If the people accept the Israelites’ offer, there will be no fighting and no bloodshed; but they will become the Israelites’ slaves.

If its answer to you is peace: that is, “if the people of that town agree to what you demand.”

It opens to you: this seems to mean that the people open the gates of the town so that the Israelites can enter and occupy the town. Or it may mean, as New Revised Standard Version translates, “surrenders to you.” In some languages it will be necessary to place this clause at the beginning; for example, “If the people of that town open the gates and surrender.”

All the people who are found in it: a way of saying “all the inhabitants of the town,” “all the people who live there.”

Shall do forced labor for you and shall serve you: this is simply one statement, expressed by two verbs that have the same meaning. For the use of forced labor, see Judges 1.27-36. Good News Translation has “they are all to become your slaves and do forced labor for you.” Another way to express this is “… and you will force them to work for you.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .