Deuteronomy 21:10

10 "When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God gives them into your hands, and you take them captive,

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 Forgive, O LORD, thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and set not the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of thy people Israel; but let the guilt of blood be forgiven them.'

9 So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD.

10 "When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God gives them into your hands, and you take them captive,

11 and see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you have desire for her and would take her for yourself as wife,

12 then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall shave her head and pare her nails.