Deuteronomy 20 Footnotes

20:1 The Lord’s presence with his people in their warfare does not mean he sanctions every war or takes an active role in it. The passage is describing “holy war” (sometimes called “the Lord’s war”), a conflict initiated by the Lord, empowered by him, and resulting in his appropriation of its spoils. Such warfare was undertaken to destroy peoples who were irretrievably beyond redemption and who were likely to contaminate Israel’s faith with their idolatrous practices (see 1:30; 7:2,16; 19:1).

20:16-17 The destiny of the various Canaanite peoples was complete annihilation. They were to be placed under the ban (Hb cherem), the wrath of God enacted against persons beyond redemption (see notes on 1:30; 12:2-3).