Neville Goddard on Deuteronomy 20:13-15 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Deuteronomy 20 in context

Scripture Focus

13And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

14But 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 LORD thy God hath given thee.

15Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

Deuteronomy 20:13-15

Biblical Context

When God delivers a city into your hands, the text prescribes striking the male inhabitants and taking the spoil—the women, children, cattle, and all within the city—to enjoy as sustenance. This command is extended to distant cities as well.

Neville's Inner Vision

In the inner kingdom, the LORD thy God is the I AM that stands as your awareness. The delivery of a city into your hands is the moment your mind recognizes a belief has truly yielded; the 'smite' is not violence on others but the dissolution of a stubborn limitation by the edge of clear, intentional thought. The 'male' of the enemy stands for a persistent fear or habit—one that would deny you the conscious power you now assume. To take the spoil is to claim the fruit of this inner victory: nourishment from abundance, a renewed flow of energy, a feeling of rightful possession. The 'women, little ones, cattle' symbolize the emotions, memories, and habits that accompany the old belief; you still hold them in your inner city as you reorganize your inner economy. Extending this to 'distant cities' means you apply this inner conquest to every corner of your consciousness, until no area remains unconquered. Remember: imagination creates reality; you are the I AM, choosing to dwell in a state of victory.

Practice This Now

Imaginative act: Close your eyes and, in imagination, deliver a realm of thought into your hands; declare I AM the ruler of this inner city and feel the victory now. Revise any lingering sense of lack and taste the nourishment of abundance.