Deuteronomy 13:15-16
you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, devoting it to destruction, all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword. You shall gather all its spoil into the midst of its open square and burn the city and all its spoil with fire, as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to read this verse as a blanket command for total destruction, but notice the phrasing: "devoting it to destruction, all who are in it and its cattle." The focus isn't just on what is destroyed, but on the act of "devoting" it entirely to God – a solemn act of setting it apart as utterly His. This means it's a judgment, not a free-for-all, and the devastation is meant to be a complete removal, leaving nothing for Israel to claim or keep for themselves.
This passage is about what to do if an entire city within Israel succumbs to idolatry. It follows instructions on dealing with individuals who might try to lead others astray, emphasizing that even close family members must be reported. Here, the severity escalates: if a whole city turns away from God, it's to be utterly destroyed, including people and animals, to prevent the contagion of rebellion from spreading and to show God's fierce anger against such unfaithfulness.
This verse sounds incredibly harsh: complete destruction of a city, its people, and even its animals. What's behind such extreme commands?
This passage describes a concept known as a 'ban' or 'devotion to destruction' (the Hebrew word is 'cherem'). It wasn't just a military strategy, but a religious act.
A Solemn Dedication
When God commanded this, it meant everything and everyone within that city was completely devoted to Him, meaning nothing was to be kept for the Israelites. It was to be utterly destroyed, signifying God's absolute judgment against profound sin, especially idolatry.
Preventing Spiritual Contagion
Commentators emphasize that this was a severe measure to prevent the spread of idolatry, which was seen as a deadly spiritual 'contagion' that could corrupt the entire community of Israel. Allowing even a trace of it to remain would endanger everyone's relationship with God.
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The idea of destroying innocent people, including children and animals, feels deeply troubling. How can this be reconciled with a loving God?
This is one of the most challenging aspects of this command. Ancient commentators wrestled with it, recognizing that human reason struggles with God's absolute sovereignty and justice.
God's Judgment, Not Ours
Commentators like Calvin point out that the severity underscores the extreme gravity of persistent rebellion and idolatry, especially for a people who knew God's law. It wasn't arbitrary; it was a response to deep-seated sin.
The Ultimate Source of Life and Death
Ultimately, these passages remind us that God is the author of life and the ultimate judge. He has the right to determine who lives and who dies, and His justice is perfect, even when it's difficult for us to comprehend. While difficult to grasp, the text suggests that even infants are included in God's ultimate judgment, a concept hard for us to accept but presented as God's prerogative.
A Glimpse of Future Judgment
This severe earthly judgment can be seen as a stark foreshadowing of the final judgment, where sin will be completely purged. The emphasis is on God's right to cleanse His creation from sin.
Understand the original words
charam · Hebrew Verb
To set something apart permanently for God as an act of judgment, usually involving total destruction; the object becomes 'holy' to God in the sense that it cannot be reclaimed for common use.
shalal · Hebrew Noun
In biblical law, spoils refer to goods, property, or wealth taken from an enemy in war. They were often strictly regulated by God to ensure proper consecration or destruction to prevent greed or idolatry.
olah · Hebrew Noun
A sacrificial act where an animal (or symbolically, property) is completely consumed by fire to the Lord, signifying total devotion, submission, and atonement.
This passage describes the complete destruction of Jericho, a city devoted to destruction. Like Deuteronomy 13:15, it shows a pattern of total annihilation for cities that defied God's commands.
1 Samuel 15:3Saul is commanded to 'utterly destroy all that the Amalekites have... do not spare them, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.' This mirrors the uncompromising severity described in Deuteronomy for those who turned away from God.
Jeremiah 2:10-12The prophet Jeremiah points to the nations, who do not even worship true gods, yet remain steadfast to them. He contrasts this with Israel, who has exchanged God's glory for worthless idols, highlighting the profound offense of forsaking the Lord, which justifies the severe judgment described in Deuteronomy.
Romans 6:23Paul explains that 'the wages of sin is death.' This verse provides the theological backdrop for why any sin, especially idolatry which is a rejection of God's authority, warrants such severe consequences, even death for an entire community.
gillDeuteronomy 13:15: "Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword."
Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword,.... This could not be the work of a single person, nor of the whole sanhedrim, but was what the whole nation was to join in, according to the above note: destroying it utterly; pulling down the houses, and demolishin…
clarkeDeuteronomy 13:15: "Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword."
Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants - If one city were permitted to practice idolatry, the evil would soon spread, therefore the contagion must be destroyed in its birth.
It's easy to read this verse as a blanket command for total destruction, but notice the phrasing: "devoting it to destruction, all who are in it and its cattle." The focus isn't just on what is destroyed, but on the act of "devoting" it entirely to God – a solemn act of setting it apart as utterly His. This means it's a judgment, not a free-for-all, and the devastation is meant to be a complete removal, leaving nothing for Israel to claim or keep for themselves.
This passage is about what to do if an entire city within Israel succumbs to idolatry. It follows instructions on dealing with individuals who might try to lead others astray, emphasizing that even close family members must be reported. Here, the severity escalates: if a whole city turns away from God, it's to be utterly destroyed, including people and animals, to prevent the contagion of rebellion from spreading and to show God's fierce anger against such unfaithfulness.
This passage is about what to do if an entire city within Israel succumbs to idolatry. It follows instructions on dealing with individuals who might try to lead others astray, emphasizing that even close family members must be reported. Here, the severity escalates: if a whole city turns away from God, it's to be utterly destroyed, including people and animals, to prevent the contagion of rebellion from spreading and to show God's fierce anger against such unfaithfulness.
"you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, devoting it to destruction, all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword. You shall gather all its spoil into the midst of its open square and burn the city an…" — It's easy to read this verse as a blanket command for total destruction, but notice the phrasing: "devoting it to destruction, all who are in it and its cattle." The focus isn't just on what is des…
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