Deuteronomy 20:5-15

5 And the scribes shall speak to the people, saying, What man he that has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man dedicate it.
6 And what man he that has planted a vineyard, and not been made merry with it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man be made merry with it.
7 And what man he that has betrothed a wife, and has not taken her? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
8 And the scribes shall speak further to the people, and say, What man he that fears and is cowardly in his heart? Let him go and return to his house, lest he make the heart of his brother fail, as his own.
9 And it shall come to pass when the scribes shall have ceased speaking to the people, that they shall appoint generals of the army to be leaders of the people.
10 And if thou shalt draw nigh to a city to overcome them by war, then call them out peaceably.
11 If then they should answer peaceably to thee, and open to thee, it shall be that all the people found in it shall be tributary and subject to thee.
12 But if they will not hearken to thee, but wage war against thee, thou shalt invest it;
13 until the Lord thy God shall deliver it into thy hands, and thou shalt smite every male of it with the edge of the sword:
14 except the women and the stuff: and all the cattle, and whatsoever shall be in the city, and all the plunder thou shalt take as spoil for thyself, and shalt eat all the plunder of thine enemies whom the Lord thy God gives thee.
15 Thus shalt thou do to all the cities that are very far off from thee, not of the cities of these nations which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit their land.

Deuteronomy 20:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 20

In this chapter rules are given to be observed in times of war. When a battle was near, a priest was to address the soldiers, and encourage them to fight, De 20:1-4, then the officers were to declare who might return home, De 20:5-9 when an enemy's city was approached, peace was to be proclaimed on certain conditions, which, if accepted of, the inhabitants were to be tributaries and servants, but if not, when taken, all were to be put to the sword, excepting women, children, and cattle, De 20:10-15, but those of the seven nations were to be utterly destroyed, De 20:16-18, and, during a siege, no trees bearing fruit fit for food were to be cut down, De 20:19.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.