Deuteronomy 20 The Laws of War

Deuteronomy 20
The Laws of War
1 When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots, and the people greater than you, you shall have no fear of them; For the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
2 And it shall come to pass, when ye come near to the battle, that the priest shall come forward, and shall speak to the people.
3 And he shall say unto her, Hear, O Israel, this day draw nigh unto battle against your enemies: that if your heart be not softened, fear neither tremble, nor be terrified before them;
4 For the LORD your God is going with you to fight against your enemies to save you.
5 Then shall the officers speak unto the people, saying, Which man hath built a new house, and not yet consecrated it? go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and some other to consecrate.
6 And which man has planted a vineyard, and yet has not obtained fruit from it? go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and some other man to deceive him.
7 And who is the man that is betrothed to a woman, and yet has not received her? Go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and some other man receive it.
8 And the officers shall continue to speak to the people, saying, What is a fearful and timid-hearted man? go and return to your house, that your brethren's heart may not melt like your heart.
9 And it shall come to pass, that when the officers are finished speaking to the people, then they shall appoint the chief of hosts to the head of the people.
10 When you come to any city to fight it, you will proclaim its peace.
11 And if he answer thee in peace, and open thee, all the people that are found therein shall be a tribute unto thee, and shall serve thee.
12 But if she does not make peace with you, but makes war with you first, then you will besiege her.
13 And the Lord your God will give it into your hand; and every man that is therein shall pass to the edge of the sword,
14 Except only women, and children, and animals; and all that is in the city, and all its spoil, shall thou take unto thee; And thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which Jehovah thy God hath given thee.
15 Thus shalt thou do to all the cities that are far from thee, but not of the cities of these nations.
16 But of the cities of these nations, which the LORD thy God shall give unto thee for an inheritance, nothing that hath breath you shall leave alive:
17 But destroy them utterly: to the Hittites, and to the Amorites, and to the Canaanites, and to the Perizzites, and to the Hivites, and to the Jebusites, as the LORD thy God commanded thee.
18 That they may not teach you to do according to all their abominations that they have done to their gods, and to sin against the LORD your God.
19 When you besiege a city for many days, fighting against it to take it, you shall not destroy its grove, and put an ax in it, because thou shalt eat it: and thou shalt not cut it down; to act as junk before you.
20 But the trees which you know are not eating trees will destroy them and cut them down: and against the city which they fight against you, you will build strongholds until it is cut down.