Matthew Henry Commentary Deuteronomy 20:10-12

"When thou drawest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that are found therein shall become tributary unto thee, and shall serve thee. And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:" — Deuteronomy 20:10-12 (ASV)

The Israelites are here instructed about the nations against whom they made war. Let this show God's grace in dealing with sinners. He proclaims peace and beseeches them to be reconciled. Let it also show us our duty in dealing with our brothers and sisters. Whoever is for war, we must be for peace. In the cities given to Israel, none of their inhabitants were to be left.

Since it could not be expected that these nations would be cured of their idolatry, they would harm Israel. These regulations are not the rules for our conduct, but Christ's law of love. The horrors of war must fill a sensitive heart with anguish with every recollection; they are proofs of human wickedness, the power of Satan, and the just vengeance of God, who in this way scourges a guilty world. But how dreadful is the condition of those who are engaged in an unequal conflict with their Maker, who will not submit to render to Him the easy tribute of worship and praise!

Certain ruin awaits them. Let neither the number nor the power of the enemies of our souls dismay us, nor let even our own weakness cause us to tremble or faint. The Lord will save us; but in this war, let no one engage whose heart is devoted to the world, or afraid of the cross and the conflict. Care is taken here that in besieging cities the fruit trees should not be destroyed.

God is a better friend to us than we are to ourselves; and God's law considers our interests and comforts, while our own appetites and passions, which we indulge, are enemies of our welfare. Many of the divine precepts restrain us from destroying what is for our life and food. The Jews understand this as forbidding all willful waste on any account whatsoever. Every creature of God is good; as nothing is to be refused, so nothing is to be abused.

We may live to find ourselves lacking what we carelessly waste.