And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.
If the city responds peacefully and opens its gates to you, then all the people living there will become your subjects and serve you.
This verse describes what should happen when a city surrenders peacefully during warfare - the people become servants rather than being destroyed.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context of ancient Israel, Deuteronomy 20 was part of the laws given by Moses to guide the Israelites in warfare as they prepared to enter and conquer the Promised Land under God's command. This verse specifically addresses what happens if a besieged city chooses peace, requiring its people to become tributaries and serve Israel, reflecting the common ancient Near Eastern practice of subjugation after surrender. Such instructions emphasized God's sovereignty and the ethical boundaries for Israelite military actions during their expansion.
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