
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 20
Translation and Transliteration of
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1When you take the field against your enemies, and see horses and chariots—forces larger than yours—have no fear of them, for Hashem your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, is with you.
ki-te-TZE la-mil-KHA-ma al-o-YE-VE-kha v'-ra-EE-ta SUS va-RE-khev AM RAV mi-m'-KHA lo ti-RA may-HEM ki a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha i-MA-khah ha-ma-a-LE-kha may-E-retz mitz-RA-yim
אכִּֽי־תֵצֵ֨א לַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה עַל־אֹיְבֶ֗ךָ וְֽרָאִ֜יתָ ס֤וּס וָרֶ֙כֶב֙ עַ֚ם רַ֣ב מִמְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א תִירָ֖א מֵהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ הַמַּֽעַלְךָ֖ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
2Before you join battle, the Kohen shall come forward and address the troops.
v'-ha-YA k'-ka-rov-KHEM el ha-mil-kha-MAH, v'-ni-GASH ha-ko-HAYN v'-di-BER el ha-AHM
בוְהָיָ֕ה כְּקָֽרׇבְכֶ֖ם אֶל־הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִגַּ֥שׁ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְדִבֶּ֥ר אֶל־הָעָֽם׃
3He shall say to them, “Hear, O Yisrael! You are about to join battle with your enemy. Let not your courage falter. Do not be in fear, or in panic, or in dread of them.
v'-a-MAR a-LE-hem, sh'-MA yis-ra-AYL, a-TEM k'-RAY-VEEM ha-YOM la-mil-kha-MAH al oy-VEY-khem, al y'-RACH l'-vav-KHEM, al ti-RE-u, v'-al takh-P'-ZU, v'-al ta-a-R'-TZU mi-p'-NE-hem.
גוְאָמַ֤ר אֲלֵהֶם֙ שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתֶּ֨ם קְרֵבִ֥ים הַיּ֛וֹם לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹיְבֵיכֶ֑ם אַל־יֵרַ֣ךְ לְבַבְכֶ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֧וּ וְאַֽל־תַּחְפְּז֛וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
4For it is Hashem your God who marches with you to do battle for you against your enemy, to bring you victory.”
KEE a-do-NAI e-lo-hay-KHEM ha-ho-LAYKH i-ma-KHEM l'-hi-la-KHAYM la-KHEM im o-y'-vay-KHEM l'-ho-SHEE-a et-KHEM
דכִּ֚י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם הַהֹלֵ֖ךְ עִמָּכֶ֑ם לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם עִם־אֹיְבֵיכֶ֖ם לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אֶתְכֶֽם׃
5Then the officials shall address the troops, as follows: “Is there anyone who has built a new house but has not dedicated it? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another dedicate it.
v'-di-b'-RU ha-sho-t'-REEM el ha-AHM lay-MOR: mee ha-EESH a-SHER ba-NAH va-YIT cha-DASH v'-LO cha-NA-ko, ye-LEKH v'-ya-SHOV l'-VEI-to, PEN ya-MUT ba-mil-cha-MAH, v'-EESH a-KHER yakh-ne-KHE-nu.
הוְדִבְּר֣וּ הַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֮ אֶל־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹר֒ מִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנָ֤ה בַֽיִת־חָדָשׁ֙ וְלֹ֣א חֲנָכ֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יַחְנְכֶֽנּוּ׃
6Is there anyone who has planted a vineyard but has never harvested it? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another harvest it.
u-mi-ha-EESH a-SHER-na-TA k'-REM v'-LO khil-LO ye-LEKH v'-ya-SHOV l'-VEY-to PEN ya-MUT ba-mil-KHA-ma v'-EEsh a-KHER ye-kha-l'-LE-nu
ווּמִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־נָטַ֥ע כֶּ֙רֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א חִלְּל֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ׃
7Is there anyone who has paid the bride-price for a wife, but who has not yet married her? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another marry her.”
u-mi-ha-EESH a-SHER e-RAS i-SHAH v'-LO l'-ka-KHAH ye-LEKH v'-ya-SHOV l'-VEY-to PEN ya-MUT ba-mil-KHA-mah v'-EEsh a-KHER yi-ka-KHE-nah
זוּמִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־אֵרַ֤שׂ אִשָּׁה֙ וְלֹ֣א לְקָחָ֔הּ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יִקָּחֶֽנָּה׃
8The officials shall go on addressing the troops and say, “Is there anyone afraid and disheartened? Let him go back to his home, lest the courage of his comrades flag like his.”
v'-ya-SU ha-sho-t'-REEM l'-da-BAYR el ha-AHM, va-a-M'-RU: mee ha-EESH ha-ya-RAY v'-RAKH ha-l'-vaV, ye-LAYKH v'-ya-SHOV l'-vay-TO, v'-LO yi-MAS et l'-va-V a-KHAYV kil-va-VO.
חוְיָסְפ֣וּ הַשֹּׁטְרִים֮ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָם֒ וְאָמְר֗וּ מִי־הָאִ֤ישׁ הַיָּרֵא֙ וְרַ֣ךְ הַלֵּבָ֔ב יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִמַּ֛ס אֶת־לְבַ֥ב אֶחָ֖יו כִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃
9When the officials have finished addressing the troops, army commanders shall assume command of the troops.
v'-ha-YA k'-kha-LOT ha-sho-t'-REEM l'-da-BAYR el ha-AHM u-fo-K'-DU sa-RAY t'-va-OT b'-ROSH ha-AHM.
טוְהָיָ֛ה כְּכַלֹּ֥ת הַשֹּׁטְרִ֖ים לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָ֑ם וּפָ֥קְד֛וּ שָׂרֵ֥י צְבָא֖וֹת בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם׃
10When you approach a town to attack it, you shall offer it terms of peace.
kee tik-RAV el EER l'-hi-la-KHAYM a-LE-ha v'-ka-RA-ta ay-LE-ha l'-sha-LOM
יכִּֽי־תִקְרַ֣ב אֶל־עִ֔יר לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עָלֶ֑יהָ וְקָרָ֥אתָ אֵלֶ֖יהָ לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃
20:10 You shall offer it terms of peace
Before going to war, the Children of Israel are required to first offer their enemies the opportunity to make peace. According to some commentators, this applies even to the nations living in the parts of the Land of Israel promised to B’nei Yisrael. The land was given to the People of Israel as an inheritance, but first and foremost they must try to live there in peace with their neighbors. The State of Israel has taken the quest for peace very seriously. It has even returned land captured in a defensive war, and offered to return more, in exchange for peace with its neighbors.
11If it responds peaceably and lets you in, all the people present there shall serve you at forced labor.
v'-ha-YA im sha-LOM ta-a-N'-KHA u-fa-T'-KHA LAKH v'-ha-YA kol-ha-AHM ha-nim-TZA-BAH yi-h'-YU L'-KHA la-MAS va-a-va-DU-KHA
יאוְהָיָה֙ אִם־שָׁל֣וֹם תַּֽעַנְךָ֔ וּפָתְחָ֖ה לָ֑ךְ וְהָיָ֞ה כׇּל־הָעָ֣ם הַנִּמְצָא־בָ֗הּ יִהְי֥וּ לְךָ֛ לָמַ֖ס וַעֲבָדֽוּךָ׃
12If it does not surrender to you, but would join battle with you, you shall lay siege to it;
v'-im-LO tash-LEEM i-MAKH v'-a-s'-TAH i-M'-KHA mil-kha-MAH v'-tzar-TAH a-LE-ha
יבוְאִם־לֹ֤א תַשְׁלִים֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ וְעָשְׂתָ֥ה עִמְּךָ֖ מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְצַרְתָּ֖ עָלֶֽיהָ׃
13and when Hashem your God delivers it into your hand, you shall put all its males to the sword.
u-n'-ta-NAH a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha b'-ya-DE-kha v'-hi-KI-ta et-KOL z'-khu-RAH l'-fi-kha-REV
יגוּנְתָנָ֛הּ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וְהִכִּיתָ֥ אֶת־כׇּל־זְכוּרָ֖הּ לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃
14You may, however, take as your booty the women, the children, the livestock, and everything in the town—all its spoil—and enjoy the use of the spoil of your enemy, which Hashem your God gives you.
RAK ha-NA-sheem v'-ha-TAF v'-ha-b'-HE-ma v'-KOL a-SHER yi-HE-yeh ba-IR kol sh'-LA-lah TA-voz LAKH v'-a-KHAL-ta et sh'-LAL oy-VE-kha a-SHER na-TAN a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha LAKH
ידרַ֣ק הַ֠נָּשִׁ֠ים וְהַטַּ֨ף וְהַבְּהֵמָ֜ה וְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֥ה בָעִ֛יר כׇּל־שְׁלָלָ֖הּ תָּבֹ֣ז לָ֑ךְ וְאָֽכַלְתָּ֙ אֶת־שְׁלַ֣ל אֹיְבֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֛ן יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לָֽךְ׃
15Thus you shall deal with all towns that lie very far from you, towns that do not belong to nations hereabout.
KEN ta-a-SEH l'-KOL he-a-REEM ha-RE-kho-KOT mi-m'-KHA m'-OD, a-SHER lo-m'-a-REI ha-go-YIM ha-EL-leh he-Na
טוכֵּ֤ן תַּעֲשֶׂה֙ לְכׇל־הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים הָרְחֹקֹ֥ת מִמְּךָ֖ מְאֹ֑ד אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־מֵעָרֵ֥י הַגּֽוֹיִם־הָאֵ֖לֶּה הֵֽנָּה׃
16In the towns of the latter peoples, however, which Hashem your God is giving you as a heritage, you shall not let a soul remain alive.
RAK me-a-REI ha-a-MEEM ha-EL-leh a-SHER a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha no-TAYN le-KHA na-KHA-lah lo t'-kha-YEH kol n'-sha-MAH
טזרַ֗ק מֵעָרֵ֤י הָֽעַמִּים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַחֲלָ֑ה לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּ֖ה כׇּל־נְשָׁמָֽה׃
17No, you must proscribe them—the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites—as Hashem your God has commanded you,
ki-ha-cha-RAYM ta-cha-REEM-ham ha-KHI-tee v'-ha-e-mo-REE ha-k'-na-a-NEE v'-ha-p'-ri-ZEE ha-khi-VEE v'-ha-y'-bu-SEE ka-a-SHER tzi-v'-KHA a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha
יזכִּֽי־הַחֲרֵ֣ם תַּחֲרִימֵ֗ם הַחִתִּ֤י וְהָאֱמֹרִי֙ הַכְּנַעֲנִ֣י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י הַחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִ֑י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוְּךָ֖ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃
18lest they lead you into doing all the abhorrent things that they have done for their gods and you stand guilty before Hashem your God.
l'-ma-AN a-SHER lo y'-la-m'-DU et-KHEM la-a-SOT k'-KOL to-a-VO-tam a-SHER a-SU l'-e-lo-HAY-khem va-kha-ta-TEM la-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-khem.
יחלְמַ֗עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יְלַמְּד֤וּ אֶתְכֶם֙ לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת כְּכֹל֙ תּֽוֹעֲבֹתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשׂ֖וּ לֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶ֑ם וַחֲטָאתֶ֖ם לַיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
19When in your war against a city you have to besiege it a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees, wielding the ax against them. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down. Are trees of the field human to withdraw before you into the besieged city?
ki-ta-TZUR el-IR ya-MEEM ra-BEEM le-hi-la-CHEM a-LE-ha le-tof-SA-ha lo-tash-KHEET et-EY-tzaH lin-DO-akh a-LA-yov GAR-zen ki mi-ME-nu to-KHEL ve-o-TO lo-tikh-ROT ki ha-A-DAM EYTZ ha-SA-deh la-VO mi-pa-NE-kha ba-ma-TZOR
יטכִּֽי־תָצ֣וּר אֶל־עִיר֩ יָמִ֨ים רַבִּ֜ים לְֽהִלָּחֵ֧ם עָלֶ֣יהָ לְתׇפְשָׂ֗הּ לֹֽא־תַשְׁחִ֤ית אֶת־עֵצָהּ֙ לִנְדֹּ֤חַ עָלָיו֙ גַּרְזֶ֔ן כִּ֚י מִמֶּ֣נּוּ תֹאכֵ֔ל וְאֹת֖וֹ לֹ֣א תִכְרֹ֑ת כִּ֤י הָֽאָדָם֙ עֵ֣ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה לָבֹ֥א מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃
20Only trees that you know do not yield food may be destroyed; you may cut them down for constructing siegeworks against the city that is waging war on you, until it has been reduced.
RAK ETZ a-SHER tay-DA kee-LO a-TZ ma-a-KHAL HU o-TO tash-KHEET v'-ka-RA-ta u-va-NEE-ta ma-TZOR al ha-EER a-SHER hi O-sa i-m'-KHA mi-l'-kha-MAH ad rid-TAH. (P)
כרַ֞ק עֵ֣ץ אֲשֶׁר־תֵּדַ֗ע כִּֽי־לֹא־עֵ֤ץ מַאֲכָל֙ ה֔וּא אֹת֥וֹ תַשְׁחִ֖ית וְכָרָ֑תָּ וּבָנִ֣יתָ מָצ֗וֹר עַל־הָעִיר֙ אֲשֶׁר־הִ֨וא עֹשָׂ֧ה עִמְּךָ֛ מִלְחָמָ֖ה עַ֥ד רִדְתָּֽהּ׃