And it shall be, if it make thee answere of peace, and open vnto thee, then it shalbe that all the people that is found therein, shall be tributaries vnto thee, and they shall serue thee. Deuteronomy 20:11 (KJV)
Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Old Testament and part of the Torah, records Moses’ final speeches to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. In chapter 20 Moses gives specific instructions concerning warfare and the treatment of cities that are not part of the land God has promised to His people.
In Deuteronomy 20:11 God tells the Israelites how to handle a city that answers with peace and opens its gates. The instruction is that the people of such a city become tributaries and serve the Israelites. This directive applied to a city that was not within the promised inheritance, and it reflects the historical practice of ancient warfare where the victorious nation required tribute or service from the defeated.
The verse illustrates principles that can be drawn about the conduct of war. First, it stresses the pursuit of peace: when a city offers a peaceful surrender, the Israelites were to accept the terms rather than continue fighting. Second, it acknowledges the norm of conquest and subjugation in the ancient world, while noting that this was a cultural practice, not a universal moral endorsement of servitude.
The instruction is rooted in the covenant God made with Israel. The conquest of the Promised Land was intended to establish a homeland where God’s people could worship Him, not to pursue imperial expansion. The Israelites were acting as God’s chosen people, fulfilling a specific divine promise.
For Christians today, the Old‑Testament regulations are not binding. Jesus taught love, forgiveness, and the pursuit of peace, calling believers to be peacemakers (Matt 5:9) and to love their enemies (Matt 5:44). Therefore, our understanding of conflict should be guided by the principles of Christ rather than the literal war instructions given to Israel.
Nevertheless, spiritual lessons can be drawn. The “cities” of opposition, sin, and strongholds that believers encounter parallel the physical cities in the ancient narrative. Just as the Israelites were to make peace with a city that opened its gates, Christians are called to seek reconciliation with sin and to rely on God’s strength to overcome spiritual strongholds.
In conclusion, Deuteronomy 20:11 provides a historical instruction for handling a peacefully surrendered city, emphasizing peace, tribute, and service within the covenant context. While the literal application does not extend to modern practice, the passage invites believers to value peace, understand historical context, and apply its spiritual principles to the battles of the Christian life.
