Deuteronomy 20:15 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 20:15 mean?

Deuteronomy 20:15 instructs the Israelites to apply certain rules of warfare only to cities that are far away from them, not to the cities belonging to the nearby nations specifically mentioned earlier in the chapter. This verse draws a clear line between how Israel is to treat distant peoples versus those in the land they are entering.

In this passage, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The context is a set of instructions about warfare, where God, through Moses, distinguishes between the treatment of local Canaanite cities and those of distant nations. The verse clarifies that the more merciful terms described earlier (offering peace before attacking) are only for cities "very far off," not for the Canaanite cities within the land of Canaan.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 20:15

• "do" (עָשָׂה, ʿasah): This word means "to do" or "to make." Here, it refers to carrying out the specific instructions for warfare, emphasizing intentional action.
• "cities" (עִיר, ʿir): The word for "cities" appears twice, underlining that these instructions are about urban centers, not just general regions or people groups.
• "very" (מְאֹד, me'od): This word intensifies the distance, making it clear that only cities "very far off" are in view, not just those outside immediate borders.
• "off" (רָחוֹק, rachoq): This means "far" or "distant," reinforcing the idea that these cities are not among Israel's close neighbors.
• "nations" (גּוֹי, goy): This term refers to "nations" or "peoples," distinguishing the foreign groups from the specific Canaanite nations listed earlier.

Why Deuteronomy 20:15 matters

• This verse clarifies that the rules for offering peace before attacking do not apply to the Canaanite cities within the Promised Land, but only to distant foreign cities.
• It helps prevent confusion about Israel's conduct toward different groups, showing a deliberate distinction in how they were to treat local versus distant peoples.
• Understanding this verse sheds light on the broader context of Deuteronomy 20, where different instructions are given for different kinds of warfare, reflecting the unique situation of Israel entering a land they believed was promised to them.