of wisdom, truth, hope. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.

The chapter can be divided into several sections:

  1. Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
  2. Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
  3. Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings

This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.

Laws Concerning Warfare

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 GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity. is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. References Lord: Deuteronomy 31:8, Psalms 118:6, Isaiah 7:14, 31:1. References God: Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:9, Psalms 20:7, Romans 8:31. Parallel theme: Joshua 1:5, Isaiah 43:2 +5

2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priestPriest: כֹּהֵן (Kohen). The Hebrew kohen (כֹּהֵן) denotes a priest—one who mediates between God and people through sacrifices and intercession. Aaron and his descendants served as Israel's priests, foreshadowing Christ the Great High Priest. shall approach and speak unto the people, Parallel theme: Numbers 31:6, 2 Chronicles 13:12

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; Parallel theme: Joshua 23:10, Psalms 3:6, Matthew 10:28, 1 Timothy 6:12, Hebrews 13:6, Revelation 2:10

4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to saveSave: יָשַׁע (Yasha). The Hebrew yasha (יָשַׁע) means to save or deliver—rescue from danger or distress. This is the root of 'Jesus' (Yeshua), meaning 'YHWH saves.' God alone is Savior: 'I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour' (Isaiah 43:11). you. References Lord: Deuteronomy 32:30, Exodus 14:14. References God: Deuteronomy 1:30, 3:22, 11:25, Joshua 10:42, 23:10, 2 Chronicles 13:12. Parallel theme: Romans 8:37 +4

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. Parallel theme: Nehemiah 12:27

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. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 24:5, 28:30

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. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 1:28, Judges 7:3, Revelation 21:8

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. Peace: Ephesians 2:17

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 LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. 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 GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity. hath given thee. Parallel theme: Numbers 31:9, Joshua 8:2, 22:8

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: References God: Deuteronomy 7:16, Joshua 10:40. Parallel theme: Numbers 21:35, 33:52, Joshua 10:28, 11:14

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 LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. your God. References God: Exodus 34:16, Joshua 23:13. References Lord: 2 Corinthians 6:17. Sin: Exodus 23:33. Parallel theme: 1 Corinthians 15:33, Ephesians 5:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:14 +2

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: Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 26:6, Matthew 3:10, 21:19

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.