Deuteronomy 20:14
12 But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city.
13 When the LORD your God has delivered it into your hand, you must put every male to the sword.
But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.
15 This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.
16 However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.
- KJV
- But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
- WEB
- but the women, the little ones, the livestock, and all that is in the city, even all its plunder, you shall take for plunder for yourself. You may use the plunder of your enemies, which the LORD your God has given you.
- ASV
- but the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take for a prey unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which Jehovah thy God hath given thee.
- DARBY
- only the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that shall be in the city, all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take as booty for thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee
- BLB
- But the women, and the children, and the livestock, and all that is in the city, all its spoil, you shall plunder for yourself. And you shall devour the plunder of your enemies, which YHWH your God gives to you.
- ÅB
- men kvinnene og barna og feet og alt det som er i byen - alt hærfanget der - kan du ta som ditt bytte, og du kan nytte alt det som Herren din Gud har latt deg ta fra dine fiender.
- OTB
- Men kvinnene, barna, buskapen og alt annet i byen, alt byttet, kan du ta som krigsbytte for deg selv; og du skal bruke byttet Herren din Gud har gitt deg fra dine fiender.
- B1930
- men kvinnene og barna og feet og alt det som er i byen - alt hærfanget der - kan du ta som ditt bytte, og du kan nytte alt det som Herren din Gud har latt dig ta fra dine fiender.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Joshua 8:2
And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set up an ambush behind the city.”
Read in contextJoshua 22:8
saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”
Read in contextNumbers 31:9
The Israelites captured the Midianite women and their children, and they plundered all their herds, flocks, and goods.
Read in context2 Chronicles 20:25
Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuables —more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.
Read in contextNumbers 31:12
They brought the captives, spoils, and plunder to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of Israel at the camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.
Read in contextPsalms 68:12
“Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder.
Read in contextNumbers 31:18
but spare for yourselves every girl who has never had relations with a man.
Read in contextNumbers 31:35–54
and 32,000 women who had not slept with a man.
Read in context