Deuteronomy 20

1When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you.Cross-references: Gen 26:3 · Num 23:21 · Deut 2:7 · Deut 3:21 · Deut 7:1 · Deut 31:6 · +22 more

2It shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people,Cross-references: Num 10:8 · Num 31:6 · Judg 20:27 · 1Sam 14:18 · 1Sam 30:7 · 2Chr 13:12

3and shall tell them, “Hear, Israel, you draw near today to battle against your enemies. Don’t let your heart faint! Don’t be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them;Cross-references: Josh 23:10 · Ps 3:6 · Ps 27:1 · Isa 8:12 · Isa 28:16 · Isa 35:3 · +16 more

4for Yahweh your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”Cross-references: Ex 14:14 · Deut 1:30 · Deut 3:22 · Deut 11:25 · Deut 32:30 · Josh 10:42 · +5 more

5The officers shall speak to the people, saying, “What man is there who has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.Cross-references: Num 31:14 · Num 31:48 · Deut 1:15 · Deut 16:18 · 1Sam 17:18 · Neh 12:27 · +1 more

6What man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not used its fruit? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use its fruit.Cross-references: Lev 19:23 · Deut 28:1 · Isa 65:22 · Jer 31:5 · Zeph 1:13

7What man is there who has pledged to be married to a wife, and has not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.”Cross-references: Deut 22:23 · Deut 24:5 · Deut 28:30 · Matt 1:18 · Luke 14:18 · 2Tim 2:4

8The officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, “What man is there who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest his brother’s heart melt as his heart.”Cross-references: Ex 15:15 · Num 13:31 · Num 32:9 · Deut 1:28 · Deut 23:9 · Judg 7:3 · +5 more

9It shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall appoint captains of armies at the head of the people.

10When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it.Cross-references: 2Sam 20:18 · Isa 57:19 · Zech 9:10 · Luke 10:5 · Acts 10:36 · 2Cor 5:18 · +1 more

11It shall be, if it gives you answer of peace and opens to you, then it shall be that all the people who are found therein shall become forced laborers to you, and shall serve you.Cross-references: Lev 25:42 · Josh 9:22 · Josh 9:27 · Josh 11:19 · Josh 16:10 · Judg 1:28 · +4 more

12If it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall besiege it.

13When Yahweh your God delivers it into your hand, you shall strike every male of it with the edge of the sword;Cross-references: Num 31:7 · Num 31:17 · 1Ki 11:15 · Ps 2:6 · Ps 21:8 · Ps 110:1 · +2 more

14but the women, the little ones, the livestock, and all that is in the city, even all its plunder, you shall take for plunder for yourself. You may use the plunder of your enemies, which Yahweh your God has given you.Cross-references: Num 31:9 · Num 31:12 · Num 31:18 · Num 31:35 · Josh 8:2 · Josh 11:14 · +5 more

15Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.

16But of the cities of these peoples that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;Cross-references: Ex 23:31 · Num 21:2 · Num 21:35 · Num 33:52 · Deut 7:1 · Deut 7:16 · +7 more

17but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, as Yahweh your God has commanded you;Cross-references: Deut 7:1 · Isa 34:5 · Jer 48:10 · Jer 50:35 · Ezek 38:21 · Rev 19:18

18that they not teach you to follow all their abominations, which they have done for their gods; so would you sin against Yahweh your God.Cross-references: Ex 23:33 · Ex 34:16 · Deut 7:4 · Deut 12:30 · Deut 18:19 · Josh 23:13 · +9 more

19When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them; for you may eat of them. You shall not cut them down, for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged by you?Cross-references: Deut 26:6 · Matt 3:10 · Matt 7:15 · Matt 21:19 · Luke 13:7 · John 15:2

20Only the trees that you know are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down. You shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.Cross-references: Deut 1:28 · 2Chr 26:15 · Eccl 9:14 · Isa 37:33 · Jer 6:6 · Jer 33:4 · +1 more