English Bible Presentation Sharing - Deuteronomy Book, chapter 20, verse 23 in Nlv Version

Deuteronomy 20 : 1 (NLV)

"When you go to battle against those who hate you and see more horses and war-wagons and soldiers than you have, do not be afraid of them. For the Lord your God, Who brought you from the land of Egypt, is with you.

Deuteronomy 20 : 2 (NLV)

When you are coming near the battle, the religious leader will come near and speak to the people.

Deuteronomy 20 : 3 (NLV)

He will say to them, 'Hear, O Israel. Today you are going into battle against those who hate you. Do not let your hearts become weak. Do not be afraid and shake in fear before them.

Deuteronomy 20 : 4 (NLV)

For the Lord your God is the One Who goes with you. He will fight for you against those who hate you. And He will save you.'

Deuteronomy 20 : 5 (NLV)

The leaders will speak to the people also, saying, 'Is there anyone among you who has built a new house and has not given it to God? Let him go and return to his house or he might die in battle and another man will give it to God.

Deuteronomy 20 : 6 (NLV)

Is there anyone who has planted grape vines and has not begun to eat their fruit? Let him go and return to his house or he might die in the battle and another man will begin to eat the fruit.

Deuteronomy 20 : 7 (NLV)

Is there a man who is promised in marriage to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house or he might die in the battle and another man marry her.'

Deuteronomy 20 : 8 (NLV)

Then the leaders will say to the people, 'Is there a man here who is afraid and is weak in heart? Let him go and return to his house so he will not make his brothers' hearts afraid like his heart.'

Deuteronomy 20 : 9 (NLV)

When the leaders have finished speaking to the people, they will choose heads of the army to lead the people.

Deuteronomy 20 : 10 (NLV)

"When you come near a city to fight against it, ask the people of the city if they would rather have peace.

Deuteronomy 20 : 11 (NLV)

If they agree to make peace with you and open their gates to you, all the people who are found there will be made to work for you and serve you.

Deuteronomy 20 : 12 (NLV)

But if they do not make peace with you and fight against you, you must take the city in battle.

Deuteronomy 20 : 13 (NLV)

When the Lord your God gives the city to you, you must kill all the men in it with the sword.

Deuteronomy 20 : 14 (NLV)

Take for yourselves what is left, the women, the children, all the animals, and all that is in the city. Use what is left of those who fought against you, which the Lord your God has given you.

Deuteronomy 20 : 15 (NLV)

Do this to all the cities that are very far from you and are not of the cities of the nations that are near.

Deuteronomy 20 : 16 (NLV)

But in the cities of these nations that the Lord your God is giving you for your own, do not leave alive anything that breathes.

Deuteronomy 20 : 17 (NLV)

Destroy everything and everyone in them, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the Lord your God has told you.

Deuteronomy 20 : 18 (NLV)

Then they will not teach you to do all the hated and sinful things they have done for their gods, and make you sin against the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 20 : 19 (NLV)

"When you stay around a city a long time, to make war against it and take it, do not destroy its trees with the ax. You may eat from them but do not cut them down. For are trees of the field men that they should be killed?

Deuteronomy 20 : 20 (NLV)

You may destroy and cut down only the trees you know are not fruit trees. Then you may build walls with the trees to help you fight against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.