Deuteronomy 20 10

Deuteronomy 20:10 kjv

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

Deuteronomy 20:10 nkjv

"When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it.

Deuteronomy 20:10 niv

When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace.

Deuteronomy 20:10 esv

"When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it.

Deuteronomy 20:10 nlt

"As you approach a town to attack it, you must first offer its people terms for peace.

Deuteronomy 20 verses

Deuteronomy 20 10 Meaning

Deuteronomy 20:10 outlines a divine mandate for Israelite military engagement with cities located outside the Promised Land. Before initiating any siege or conflict, Israel was commanded to first offer terms of peace to the city. This provision offered the city a choice to surrender and submit to Israelite sovereignty and tribute, thereby avoiding violent conquest and utter destruction. This contrasts sharply with the distinct and absolute command for cities within Canaan itself.

Deuteronomy 20 10 Context

Deuteronomy 20 outlines the laws of warfare given by God to Israel through Moses, as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. This chapter addresses various aspects, including exemptions for those recently married, fearful, or those who have not enjoyed their vineyards (vv. 5-7), and the role of priests in encouraging the army (vv. 2-4). Verses 10-18 differentiate between warfare against cities far from Israel and those within the Promised Land (Canaan). Verse 10 specifically introduces the protocol for distant cities, emphasizing a policy of offering peaceful surrender before initiating an attack. This distinct policy underscores God's justice and mercy, even in the context of warfare, establishing a moral framework unique among ancient Near Eastern nations.

Deuteronomy 20 10 Word analysis

• When you draw near (כִּי תִקְרַב - ki tikrav): This phrase denotes an approach with a specific intention. "Tikrav" means "you shall draw near" or "approach," indicating the commencement of military action, positioning oneself at the city's perimeter, but not yet engaging in combat.
• to a city (אֶל-עִיר - el-'ir): Refers to any urban center. The specificity here implies a target for military action. Crucially, as clarified later in the chapter (v. 15), this applies to cities far from the Promised Land, not the immediate inhabitants of Canaan.
• to fight against it (לְהִלָּחֵם בָּהּ - l'hilachem bah): This prepositional phrase explicitly states the initial purpose of drawing near: to wage war. It clarifies that even with such an aggressive intent, a prior step is mandated.
• offer terms of peace to it (וְקָרָאתָ אֵלֶיהָ לְשָׁלוֹם - v'karata eileha l'shalom):
  • וְקָרָאתָ (v'karata): "And you shall call," "proclaim," or "summon." This verb signifies a formal declaration or invitation. It is not merely a passive suggestion but an active and overt communication.
  • אֵלֶיהָ (eileha): "To her" (the city, feminine in Hebrew), directing the offer directly to the inhabitants.
  • לְשָׁלוֹם (l'shalom): "For peace." "Shalom" (שָׁלוֹם) is a rich Hebrew term signifying not just the absence of conflict but holistic well-being, wholeness, prosperity, and a right relationship. In this military context, it means an offer to cease hostilities and establish a non-combative, tributary relationship where the city's inhabitants would be spared destruction in exchange for surrender and service to Israel. This 'peace' implied submission but also the preservation of life and some degree of societal structure, albeit under Israelite overlordship.
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "When you draw near to a city to fight against it...": This sets the aggressive, pre-conflict scenario, emphasizing that even when armed and prepared for war, divine law imposes a preceding ethical step. It highlights God's sovereignty over warfare, demanding that even righteous combat adheres to specific moral parameters.
  • "...offer terms of peace to it.": This is the core command, counteracting the initial aggressive intent with a call for alternative resolution. It underscores the value of human life and allows for a non-destructive outcome, provided there is submission. This command distinguishes Israel's warfare ethics from the practices of surrounding nations, portraying God's preference for life and order over arbitrary destruction.

Deuteronomy 20 10 Bonus section

• Theological implications: This command subtly reflects God's universal sovereignty and His long-suffering nature. Even for those outside His covenant people, there was a prescribed pathway to avoid wrath, demonstrating that God is the God of all nations, not just Israel.
• A unique law: Unlike other ancient Near Eastern war codes (e.g., Assyrian, Egyptian), this law presents a clear, ethical constraint on military aggression. It prevented unrestrained conquest for territorial gain or pure vengeance, emphasizing that war, when necessary, must still adhere to divine principles of justice and mercy.
• Precursor to the Gospel: In a broader sense, this Old Testament instruction can be seen as a shadowy prefigurement of the gospel message: God, though rightly angered by sin and approaching humanity with a standard of judgment, first offers terms of peace and reconciliation through Christ (2 Cor 5:18-20; Rom 5:1). Those who accept His terms are spared His judgment and enter into a new relationship of service and life, while those who refuse face the full consequence of their rejection.

Deuteronomy 20 10 Commentary

Deuteronomy 20:10 reveals God's structured and ethically constrained approach to warfare, particularly for cities distant from the Promised Land. The primary significance lies in the mandatory pre-conflict offer of "shalom" (peace, well-being), which served as an invitation for the city to surrender, avoiding total devastation in exchange for servitude and tribute. This humane policy, extraordinary for the ancient world, showcased God's character as just and merciful, preferring submission and preservation of life over unnecessary bloodshed. It stood in stark contrast to the absolute command of "herem" (utter destruction) mandated for the idolatrous and corrupt Canaanite nations (Deut 20:16-18), a distinction critical for maintaining Israel's holiness and preventing moral corruption within the land. The verse thus sets a standard for ethical conduct even in war, demonstrating that divine commands often provide paths for reconciliation and life, even for non-covenant peoples.