Deuteronomy 20:12

12 But if they {do not accept your terms of peace} and they want to make war with you, then you shall lay siege against it.

Deuteronomy 20:12 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 20:12

And if it will make no peace with thee
Will not accept of terms of peace offered:

but will make war against thee;
come out and fight, or prepare to defend themselves: then thou shall besiege it; surround and block it up on all sides with their forces; the Jews say only on three sides, leaving one for any to flee and make their escape if they thought fit; (See Gill on Numbers 31:7).

Deuteronomy 20:12 In-Context

10 "When you approach a city to fight against it, {you must offer it peace}.

11 {And then} if {they accept your terms of peace} and {they surrender to you}, {and then} all the people {inhabiting it} shall be forced labor for you, and they shall serve you.

12 But if they {do not accept your terms of peace} and they want to make war with you, then you shall lay siege against it.

13 And Yahweh your God will give it into your hand, and you shall kill all its males with the {edge} of [the] sword.

14 Only the women and the little children and the domestic animals and all that shall be in the city, all of its spoil you may loot for yourselves, and you may enjoy the spoil of your enemies that Yahweh you God has given to you.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "not they make peace with you"
• [b]. That is, the city