5. “The officers are to address the army, ‘Has any man built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him leave and return home. Otherwise, he may die in battle and another man dedicate it.
6. Has any man planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy its fruit? Let him leave and return home. Otherwise he may die in battle and another man enjoy its fruit.
7. Has any man become engaged to a woman and not married her? Let him leave and return home. Otherwise he may die in battle and another man marry her.’
8. The officers will continue to address the army and say, ‘Is there any man who is afraid or cowardly? Let him leave and return home, so that his brothers’ hearts won’t melt like his own.’
9. When the officers have finished addressing the army, they will appoint military commanders to lead it.
10. “When you approach a city to fight against it, you must make an offer of peace.
11. If it accepts your offer of peace and opens its gates to you, all the people found in it will become forced laborers for you and serve you.
12. However, if it does not make peace with you but wages war against you, lay siege to it.
13. When the Lord your God hands it over to you, you must strike down all its males with the sword.
14. But you may take the women, children, animals, and whatever else is in the city — all its spoil — as plunder. You may enjoy the spoil of your enemies that the Lord your God has given you.