Deuteronomy 2:35 - Only the livestock we took for plunder for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities which we had taken.

Generated Verse: Deuteronomy 2:35

What does "Deuteronomy 2:35" mean?


This verse, from Deuteronomy 2:35, describes the Israelites' behavior after conquering a city. Let's break it down:

"Only the livestock we took for plunder for ourselves..." This means the Israelites kept the animals (cattle, sheep, goats, etc.) they found in the conquered city as spoils of war. "Plunder" refers to goods taken from an enemy during wartime.

"...with the plunder of the cities which we had taken." This reinforces the idea that the Israelites seized other valuable items (besides livestock) from the conquered cities. "Plunder" here would include things like money, tools, weapons, furniture, and other useful or valuable possessions.

In simpler terms, the verse is saying:

"We kept the animals and other valuable items we found when we conquered the cities."

Context and Significance:

This verse is part of a larger narrative in Deuteronomy 2 where the Israelites are recounting their journey through the wilderness after leaving Egypt. They are describing their conquests of certain Amorite kingdoms.

The mention of taking plunder is typical of ancient warfare. It was common practice for conquering armies to loot the cities they captured. The plunder served as payment or reward for the soldiers and also enriched the conquering nation.

It's important to note that Deuteronomy also contains laws and instructions regarding warfare, including limitations on plunder in certain cases (e.g., cities offered peace). These regulations served to moderate the harsh realities of ancient warfare. This particular instance in Deuteronomy 2:35 appears to be presented without explicit divine approval or disapproval, simply as a factual account of what happened.

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