19 When thou shalt besiege H6696 a city H5892 a long H7227 time, H3117 in making war H3898 against it to take H8610 it, thou shalt not destroy H7843 the trees H6086 thereof by forcing H5080 an axe H1631 against them: for thou mayest eat H398 of them, and thou shalt not cut them down H3772 (for the tree H6086 of the field H7704 is man's H120 life) to employ H935 them in the siege: H6440 H4692
20 Only the trees H6086 which thou knowest H3045 that they be not trees H6086 for meat, H3978 thou shalt destroy H7843 and cut them down; H3772 and thou shalt build H1129 bulwarks H4692 against the city H5892 that maketh H6213 war H4421 with thee, until it be subdued. H3381
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Deuteronomy 20
Commentary on Deuteronomy 20 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 20
This chapter settles the militia, and establishes the laws and ordinances of war,
Deu 20:1-9
Israel was at this time to be considered rather as a camp than as a kingdom, entering upon an enemy's country, and not yet settled in a country of their own; and, besides the war they were now entering upon in order to their settlement, even after their settlement they could neither protect nor enlarge their coast without hearing the alarms of war. It was therefore needful that they should have directions given them in their military affairs; and in these verses they are directed in managing, marshalling, and drawing up their own forces. And it is observable that the discipline of war here prescribed is so far from having any thing in it harsh or severe, as is usual in martial law, that the intent of the whole is, on the contrary, to encourage the soldiers, and to make their service easy to them.
Deu 20:10-20
They are here directed what method to take in dealing with the cities (these only are mentioned, v. 10, but doubtless the armies in the field, and the nations they had occasion to deal with, are likewise intended) upon which they made war. They must not make a descent upon any of their neighbours till they had first given them fair notice, by a public manifesto, or remonstrance, stating the ground of their quarrel with them. In dealing with the worst of enemies, the laws of justice and honour must be observed; and, as the sword must never be taken in hand without cause, so not without cause shown. War is an appeal, in which the merits of the cause must be set forth.