Deuteronomy 20 · Verse 10

Deuteronomy 20:10

When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.
Deuteronomy 20:10, King James Version

Deuteronomy 20:10 in other translations

BSBWhen you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace.
WEBWhen you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it.
ASVWhen thou drawest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.
YLT‘When thou drawest near unto a city to fight against it, then thou hast called unto it for Peace,
DARBYWhen thou approachest unto a city to fight against it, thou shalt proclaim peace unto it.
BBEWhen you come to a town, before attacking it, make an offer of peace.
WebsterWhen thou comest nigh to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it.

What does Deuteronomy 20:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 20:10-20
10-20. When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it--An important principle is here introduced into the war law of Israel regarding the people they fought against and the cities they besieged. With "the cities of those people which God doth give thee" in Canaan, it was to be a war of utter extermination (De 20:17, 18). But when on a just occasion, they went against other nations, they were first to make a proclamation of peace, which if allowed by a surrender, the people would become dependent [De 20:11], and in the relation of tributaries the conquered nations would receive the highest blessings from alliance with the chosen people; they would be brought to the knowledge of Israel's God and of Israel's worship, as well as a participation of Israel's privileges. But if the besieged city refused to capitulate and be taken, a universal massacre was to be made of the males while the women and children were to be preserved and kindly treated (De 20:13, 14). By this means a provision was made for a friendly and useful connection being established between the captors and the captives; and Israel, even through her conquests, would prove a blessing to the nations.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 Proclaim peace unto it - Interpreters are greatly divided concerning the objects of this law. The text, taken in connection with the context, (see Deu 20:15-18), appears to state that this proclamation or offer of peace to a city is only to be understood of those cities which were situated beyond the limits of the seven anathematized nations, because these latter are commanded to be totally destroyed. Nothing can be clearer than this from the bare letter of the text, unless some of the words, taken separately, can be shown to have a different meaning. For the common interpretation, the following reasons are given. God, who knows all things, saw that they were incurable in their idolatry; that the cup of their iniquity was full; and as their Creator, Sovereign, and Judge, he determined to destroy them from off the face of the earth, "lest they should teach the Israelites to do after all their abominations," Deu 20:18. After all, many plausible arguments have been brought to prove that even these seven Canaanitish nations might be received into mercy, provided they, 1. Renounced their idolatry; 2. Became subject to the Jews; and, 3. Paid annual tribute: and that it was only in case these terms were rejected, that they were not to leave alive in such a city any thing that breathed, Deu 20:16.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Deuteronomy 20:10-12
The Israelites are here directed about the nations on whom they made war. Let this show God's grace in dealing with sinners. He proclaims peace, and beseeches them to be reconciled. Let it also show us our duty in dealing with our brethren. Whoever are for war, we must be for peace. Of the cities given to Israel, none of their inhabitants must be left. Since it could not be expected that they should be cured of their idolatry, they would hurt Israel. These regulations are not the rules of our conduct, but Christ's law of love. The horrors of war must fill the feeling heart with anguish upon every recollection; and are proofs of the wickedness of man, the power of Satan, and the just vengeance of God, who thus scourges a guilty world. But how dreadful their case who are engaged in unequal conflict with their Maker, who will not submit to render him the easy tribute of worship and praise! Certain ruin awaits them. Let neither the number nor the power of the enemies of our souls dismay us; nor let even our own weakness cause us to tremble or to faint. The Lord will save us; but in this war let none engage whose hearts are fond of the world, or afraid of the cross and the conflict. Care is here taken that in besieging cities the fruit-trees should not be destroyed. God is a better friend to man than he is to himself; and God's law consults our interests and comforts; while our own appetites and passions, which we indulge, are enemies to our welfare. Many of the Divine precepts restrain us from destroying that which is for our life and food. The Jews understand this as forbidding all wilful waste upon any account whatsoever. Every creature of God is good; as nothing is to be refused, so nothing is to be abused. We may live to want what we carelessly waste.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Deuteronomy 20:10 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּֽי\־ki-ifH3588
תִקְרַ֣בtik.Ravyou will draw nearH7126
אֶל\־'el-toH413
עִ֔יר'Ira cityH5892
לְהִלָּחֵ֖םle.hi.la.Chemto fightH3898
עָלֶ֑יהָ'a.Lei.haon itH5921
וְקָרָ֥אתָve.ka.Ra.taand you will proclaimH7121
אֵלֶ֖יהָ'e.Lei.hato itH413
לְשָׁלֽוֹם\׃le.sha.Lomto peaceH7965

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Deuteronomy 20:10

  • Luke 10:5-6

    And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:18-6:1

    And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. …

  • Ephesians 2:17

    And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

  • 2 Samuel 20:18-22

    Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter. I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord? And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. …

  • Zechariah 9:10

    And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

  • Isaiah 57:19

    I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.

  • Acts 10:36

    The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
then proclaim.
2Sa 20:18-22; Isa 57:19; Zec 9:10; Lu 10:5,6; Ac 10:36
2Co 5:18-21; 6:1; Eph 2:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Deuteronomy 20:9

    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.

  • Deuteronomy 20:10

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

  • Deuteronomy 20:11

    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.

Read all of Deuteronomy 20

Deuteronomy 20:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Cuando te acercares á una ciudad para combatirla, le intimarás la paz.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quand tu approcheras d’une ville pour lui faire la guerre, tu l’inviteras à la paix.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn du dich einer Stadt näherst, wider sie zu streiten, so sollst du ihr Frieden anbieten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Siquando accesseris ad expugnandam civitatem, offeres ei primum pacem.