Deuteronomy:20:1-20

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* When you go out to battle against your enemies , and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you , do not be afraid of them ; for Jehovah your God is with you , who brought you up out of the land of Egypt . * And it shall be , when you approach the battle , that the priest shall draw near and speak to the people . * And he shall say to them , Hear , O Israel : Today you are approaching battle with your enemies . Do not let your heart faint , do not be afraid , and do not tremble nor be terrified before them ; * for Jehovah your God is He who is going before you , to engage your enemies in battle , to deliver you . * And the officers shall speak to the people , saying : What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it ? Let him go and return to his house , that he not die in battle and another man dedicate it . * And what man is there who has planted a vineyard and has not eaten of it ? Let him go and return to his house , that he not die in battle and another man violate it . * And what man is there who has betrothed a woman and has not taken her ? Let him go and return to his house , that he not die in battle and another man take her . * And the officers shall speak further to the people , and say , What man is there who is fearful and faint-hearted ? Let him go and return to his house , that the heart of his brethren not melt like his heart . * And so it shall be , when the officers have finished speaking to the people , that they shall appoint commanders of the armies at the head of the people . * When you go near a city to fight against it , then proclaim an offer of peace to it . * And it shall be that if they respond in peace and open to you , then all the people who are found in it shall be tributaries to you , and serve you . * But if the city will not make peace with you , but makes war against you , then you shall besiege it . * And when Jehovah your God has delivered it into your hands , you shall strike every male in it with the edge of the sword . * But the women , the little ones , the livestock , and all that is in the city , all its spoils , you shall plunder for yourself ; and you shall eat the plunder of your enemies which Jehovah your God has given to you . * Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far from you , which are not of the cities of these nations . * But of the cities of these peoples which Jehovah your God is giving you as an inheritance , you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive , * but you shall destroy to exterminate them : the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite , as Jehovah your God has commanded you ; * that they not teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done unto their gods , and you sin against Jehovah your God . * When you besiege a city many days , to make war against it to capture it , you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them , if you can eat from them ; do not cut them down . For is the tree of the field a man , to be besieged by you ? * Only the trees which you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down , to build siege works against the city making war with you , until it is subdued .

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