Berean Standard Bible

Deuteronomy 20

1Whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588you go outתֵצֵ֨אte.Tze'H3318to warלַמִּלְחָמָ֜הla.mil.cha.MahH4421againstעַל־'al-H5921your enemiesאֹיְבֶ֗יךָ'o.ye.Vei.khaH341and seeוְֽרָאִ֜יתָve.ra.'I.taH7200horsesס֤וּסsusH5483,chariotsוָרֶ֙כֶב֙va.Re.khevH7393,and an armyעַ֚ם'amH5971largerרַ֣בravH7227than yoursמִמְּךָ֔mi.me.KhaH4480,do notלֹ֥אlo'H3808be afraidתִירָ֖אti.Ra'H3372of them;forכִּֽי־ki-H3588the LORDיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei.khaH430,who brought youהַמַּֽעַלְךָ֖ha.ma.'al.KhaH5927out of the landמֵאֶ֥רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714,is with youעִמָּ֔ךְ'i.MakhH5973.

2When you are about toוְהָיָ֕הve.ha.YahH1961goכְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖םke.ka.ra.ve.KhemH7126intoאֶל־'el-H413battleהַמִּלְחָמָ֑הha.mil.cha.MahH4421,the priestהַכֹּהֵ֖ןha.ko.HenH3548is to come forwardוְנִגַּ֥שׁve.ni.GashH5066and addressוְדִבֶּ֥ר אֶל־ve.di.Ber 'el-H1696 H413the armyהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971,

3sayingוְאָמַ֤רve.'a.MarH559to themאֲלֵהֶם֙'a.le.HemH413, “Hearשְׁמַ֣עshe.Ma'H8085,O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,todayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117youאַתֶּ֨ם'a.TemH859are goingקְרֵבִ֥יםke.re.VimH7131into battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֖הla.mil.cha.MahH4421withעַל־'al-H5921your enemiesאֹיְבֵיכֶ֑ם'o.ye.vei.KhemH341.Do notאַל־'al-H408be faintheartedיֵרַ֣ךְ לְבַבְכֶ֗םye.Rakh le.vav.KhemH7401 H3824orאַל־'al-H408afraidתִּֽירְא֧וּti.re.'UH3372;do notוְאַֽל־ve.'al-H408be alarmedתַּחְפְּז֛וּ וְאַל־tach.pe.Zu ve.'al-H2648 H408or terrifiedתַּֽעַרְצ֖וּta.'ar.TzuH6206because of themמִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃mi.pe.nei.HemH6440.

4Forכִּ֚יkiH3588the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם'e.lo.hei.KhemH430goesהַהֹלֵ֖ךְha.ho.LekhH1980with youעִמָּכֶ֑ם'i.ma.KhemH5973to fightלְהִלָּחֵ֥םle.hi.la.ChemH3898for youagainstעִם־'im-H5973your enemiesאֹיְבֵיכֶ֖ם'o.ye.vei.KhemH341,to give you the victoryלְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַle.ho.Shi.a'H3467אֶתְכֶֽם׃'et.KhemH853.”

5Furthermore, the officersהַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֮ אֶל־ha.sho.te.Rim 'el-H7860 H413are to addressוְדִבְּר֣וּve.di.be.RuH1696the armyהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971,sayingלֵאמֹר֒le.MorH559, “Has anyמִֽי־mi-H4310manהָאִ֞ישׁha.'IshH376אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834builtבָּנָ֤הba.NahH1129a newחָדָשׁ֙cha.DashH2319houseבַֽיִת־va.yit-H1004and notוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808dedicated itחֲנָכ֔וֹcha.na.KhoH2596?Let him returnיֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣בye.Lekh ve.ya.ShoH1980 H7725homeלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004,orפֶּן־pen-H6435he may dieיָמוּת֙ya.MutH4191in battleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הba.mil.cha.MahH4421and anotherאַחֵ֖ר'a.CherH312manוְאִ֥ישׁve.'IshH376dedicate itיַחְנְכֶֽנּוּ׃yach.ne.Khe.nuH2596.

6Has anyוּמִֽי־u.mi-H4310manהָאִ֞ישׁha.'IshH376אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834plantedנָטַ֥עna.Ta'H5193a vineyardכֶּ֙רֶם֙ke.remH3754and notוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808begun to enjoy its fruitחִלְּל֔וֹchi.le.LoH2490?Let him returnיֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣בye.Lekh ve.ya.ShoH1980 H7725homeלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004,orפֶּן־pen-H6435he may dieיָמוּת֙ya.MutH4191in battleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הba.mil.cha.MahH4421and anotherאַחֵ֖ר'a.CherH312manוְאִ֥ישׁve.'IshH376enjoy its fruitיְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ׃ye.chal.le.Le.nuH2490.

7Has anyוּמִֽי־u.mi-H4310manהָאִ֞ישׁha.'IshH376אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834become pledgedאֵרַ֤שׂ'e.RasH781to a womanאִשָּׁה֙'i.ShahH802and notוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808married herלְקָחָ֔הּle.ka.ChahH3947?Let him returnיֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣בye.Lekh ve.ya.ShoH1980 H7725homeלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004,orפֶּן־pen-H6435he may dieיָמוּת֙ya.MutH4191in battleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הba.mil.cha.MahH4421and anotherאַחֵ֖ר'a.CherH312manוְאִ֥ישׁve.'IshH376marry herיִקָּחֶֽנָּה׃yi.ka.Che.nahH3947.”

8Then the officersהַשֹּׁטְרִים֮ha.sho.te.RimH7860shall speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696furtherוְיָסְפ֣וּve.ya.se.FuH3254toאֶל־'el-H413the armyהָעָם֒ha.'AmH5971,sayingוְאָמְר֗וּve.'a.me.RuH559, “Is anyמִי־mi-H4310manהָאִ֤ישׁha.'IshH376afraidהַיָּרֵא֙hai.ya.Re'H3373or faintheartedוְרַ֣ךְ הַלֵּבָ֔בve.Rakh ha.le.VavH7390 H3824?Let him returnיֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣בye.Lekh ve.ya.ShoH1980 H7725homeלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004,so that the heartsלְבַ֥בle.VavH3824of his brothersאֶחָ֖יו'e.ChavH251will notוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808meltיִמַּ֛סyi.MasH4549like his ownכִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃kil.va.VoH3824אֶת־'et-H853.”

9וְהָיָ֛הve.ha.YahH1961When the officersהַשֹּׁטְרִ֖יםha.sho.te.RimH7860have finishedכְּכַלֹּ֥תke.kha.LotH3615addressingלְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־le.da.Ber 'el-H1696 H413the armyהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971,they are to appointוּפָֽקְד֛וּu.Fa.ke.DuH6485commandersשָׂרֵ֥י צְבָא֖וֹתsa.Rei tze.va.'otH6635 H8269to lead itבְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם׃ סbe.Rosh ha.'AmH7218 H5971.

10Whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588you approachתִקְרַ֣ב אֶל־tik.Rav 'el-H7126 H413a cityעִ֔יר'IrH5892to fightלְהִלָּחֵ֖םle.hi.la.ChemH3898against itעָלֶ֑יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921,you are to make an offerוְקָרָ֥אתָ אֵלֶ֖יהָve.ka.Ra.ta 'e.Lei.haH7121 H413of peaceלְשָׁלֽוֹם׃le.sha.LomH7965.

11וְהָיָה֙ve.ha.YahH1961Ifאִם־'im-H518they acceptתַּֽעַנְךָ֔ta.'an.KhaH6030your offer of peaceשָׁל֣וֹםsha.LomH7965and openוּפָתְחָ֖הu.fa.te.ChahH6605their gatesוְהָיָ֞הve.ha.YahH1961,allכָּל־kol-H3605the peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971thereהַנִּמְצָא־ha.nim.tza'-H4672will becomeיִהְי֥וּyih.YuH1961forced laborersלָמַ֖סla.MasH4522to serveוַעֲבָדֽוּךָ׃va.'a.va.Du.khaH5647you.

12But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518they refuseלֹ֤אlo'H3808to make peaceתַשְׁלִים֙tash.LimH7999with youעִמָּ֔ךְ'i.MakhH5973and wageוְעָשְׂתָ֥הve.'a.se.TahH6213warמִלְחָמָ֑הmil.cha.MahH4421against youעִמְּךָ֖'i.me.KhaH5973,lay siegeוְצַרְתָּ֖ve.tzar.TaH6696toעָלֶֽיהָ׃'a.Lei.haH5921that city.

13When the LORDיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430has delivered itוּנְתָנָ֛הּu.ne.ta.NahH5414into your handבְּיָדֶ֑ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027,you must putוְהִכִּיתָ֥ve.hi.ki.TaH5221אֶת־'et-H853everyכָּל־kol-H3605maleזְכוּרָ֖הּze.khu.RahH2138to the swordלְפִי־ חָֽרֶב׃le.fi- Cha.revH6310 H2719.

14Butרַ֣קrakH7535the womenהַ֠נָּשִׁיםHa.na.shimH802,childrenוְהַטַּ֨ףve.ha.TafH2945,livestockוְהַבְּהֵמָ֜הve.ha.be.he.MahH929,and whateverוְכֹל֩ve.KholH3605אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834else isיִהְיֶ֥הyih.YehH1961in the cityבָעִ֛ירva.'IrH5892—allכָּל־kol-H3605its spoilשְׁלָלָ֖הּshe.la.LahH7998—you may take as plunderתָּבֹ֣זta.VozH962,and you shall useוְאָֽכַלְתָּ֙ve.'a.khal.TaH398אֶת־'et-H853the spoilשְׁלַ֣לshe.LalH7998of your enemiesאֹיְבֶ֔יךָ'o.ye.Vei.khaH341thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834the LORDיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givesנָתַ֛ןna.TanH5414you.

15This is howכֵּ֤ןkenH3651you are to treatתַּעֲשֶׂה֙ta.'a.SehH6213allלְכָל־le.kholH3605the citiesהֶ֣עָרִ֔יםhe.'a.RimH5892that are far awayהָרְחֹקֹ֥תha.re.cho.KotH7350from youמִמְּךָ֖ מְאֹ֑דmi.me.Kha me.'OdH4480 H3966אֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherH834and do notלֹא־lo'-H3808מֵעָרֵ֥יme.'a.ReiH5892belong to theהָאֵ֖לֶּה הֵֽנָּה׃ha.'E.leh He.nahH428 H2007nations nearbyהַגּֽוֹיִם־ha.go.yim-H1471.

16Howeverרַ֗קRakH7535,in the citiesמֵעָרֵ֤יme.'a.ReiH5892of theהָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.lehH428nationsהָֽעַמִּים֙ha.'a.MimH5971thatאֲשֶׁר֙'a.SherH834the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430is givingנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414youas an inheritanceנַחֲלָ֑הna.cha.LahH5159,you must not leave aliveלֹ֥א תְחַיֶּ֖הlo' te.chai.YehH3808 H2421anythingכָּל־kol-H3605that breathesנְשָׁמָֽה׃ne.sha.MahH5397.

17Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588you must devote them to complete destructionH2763—the Hittitesהַחִתִּ֤יha.chi.TiH2850,Amoritesוְהָאֱמֹרִי֙ve.ha.'e.mo.RiH567,Canaanitesהַכְּנַעֲנִ֣יha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669,Perizzitesוְהַפְּרִזִּ֔יve.hap.pe.ri.ZiH6522,Hivitesהַחִוִּ֖יha.chi.ViH2340,and Jebusitesוְהַיְבוּסִ֑יve.hay.vu.SiH2983—asכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka.'a.SherH834the LORDיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃'e.lo.Hei.khaH430has commanded youצִוְּךָ֖tzi.ve.KhaH6680,

18so thatלְמַ֗עַןle.Ma.'anH4616אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834they cannotלֹֽא־lo'-H3808teachיְלַמְּד֤וּye.la.me.DuH3925אֶתְכֶם֙'et.KhemH853you to doלַעֲשׂ֔וֹתla.'a.SotH6213allכְּכֹל֙ke.KholH3605the detestable thingsתּֽוֹעֲבֹתָ֔םto.'a.vo.TamH8441אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834they doעָשׂ֖וּ'a.SuH6213for their godsלֵֽאלֹהֵיהֶ֑םle.lo.hei.HemH430,and so cause you to sinוַחֲטָאתֶ֖םva.cha.ta.TemH2398against the LORDלַיהוָ֥הla.Yah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ ס'e.lo.hei.KhemH430.

19Whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588you lay siegeתָצ֣וּרta.TzurH6696toאֶל־'el-H413a cityעִיר֩'irH5892for an extendedרַבִּ֜יםra.BimH7227timeיָמִ֨יםya.MimH3117while fightingלְֽהִלָּחֵ֧םle.hi.la.ChemH3898against itעָלֶ֣יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921to capture itלְתָפְשָׂ֗הּle.ta.fe.SahH8610,you must notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808destroyתַשְׁחִ֤יתtash.ChitH7843אֶת־'et-H853its treesעֵצָהּ֙'e.TzahH6086by puttingלִנְדֹּ֤חַlin.Do.achH5080an axeגַּרְזֶ֔ןgar.ZenH1631to themעָלָיו֙'a.LavH5921,becauseכִּ֚יkiH3588you can eat their fruitתֹאכֵ֔לto.KhelH398וְאֹת֖וֹve.'o.ToH853מִמֶּ֣נּוּmi.Me.nuH4480.You must notלֹ֣אlo'H3808cut them downתִכְרֹ֑ת כִּ֤יtikh.Rot kiH3772 H3588.Are the treesעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֔הha.sa.DehH7704humanהָֽאָדָם֙ha.'a.DamH120,that you should besiege themלָבֹ֥א מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃la.Vo' mi.pa.Nei.kha ba.ma.TzorH935 H6440 H4692?

20Butרַ֞קrakH7535you may destroyתַשְׁחִ֖יתtash.ChitH7843the treesעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086thatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834you knowתֵּדַ֗ע כִּֽי־te.Da' ki-H3045 H3588do notלֹא־ עֵ֤ץlo'- 'etzH3808 H6086produce fruitמַאֲכָל֙ ה֔וּאma.'a.Khal Hu'H3978 H1931אֹת֥וֹ'o.ToH853. Use themוְכָרָ֑תָּve.kha.Ra.taH3772to buildוּבָנִ֣יתָu.va.Ni.taH1129siege worksמָצ֗וֹרma.TzorH4692againstעַל־'al-H5921the cityהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892thatאֲשֶׁר־ הִ֨וא'a.Sher- hi'H834 H1931is wagingעֹשָׂ֧ה'o.SahH6213warמִלְחָמָ֖הmil.cha.MahH4421against youעִמְּךָ֛'i.me.KhaH5973,untilעַ֥ד'adH5704it fallsרִדְתָּֽהּ׃ פrid.TahH3381.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20