Lexham English Bible

Deuteronomy 20:8-14 Lexham English Bible (LEB)

8. And the officials shall continue to speak to the troops, and they shall say, ‘What man is afraid and disheartened? Let him go, and let him return to his house, and let him not cause the heart of his brothers to melt like his.’

9. And when the officials have finished speaking to the army troops, then they shall appoint commanders of divisions at the head of the troops.

10. “When you approach a city to fight against it, you must offer it peace.

11. And then if they accept your terms of peace and they surrender to you, and then all the people inhabiting it shall be forced labor for you, and they shall serve you.

12. But if they do not accept your terms of peace and they want to make war with you, then you shall lay siege against it.

13. And Yahweh your God will give it into your hand, and you shall kill all its males with the edge of the sword.

14. Only the women and the little children and the domestic animals and all that shall be in the city, all of its spoil you may loot for yourselves, and you may enjoy the spoil of your enemies that Yahweh you God has given to you.