Deuteronomy 20:11
If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you.
Majority Standard Bible
In The King James Version
In Context
10When you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace.
12But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city.
Cross References
Joshua 9:9“Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,
Joshua 9:27On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.
Joshua 16:10But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, but they are forced laborers.
Judges 1:30Zebulun failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kitron and Nahalol; so the Canaanites lived among them and served as forced laborers.
1 Kings 9:21their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.
Luke 19:14But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 20:11-20
Proclamations of War; Directions Concerning War. ( b. c. 1451.) 10 When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. 11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. 12 And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: 13 And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou… Read the whole commentary →