Deuteronomy 20:2   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army.

Deuteronomy 20:3   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

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.

Deuteronomy 20:5   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

The officers shall say to the army: "Has anyone built a new house and not yet begun to live in it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may begin to live in it.

Deuteronomy 20:6   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

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.

Deuteronomy 20:7   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

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."

Deuteronomy 20:8   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

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

Deuteronomy 20:9   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

When the officers have finished speaking to the army, they shall appoint commanders over it.

Deuteronomy 20:11   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you.

Deuteronomy 20:12   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city.

Deuteronomy 20:13   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

When the Lord your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it.

Deuteronomy 20:18   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 20:19   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

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 ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?

Deuteronomy 20:20   (Read all of Deuteronomy 20)

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.

Deuteronomy 21:1   (Read all of Deuteronomy 21)

If someone is found slain, lying in a field in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who the killer was,

Deuteronomy 21:2   (Read all of Deuteronomy 21)

your elders and judges shall go out and measure the distance from the body to the neighboring towns.

Deuteronomy 21:3   (Read all of Deuteronomy 21)

Then the elders of the town nearest the body shall take a heifer that has never been worked and has never worn a yoke

Deuteronomy 21:4   (Read all of Deuteronomy 21)

and lead it down to a valley that has not been plowed or planted and where there is a flowing stream. There in the valley they are to break the heifer's neck.

Deuteronomy 21:5   (Read all of Deuteronomy 21)

The Levitical priests shall step forward, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister and to pronounce blessings in the name of the Lord and to decide all cases of dispute and assault.

Deuteronomy 21:6   (Read all of Deuteronomy 21)

Then all the elders of the town nearest the body shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley,

Deuteronomy 21:7   (Read all of Deuteronomy 21)

and they shall declare: "Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done.

Deuteronomy 21:9   (Read all of Deuteronomy 21)

and you will have purged from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 21:12   (Read all of Deuteronomy 21)

Bring her into your home and have her shave her head, trim her nails

Deuteronomy 21:13   (Read all of Deuteronomy 21)

and put aside the clothes she was wearing when captured. After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife.

Deuteronomy 21:14   (Read all of Deuteronomy 21)

If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes. You must not sell her or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.