Deuteronomy 20:12 kjv
And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:
Deuteronomy 20:12 nkjv
Now if the city will not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it.
Deuteronomy 20:12 niv
If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city.
Deuteronomy 20:12 esv
But if it makes no peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it.
Deuteronomy 20:12 nlt
But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town.
Deuteronomy 20 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 20:10-11 | "When thou comest nigh unto a city... proclaim peace unto it... if they answer... | Prior offer of peace |
| Deut 20:13-14 | "if the LORD thy God deliver it into thine hands... spoil for yourselves." | Outcome of rejecting peace & warfare permission |
| Deut 7:1-2 | "when the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land... utterly destroy them." | Contrast: Canaanite cities' destruction |
| Josh 10:1-43 | "Joshua fought against all the kings... destroyed them utterly." | Fulfillment: Conquest battles and divine command |
| Isa 2:4 | "He shall judge among the nations... neither shall they learn war any more." | Future peace, contrasting present conflict |
| Joel 3:9-10 | "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war... let the weak say, I am strong." | Call to arms, showing readiness for war |
| Matt 5:9 | "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." | New Testament emphasis on peacemaking |
| Heb 12:14 | "Follow peace with all men, and holiness..." | Exhortation to pursue peace |
| Prov 16:7 | "When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." | God's favor can bring peace |
| 1 Pet 3:11 | "Let him seek peace, and ensue it." | Call to actively pursue peace |
| 1 Ki 20:30 | "Syrians... fled to Aphek, into the city... a wall fell upon 27,000 of them." | Siege consequence and divine judgment |
| Isa 36:1-22 | Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem. | Example of siege warfare |
| Luke 19:41-44 | Jesus weeping over Jerusalem because it did not know "the things that belong unto peace." | Rejection of peace leads to destruction |
| Gen 14:18 | Melchizedek, king of Salem (peace). | Symbolic king of peace |
| Ps 29:11 | "The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace." | God as source of strength and peace |
| Zech 8:19 | "love the truth and peace." | Call to love peace and truth |
| Deut 2:26-30 | "I sent messengers from the wilderness... words of peace... but Sihon... refused." | Another example of offered peace refused |
| 1 Sam 11:1 | Nahash the Ammonite besieges Jabesh-Gilead and demands conditions. | Ancient Near Eastern siege tactics |
| Isa 48:22 | "There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked." | Peace dependent on righteousness |
| Eph 6:15 | "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." | Spiritual warfare with gospel of peace |
| 2 Cor 13:11 | "Be of one mind, live in peace." | Christian community instruction on peace |
| Rom 12:18 | "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." | Living peaceably, divine enablement required |
Deuteronomy 20 verses
Deuteronomy 20 12 Meaning
Deuteronomy 20:12 details a divine instruction for Israelite military conduct when approaching a city outside the Promised Land. It mandates that if, after an offer of peace has been extended according to the previous instruction (Deut 20:10), the city chooses to reject this offer and instead engages in conflict, then Israel is authorized to lay siege to that city. This verse highlights the conditional nature of Israelite warfare and divine permission for action only after a peaceful alternative has been explicitly refused by the enemy.
Deuteronomy 20 12 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 20 outlines regulations for Israelite warfare, emphasizing divine instruction and unique aspects of God's covenant with Israel. The immediate context of verse 12 is found within a section (Deut 20:10-18) that distinguishes between cities outside the promised land and cities within Canaan. For cities far off, the procedure was to first offer terms of peace (Deut 20:10). If these terms were accepted, the inhabitants would become tributaries and serve Israel (Deut 20:11). However, if the peace offer was rejected, as stated in verse 12, then war and siege were authorized. This contrasts sharply with the explicit command for the utter destruction of the seven nations within Canaan (Deut 20:16-18) due to their profound wickedness and to prevent Israel from being corrupted by their idolatry. Historically and culturally, ancient Near Eastern warfare often involved total annihilation or enslavement, yet the Deuteronomic law introduces specific ethical boundaries and offers of peace, reflecting God's unique moral standards. The law implicitly pushes against contemporary beliefs of indiscriminate conquest, prioritizing peace where possible.
Deuteronomy 20 12 Word analysis
- And if: A conditional clause, signaling a choice or circumstance that dictates subsequent action. It introduces a contingent situation.
- it will not make peace: The city or its inhabitants refuse the peace terms offered (from Deut 20:10). The Hebrew word for "make peace" is root שָׁלַם (shalem), from which שָׁלוֹם (shalom) "peace" derives. Shalom implies more than just absence of war; it encompasses completeness, welfare, wholeness, prosperity, and harmonious well-being. To "not make peace" thus means to refuse this holistic offer of coexistence.
- with thee: Directly rejecting interaction and terms with Israel.
- but will make war against thee: This signifies an active choice for hostility and aggression. The Hebrew word for "make war" uses the root לָחַם (lacham), meaning "to fight" or "to do battle." This is the deliberate opposition to peace.
- then: Indicates the consequence or direct outcome of the rejection.
- thou shalt besiege it: This is the divinely authorized military response. The Hebrew term צוּר (tsur) means "to bind, confine, encircle, besiege, lay siege to." A siege involves cutting off a city, often leading to famine or surrender. This command delineates the legitimate course of action, not a punitive, retaliatory measure, but a specific, ordained method of conflict after peace is refused.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "And if it will not make peace with thee,": This phrase establishes the crucial precondition. It underscores God's preference for peaceful resolution even in warfare contexts. It tests the intentions of the foreign city. The city's active rejection of "shalom" is the turning point, marking their refusal of the hand of alliance and their opting for an antagonistic relationship.
- "but will make war against thee,": This group emphasizes the counter-action by the opposing city. It's not passive resistance but an active initiation or continuation of conflict, demonstrating their hostile intent. This phrase validates the subsequent action as a defensive/enforcement measure against an aggressor who initiated violence by refusing peace.
- "then thou shalt besiege it.": This is the divine instruction for the specific military operation. A siege was a significant act of prolonged military action, designed to force submission through isolation and resource depletion. This direct command to "besiege" clarifies that this is not optional, but the mandated course for Israel once the peace terms are rejected. It shows the limitation of their engagement – a siege, not immediate all-out assault and total destruction like the Canaanite cities.
Deuteronomy 20 12 Bonus section
The concept of offering peace first highlights God's attribute as a God who is long-suffering and gracious, providing an opportunity for reconciliation even in what would be deemed an adversarial situation. This practice distinguishes Israelite warfare, often seen as holy war, from the common conquest practices of surrounding nations, who typically ravaged cities without such prior offers. Spiritually, this verse can be paralleled with the ultimate offer of peace through the Gospel of Christ (Eph 2:17). If rejected, judgment ensues. It subtly foreshadows how God always extends an opportunity for "shalom" before consequences fall upon those who reject His grace. The detailed regulations for siege warfare also suggest divine control over every aspect of Israel's life, including its military campaigns, reminding Israel that even in war, they were to act righteously and distinguishably from their pagan neighbors.
Deuteronomy 20 12 Commentary
Deuteronomy 20:12 is a foundational verse articulating a "just war" principle within ancient Israel's military law. It emphasizes God's desire for peace and reconciliation, even with foreign adversaries. The command to offer peace before initiating conflict, followed by a specified military action (siege) only if peace is rejected, showcases a regulated and disciplined approach to warfare. This prevents indiscriminate aggression and places the onus of choosing conflict on the resisting city. The distinction from the laws for the Canaanite nations is paramount; it reflects different levels of divine judgment and allows for preservation of life and integration (as tributaries) for those outside Canaan who would accept peace, foreshadowing the inclusion of Gentiles through various biblical narratives, ultimately finding its spiritual echo in the Gospel's offer of peace. The refusal of peace leads to necessary consequences, illustrating that opportunities for harmony, if spurned, may lead to arduous trials.