Deuteronomy 20:16 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee {for} an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:”

Deuteronomy 20:16

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, {even} all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee. {take: Heb. spoil}

Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities {which are} very far off from thee, which {are} not of the cities of these nations.

But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee {for} an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

But thou shalt utterly destroy them; {namely}, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

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Deuteronomy 20:1

"When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, {and} a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God {is} with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."

Deuteronomy 20:2

"And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,"

Deuteronomy 20:3

"And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; {faint: Heb. be tender} {tremble: Heb. make haste}"

Deuteronomy 20:4

"For the LORD your God {is} he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."

Deuteronomy 20:5

"And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man {is there} that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it."

Deuteronomy 20:6

"And what man {is he} that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not {yet} eaten of it? let him {also} go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. {eaten...: Heb. made it common}"

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