Deuteronomy 20:11

11 If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you.

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Deuteronomy 20:11 in Other Translations

KJV

11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

ESV

11 And if it responds to you peaceably and it opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall do forced labor for you and shall serve you.

NLT

11 If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor.

MSG

11 If they answer, "Yes, peace!" and open the city to you, then everyone found there will be conscripted as forced laborers and work for you.

CSB

11 If it accepts your offer of peace and opens [its gates] to you, all the people found in it will become forced laborers for you and serve you.

Deuteronomy 20:11 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 20:11

And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace
Comply with the terms of peace offered:

and open unto thee;
the gates of the city and its garrisons, and deliver all into their hands:

then it shall be that all the people that is found therein;
some having made their escape before the surrender of the city:

shall be tributaries unto thee:
pay a yearly tax imposed upon them, as the Moabites sometimes did, and which was paid in lambs and rams with the wool, ( 2 Kings 3:4 )

and they shall serve thee;
not as slaves, or be in continual bondage and servitude; but upon occasion be called out to any public service, as joining them against their enemies, rebuilding palaces and cities, or repairing walls of cities, and the like; and in general acknowledge their dominion over them, and their own subjection to them, by paying an annual tribute, or sending gifts unto them; thus the Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites, became the servants of David, ( 2 Samuel 8:2 2 Samuel 8:6 2 Samuel 8:14 ) .

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible