to you, it will be proper for you to keep peace with them; but if they
trust in their own strength, as superior to yours, and will not do you
justice, lead your army against them, making use of God as your supreme
Commander, but ordaining for a lieutenant under him one that is of the
greatest courage among you; for these different commanders, besides
their being an obstacle to actions that are to be done on the sudden,
are a disadvantage to those that make use of them. Lead an army pure,
and of chosen men, composed of all such as have extraordinary strength
of body and hardiness of soul; but do you send away the timorous part,
lest they run away in the time of action, and so afford an advantage to
your enemies. Do you also give leave to those that have lately built
them houses, and have not yet lived in them a year's time; and to those
that have planted them vineyards, and have not yet been partakers of
their fruits,—to continue in their own country; as well as those also
who have betrothed, or lately married them wives, lest they have such an
affection for these things that they be too sparing of their lives, and,
by reserving themselves for these enjoyments, they become voluntary
cowards, on account of their wives.
42. When you have pitched your camp, take care that you do nothing that
is cruel. And when you are engaged in a siege; and want timber for the
making of warlike engines, do not you render the land naked by cutting
down trees that bear fruit, but spare them, as considering that they
were made for the benefit of men; and that if they could speak, they
would have a just plea against you, because, though they are not
occasions of the war, they are unjustly treated, and suffer in it, and
would, if they were able, remove themselves into another land. When you
have beaten your enemies in battle, slay those that have fought against
you; but preserve the others alive, that they may pay you tribute,
excepting the nation of the Canaanites; for as to that people, you must
entirely destroy them.
43, Take care, especially in your battles, that no woman use the habit
of a man, nor man the garment of a woman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account