![]() ![]() If the offers of peace were not accepted, then they must proceed to push on the war. We must be for peace, whoever are for war. ![]() We should never make use of the law till we have first tried to accommodate matters in variance amicably, and without expense and vexation. Let it show us our duty in dealing with our brethren: if any quarrel happen, let us not only be ready to hearken to the proposals of peace, but forward to make such proposals. God's grace in dealing with sinners: though he might most justly and easily destroy them, yet, having no pleasure in their ruin, he proclaims peace, and beseeches them to be reconciled so that those who lie most obnoxious to his justice, and ready to fall as sacrifices to it, if they make him an answer of peace, and open to him, upon condition that they will be tributaries and servants to him, shall not only be saved from ruin, but incorporated with his Israel, as fellow-citizens with the saints. But for any other nation which they made war upon, for the enlarging of their coast, the avenging of any wrong done, or the recovery of any right denied, they must first proclaim peace to the. ![]() ![]() And I see not how they could proclaim peace to those who by the law were to be utterly rooted out, and to whom they were to show no mercy. Others think that they are excluded ( ) not only from the benefit of that law ( ) which confines military execution to the males only, but from the benefit of this also, which allows not to make war till peace was refused. Some think that even the seven nations of Canaan were to have this offer of peace made to them and the offer was no jest or mockery, though it was of the Lord to harden their hearts that they should not accept it. That is (say the Jewish writers), "upon condition that they renounce idolatry, worship the God of Israel, as proselytes of the gate that were not circumcised, pay to their new masters a yearly tribute, and submit to their government:" on these terms the process of war should be stayed, and their conquerors, upon this submission, were to be their protectors. Even to the proclamation of war must be subjoined a tender of peace, if they would accept of it upon reasonable terms. War is an appeal, in which the merits of the cause must be set forth. In dealing with the worst of enemies, the laws of justice and honour must be observed and, as the sword must never be taken in hand without cause, so not without cause shown. They must not make a descent upon any of their neighbours till they had first given them fair notice, by a public manifesto, or remonstrance, stating the ground of their quarrel with them. They are here directed what method to take in dealing with the cities (these only are mentioned,, but doubtless the armies in the field, and the nations they had occasion to deal with, are likewise intended) upon which they made war. 19 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege: 20 Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued. 16 But of the cities of these people, which the L ORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: 17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites as the L ORD thy God hath commanded thee: 18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods so should ye sin against the L ORD your God. 15 Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations. 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 L ORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: 14 But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the L ORD thy God hath given thee. 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. 10 When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. Deu 20:19 | MHC | STEP | Proclamations of War Directions Concerning War. ![]()
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