Deuteronomy 21:10

10 "When you go out to war against your enemies, and ADONAI your God hands them over to you, and you take prisoners,

Deuteronomy 21:10 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 21:10

When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies
This refers to an arbitrary war, as Jarchi remarks, which they entered into of themselves, of choice, or through being provoked to it by their enemies; and not a war commanded by the Lord, as that against the seven nations of Canaan, and against Amalek; since there were to be no captives in that war, but all were to be destroyed:

and the Lord thy God hath delivered them into thine hands;
given them the victory over their enemies, so that they were obliged to surrender themselves to them prisoners of war:

and thou hast taken them captive,
or "led his or their captivity ^F2 captive"; led them captive who used to lead others, denoting their conquest of victorious nations; see a like phrase in ( Psalms 68:18 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (wybv tybvw) "et captivam duxerit captivitatem ejus", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus.

Deuteronomy 21:10 In-Context

8 ADONAI, forgive your people Isra'el, whom you redeemed; do not allow innocent blood to be shed among your people Isra'el.' And they will be forgiven this bloodshed.

9 Thus you will banish the shedding of innocent blood from among you, by doing what ADONAI sees as right.

10 "When you go out to war against your enemies, and ADONAI your God hands them over to you, and you take prisoners,

11 and you see among the prisoners a woman who looks good to you, and you feel attracted to her and want her as your wife;

12 you are to bring her home to your house, where she will shave her head, cut her fingernails