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.
But you may keep for yourselves the women, children, livestock, and everything else in the city, all the valuable things you capture. You may use all these things that you take from your enemies, which the LORD your God has given to you.
This verse tells the Israelites they could keep the people and possessions from cities they conquered, viewing these as gifts from God.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses was providing laws and instructions to the Israelites as they prepared to conquer the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt. This verse is part of a larger section on warfare rules, specifying how to handle spoils from cities outside the Canaanite territories, allowing the Israelites to take women, children, and goods as provisions from God-given victories. It reflects the ancient Near Eastern customs of warfare where conquering armies claimed resources to sustain themselves.
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