Deuteronomy

Chapter 20

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiֽy-tetze֨ lamּilechama֜h 'al-'oyebe֗yka veֽra'i֜yta s֤us vare֨keb֙ 'a֚m ra֣b mimּeka֔ lo֥ tiyra֖ mehe֑m kּiֽy-yehva֤h 'elohe֨yka֙ 'imּa֔ke hamּaֽ'aleka֖ me'e֥retz mitzeraֽyim׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.

כִּֽי־תֵצֵ֨א לַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה עַל־אֹיְבֶ֗יךָ וְֽרָאִ֜יתָ ס֤וּס וָרֶ֨כֶב֙ עַ֚ם רַ֣ב מִמְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א תִירָ֖א מֵהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ הַמַּֽעַלְךָ֖ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehaya֕h kּeqaֽrabeke֖m 'el-hamּilechama֑h venigּa֥shsh hakּohe֖n vedibּe֥r 'el-ha'aֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army.

וְהָיָ֕ה כְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖ם אֶל־הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִגַּ֥שׁ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְדִבֶּ֥ר אֶל־הָעָֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'ama֤r 'alehem֙ shshema֣ yishsera'e֔l 'atּe֨m qerebi֥ym hayּ֛om lamּilechama֖h 'al-'oyebeyke֑m 'al-yera֣ke lebabeke֗m 'al-tּiֽyre'֧u ve'aֽl-tּachepּez֛u ve'al-tּֽa'aretz֖u mipּeneyheֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)He shall say: "Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them.

וְאָמַ֤ר אֲלֵהֶם֙ שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתֶּ֨ם קְרֵבִ֥ים הַיּ֛וֹם לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹיְבֵיכֶ֑ם אַל־יֵרַ֣ךְ לְבַבְכֶ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֧וּ וְאַֽל־תַּחְפְּז֛וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֚y yehva֣h 'eloֽheyke֔m hahole֖ke 'imּake֑m lehilּache֥m lake֛m 'im-'oyebeyke֖m lehoshshi֥y'a 'etekeֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

כִּ֚י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם הַהֹלֵ֖ךְ עִמָּכֶ֑ם לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם עִם־אֹיְבֵיכֶ֖ם לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אֶתְכֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vedibּer֣u hashshּoֽteriym֮ 'el-ha'a֣m le'mor֒ miֽy-ha'i֞yshsh 'ashshe֨r bּana֤h baֽyit-chadashsh֙ velo֣ chanak֔o yele֖ke veyashsho֣b lebeyt֑o pּen-yamut֙ bּamּilechama֔h ve'i֥yshsh 'ache֖r yachenekeֽnּu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The officers shall say to the army: "Has anyone built a new house and not yet dedicated it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may dedicate it.

וְדִבְּר֣וּ הַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֮ אֶל־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹר֒ מִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנָ֤ה בַֽיִת־חָדָשׁ֙ וְלֹ֣א חֲנָכ֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יַחְנְכֶֽנּוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): umiֽy-ha'i֞yshsh 'ashsher-nata֥ kּe֨rem֙ velo֣ chilּel֔o yele֖ke veyashsho֣b lebeyt֑o pּen-yamut֙ bּamּilechama֔h ve'i֥yshsh 'ache֖r yechalּeleֽnּu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoy it.

וּמִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־נָטַ֥ע כֶּ֨רֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א חִלְּל֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): umiֽy-ha'i֞yshsh 'ashsher-'era֤shs 'ishshּah֙ velo֣ leqacha֔hּ yele֖ke veyashsho֣b lebeyt֑o pּen-yamut֙ bּamּilechama֔h ve'i֥yshsh 'ache֖r yiqּacheֽnּah׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her."

וּמִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־אֵרַ֤שׂ אִשָּׁה֙ וְלֹ֣א לְקָחָ֔הּ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יִקָּחֶֽנָּה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veyasep֣u hashshּoteriym֮ ledabּe֣r 'el-ha'am֒ ve'amer֗u miy-ha'i֤yshsh hayּare'֙ vera֣ke halּeba֔b yele֖ke veyashsho֣b lebeyt֑o velo֥ yimּa֛s 'et-leba֥b 'echa֖yv kּilebabֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then the officers shall add, "Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too."

וְיָסְפ֣וּ הַשֹּׁטְרִים֮ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָם֒ וְאָמְר֗וּ מִי־הָאִ֤ישׁ הַיָּרֵא֙ וְרַ֣ךְ הַלֵּבָ֔ב יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִמַּ֛ס אֶת־לְבַ֥ב אֶחָ֖יו כִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehaya֛h kּekalּo֥t hashshּoteri֖ym ledabּe֣r 'el-ha'a֑m upaֽqed֛u shsare֥y tzeba'֖ot bּero֥'shsh ha'aֽm׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)When the officers have finished speaking to the army, they shall appoint commanders over it.

וְהָיָ֛ה כְּכַלֹּ֥ת הַשֹּׁטְרִ֖ים לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָ֑ם וּפָֽקְד֛וּ שָׂרֵ֥י צְבָא֖וֹת בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiֽy-tiqera֣b 'el-'i֔yr lehilּache֖m 'ale֑yha veqara֥'ta 'ele֖yha leshshalֽom׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace.

כִּֽי־תִקְרַ֣ב אֶל־עִ֔יר לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עָלֶ֑יהָ וְקָרָ֥אתָ אֵלֶ֖יהָ לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehayah֙ 'im-shshal֣om tּaֽ'aneka֔ upatecha֖h la֑ke vehaya֞h kּal-ha'a֣m hanּimetza'-ba֗hּ yihey֥u leka֛ lama֖s va'abadֽuka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labour and shall work for you.

וְהָיָה֙ אִם־שָׁל֣וֹם תַּֽעַנְךָ֔ וּפָתְחָ֖ה לָ֑ךְ וְהָיָ֞ה כָּל־הָעָ֣ם הַנִּמְצָא־בָ֗הּ יִהְי֥וּ לְךָ֛ לָמַ֖ס וַעֲבָדֽוּךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'im-lo֤ tashsheliym֙ 'imּa֔ke ve'ashseta֥h 'imּeka֖ milechama֑h vetzaretּa֖ 'aleֽyhּa׃

Edified Edition (EDE)If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city.

וְאִם־לֹ֤א תַשְׁלִים֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ וְעָשְׂתָ֥ה עִמְּךָ֖ מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְצַרְתָּ֖ עָלֶֽיהָּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): unetana֛hּ yehva֥h 'elohe֖yka bּeyade֑ka vehikּiyta֥ 'et-kּal-zekura֖hּ lepiy-chaֽreb׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When the LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it.

וּנְתָנָ֛הּ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וְהִכִּיתָ֥ אֶת־כָּל־זְכוּרָ֖הּ לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ra֣q ha֠nּashshiym vehatּa֨p vehabּehema֜h vekol֩ 'ashshe֨r yiheye֥h ba'i֛yr kּal-shshelala֖hּ tּabo֣z la֑ke ve'aֽkaletּa֙ 'et-shshela֣l 'oyebe֔yka 'ashshe֥r nata֛n yehva֥h 'elohe֖yka laֽke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives you from your enemies.

רַ֣ק הַ֠נָּשִׁים וְהַטַּ֨ף וְהַבְּהֵמָ֜ה וְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֥ה בָעִ֛יר כָּל־שְׁלָלָ֖הּ תָּבֹ֣ז לָ֑ךְ וְאָֽכַלְתָּ֙ אֶת־שְׁלַ֣ל אֹיְבֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֛ן יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לָֽךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּe֤n tּa'ashseh֙ lekal-he֣'ari֔ym harechoqo֥t mimּeka֖ me'o֑d 'ashshe֛r lo'-me'are֥y hagּֽoyim-ha'e֖lּeh heֽnּah׃

Edified Edition (EDE)This is how you are to treat all the cities that are at a distance from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.

כֵּ֤ן תַּעֲשֶׂה֙ לְכָל־הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים הָרְחֹקֹ֥ת מִמְּךָ֖ מְאֹ֑ד אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־מֵעָרֵ֥י הַגּֽוֹיִם־הָאֵ֖לֶּה הֵֽנָּה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ra֗q me'are֤y haֽ'amּiym֙ ha'e֔lּeh 'ashsher֙ yehva֣h 'elohe֔yka note֥n leka֖ nachala֑h lo֥ techayּe֖h kּal-neshshamaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes.

רַ֗ק מֵעָרֵ֤י הָֽעַמִּים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַחֲלָ֑ה לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּ֖ה כָּל־נְשָׁמָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiֽy-hachare֣m tּachariyme֗m hachitּi֤y veha'emoriy֙ hakּena'ani֣y vehapּerizּi֔y hachiui֖y vehayebusi֑y kּa'ashshe֥r tziueka֖ yehva֥h 'eloheֽyka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Completely destroy them, the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, as the LORD your God has commanded you.

כִּֽי־הַחֲרֵ֣ם תַּחֲרִימֵ֗ם הַחִתִּ֤י וְהָאֱמֹרִי֙ הַכְּנַעֲנִ֣י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י הַחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִ֑י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוְּךָ֖ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): lema֗'an 'ashshe֨r loֽ'-yelamּed֤u 'etekem֙ la'ashs֔ot kּekol֙ tּֽo'abota֔m 'ashshe֥r 'ashs֖u leֽ'loheyhe֑m vachata'te֖m layhva֥h 'eloheykeֽm׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshipping their gods, and you will sin against the LORD your God.

לְמַ֗עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יְלַמְּד֤וּ אֶתְכֶם֙ לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת כְּכֹל֙ תּֽוֹעֲבֹתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשׂ֖וּ לֵֽאלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם וַחֲטָאתֶ֖ם לַיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiֽy-tatz֣ur 'el-'iyr֩ yami֨ym rabּi֜ym leֽhilּache֧m 'ale֣yha letapeshsa֗hּ loֽ'-tashshechi֤yt 'et-'etzahּ֙ linedּo֤cha 'alayv֙ gּareze֔n kּi֚y mimּe֣nּu to'ke֔l ve'ot֖o lo֣ tikero֑t kּi֤y hֽa'adam֙ 'e֣tz hashsּade֔h labo֥ mipּane֖yka bּamּatzֽor׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?

כִּֽי־תָצ֣וּר אֶל־עִיר֩ יָמִ֨ים רַבִּ֜ים לְֽהִלָּחֵ֧ם עָלֶ֣יהָ לְתָפְשָׂ֗הּ לֹֽא־תַשְׁחִ֤ית אֶת־עֵצָהּ֙ לִנְדֹּ֤חַ עָלָיו֙ גַּרְזֶ֔ן כִּ֚י מִמֶּ֣נּוּ תֹאכֵ֔ל וְאֹת֖וֹ לֹ֣א תִכְרֹ֑ת כִּ֤י הָֽאָדָם֙ עֵ֣ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה לָבֹ֥א מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ra֞q 'e֣tz 'ashsher-tּeda֗ kּiֽy-lo'-'e֤tz ma'akal֙ h֔u 'ot֥o tashshechi֖yt vekara֑tּa ubani֣yta matz֗or 'al-ha'iyr֙ 'ashsher-hi֨v 'oshsa֧h 'imּeka֛ milechama֖h 'a֥d ridetּaֽhּ׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls.

רַ֞ק עֵ֣ץ אֲשֶׁר־תֵּדַ֗ע כִּֽי־לֹא־עֵ֤ץ מַאֲכָל֙ ה֔וּא אֹת֥וֹ תַשְׁחִ֖ית וְכָרָ֑תָּ וּבָנִ֣יתָ מָצ֗וֹר עַל־הָעִיר֙ אֲשֶׁר־הִ֨וא עֹשָׂ֧ה עִמְּךָ֛ מִלְחָמָ֖ה עַ֥ד רִדְתָּֽהּ׃פ