Deuteronomy 20:14

14 "Only the women and the children and ¹the animals and all that is in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as booty for yourself; and you shall use the spoil of your enemies which the LORD your God has given you.

Deuteronomy 20:14 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 20:14

But the women, the little ones, and the cattle
These were to be spared; women, because of the weakness of their sex, and subjection to their husbands; and little ones, which take in males as well as females, as Jarchi observes, because of their tender age; and cattle because of their insensibility; all these having had no concern in holding out the siege:

and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shall thou
take unto thyself;
gold, silver, merchandise, household goods, utensils in trade, and whatever was of any worth and value to be found in their houses:

and thou shall eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the Lord thy God
hath given thee;
that is, enjoy all their wealth and riches, estates and possessions; for this is not to be restrained to things eatable only.

Deuteronomy 20:14 In-Context

12 "However, if it does not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it.

13 "When the LORD your God gives it into your hand, you shall strike all the men in it with the edge of the sword.

14 "Only the women and the children and the animals and all that is in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as booty for yourself; and you shall use the spoil of your enemies which the LORD your God has given you.

15 "Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby.

16 "Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes.

Cross References

• 1. Joshua 8:2

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "eat"