Deuteronomy 20:12 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

But if the city refuses to make peace with you and chooses to fight against you instead, then you should surround it and attack it.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse instructs that if a city rejects peaceful surrender and chooses to fight, then it should be besieged in warfare.

📚 Historical Context

This verse is from the Book of Deuteronomy, where Moses gives laws to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, including guidelines for warfare. It addresses situations where a city refuses peace and chooses to fight, reflecting the ancient Near Eastern context of tribal conflicts and defensive strategies. These instructions were meant to guide the Israelites in maintaining their identity and obedience to God amid potential threats from surrounding nations.

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