Deuteronomy 20:10
“When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it.”
What does Deuteronomy 20:10 mean?
Before Israel would attack a city during their conquest of Canaan, they were required to offer peace first, giving the inhabitants a chance to surrender without bloodshed. This wasn't a suggestion but a command, showing that even in warfare, God's people were called to pursue the possibility of reconciliation rather than default to violence. If the city accepted the terms of peace, its people would become servants rather than casualties. Only if they refused this offer could Israel proceed with military force. This command reveals something beautiful about how God wanted his people to operate: mercy and opportunity for peace should always come before conflict. It's a reminder that even in our hardest disagreements today, reaching out with a genuine offer to make things right, before positions become entrenched, can change everything.