“When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
Deuteronomy 20:10
What does Deuteronomy 20:10 mean?
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Deuteronomy 20:10
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Even in the brutal realities of ancient warfare, God mandates offering peace first, which reveals a profound value for life and an unexpected pathway to mercy before hostilities even begin. This instruction shows that conflict, when unavoidable, should still be approached with a posture of potential reconciliation, not immediate annihilation.
“When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land, God lays out the rules for warfare, distinguishing between engaging distant cities and confronting the Canaanite nations already inhabiting the land. This passage specifically addresses how to approach cities not part of those designated for destruction, commanding Israel to first offer terms of peace and surrender. If peace is accepted, the inhabitants are spared, but if rejected, the laws then shift to a different, more severe response.
Before the first stone is thrown or the first sword is drawn, God commands a surprising act of diplomacy.
In the brutal context of ancient warfare, where cities were often simply stormed and destroyed, God's command in Deuteronomy 20:10 stands out. He instructs Israel, 'When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it.' This wasn't just a formality; it was a genuine opportunity for surrender and a way to minimize bloodshed.
A Principle of Restraint
This opening offer of peace highlights that even in conflict, there's a divine value placed on life and an opportunity for reconciliation before the inevitable consequences of resistance.
Ask a follow-up
What did 'offering peace' actually mean, and what was the desired outcome?
The offer of peace in Deuteronomy 20:10 wasn't merely a suggestion; it carried specific conditions and implications. When Israel was commanded to 'proclaim peace,' it meant offering terms of surrender.
The Terms of Surrender
This concept reveals that peace, in this context, was not about mutual agreement between equals but about the cessation of hostilities through the acknowledgment of a higher authority. It was a path of pragmatic mercy, prioritizing life through surrender.
Understand the original words
shalom · Hebrew Noun
Shalom; a state of completeness, soundness, and harmony with God, neighbor, and creation. In warfare, it refers to a formal proposal for cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a treaty.
This passage highlights a similar scenario where some cities surrendered to Joshua without a fight, emphasizing the principle of offering terms before engaging in battle.
Judges 21:13This verse shows the Benjamites offering peace and accepting terms of settlement, demonstrating the practical application of negotiating peace even after conflict.
1 Kings 20:2King Ahab receives a demand from the king of Syria that leads to negotiation, illustrating how diplomatic overtures were a part of ancient warfare, even if not always successful.
2 Kings 18:28Rabshakeh's speech to Jerusalem offers terms of surrender, showing how such diplomatic maneuvers were employed to demoralize the enemy and secure a bloodless victory.
Matthew 10:13Jesus instructs his disciples to offer peace to a household or city before proclaiming judgment, mirroring the principle of offering mercy first in a spiritual context.
calvinDeuteronomy 20:10-18: "When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it."
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.
Tantum mulieres, et parvulos, et animalia, et quicquid fuerit in urbe, omnia spolia ejus praedaberis tibi: comedesque spolia inimicorum tuorum, quos dederit…
cambridgeDeuteronomy 20:10: "When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it."
10 . When thou drawest nigh ] Cp. Deuteronomy 20:2 . to fight against it ] With another preposition the same vb is used of attacking or besieging a city, Jdg 9:45 , 1 Samuel 23:1 , etc. proclaim peace unto it ] Jdg 21:13 . Negotiations between enemies on the eve of battle were frequent (e.g. Jdg 11:12-18 , 1 Kings 20:2 ff.) and it cannot have been unusual for besiegers to offer to the besieg…
Even in the brutal realities of ancient warfare, God mandates offering peace first, which reveals a profound value for life and an unexpected pathway to mercy before hostilities even begin. This instruction shows that conflict, when unavoidable, should still be approached with a posture of potential reconciliation, not immediate annihilation.
As Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land, God lays out the rules for warfare, distinguishing between engaging distant cities and confronting the Canaanite nations already inhabiting the land. This passage specifically addresses how to approach cities not part of those designated for destruction, commanding Israel to first offer terms of peace and surrender. If peace is accepted, the inhabitants are spared, but if rejected, the laws then shift to a different, more severe response.
As Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land, God lays out the rules for warfare, distinguishing between engaging distant cities and confronting the Canaanite nations already inhabiting the land. This passage specifically addresses how to approach cities not part of those designated for destruction, commanding Israel to first offer terms of peace and surrender. If peace is accepted, the inhabitants are spared, but if rejected, the laws then shift to a different, more severe response.
"“When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it." — Even in the brutal realities of ancient warfare, God mandates offering peace first, which reveals a profound value for life and an unexpected pathway to mercy before hostilities even begin. This inst…
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Last reviewed October 2026