New Living Translation
Deuteronomy 20:10
10“As you approach a town to attack it, you must first offer its people terms for peace.
Deuteronomy 20:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.
- New International Version (NIV)When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it.
Context of Deuteronomy 20:10
8“Then the officers will also say, ‘Is anyone here afraid or worried? If you are, you may go home before you frighten anyone else.’ 9When the officers have finished speaking to their troops, they will appoint the unit commanders. “As you approach a town to attack it, you must first offer its people terms for peace. 11If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor. 12But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town.
Read all of Deuteronomy 20Deuteronomy 20:10 word by word
כִּֽי־תִקְרַ֣ב אֶל־עִ֔יר לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עָלֶ֑יהָ וְקָרָ֥אתָ אֵלֶ֖יהָ לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 20:10
- 2 Samuel 20:18Then she continued, “There used to be a saying, ‘If you want to settle an argument, ask advice at the town of Abel.’
- Isaiah 57:19bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them.
- Zechariah 9:10I will remove the battle chariots from Israel and the warhorses from Jerusalem. I will destroy all the weapons used in battle, and your king will bring peace to the nations. His realm will stretch from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
- Luke 10:5“Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’
- Acts 10:36This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
- 2 Corinthians 5:18And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
- Ephesians 2:17He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Proclaim peace unto it - Interpreters are greatly divided concerning the objects of this law. The text, taken in connection with the context, (see Deuteronomy 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10-20Verses 10-20 Directions intended to prevent wanton destruction of life and property in sieges. Deuteronomy 20:16 Forbearance, however, was not to be shown toward the Canaanite nations, which were to be utterly exterminated (compare Deuteronomy 7:1-4). The command did not apply to beasts as well as men (compare Joshua 11:11, Joshua 11:14). Deuteronomy 20:19 The parenthesis may he more literally rendered “for man is a tree of the field,” i. e., has his life…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-12Verses 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-15The people living in the land of Canaan had already been placed under the ban (7:1–6). This means they were set apart for complete destruction as part of God’s judgment. So this command refers to other nations. It applies to people whom Israel would fight outside the land (20:15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-2010-20. 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…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 20:10
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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