Deuteronomy 20:14

Key Reflection

In Deuteronomy 20:14, the Israelites are instructed by divine command that when they conquer a city, all males should be killed. This reflects the military and legal codes of the ancient Near East, where total destruction of enemy cities served to eliminate resistance and ensure dominance. The verse underscores both God's sovereignty over life and death and the harsh realities of war in biblical times, a practice intended to instill fear and maintain order among conquered peoples.