Deuteronomy 20:16-17
But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the LORD your God has commanded,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights a crucial distinction: not all enemies faced the same fate. Unlike distant cities that could be offered terms of peace, these specific inhabitants were to be completely wiped out, as they were deemed a direct spiritual threat to Israel's covenant.
This passage is part of a larger section detailing the laws of warfare for the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. Unlike distant cities to which Israel was commanded to first offer terms of peace, the cities within Canaan, which God was giving them as their inheritance, were subject to a different, harsher command. This decree of complete annihilation for the inhabitants was explicitly tied to the deep wickedness of these nations and the need to prevent Israel from being corrupted by their idolatrous practices.
This verse is jarring. It commands the complete destruction of entire peoples. What does this extreme command reveal about God's justice and the severity of sin?
God's commands here for complete destruction, "saving alive nothing that breathes," apply specifically to the Canaanite nations. This wasn't arbitrary violence.
A People Beyond Redemption
The ancient Near East was rife with brutal practices, but the Canaanites were singled out for their profound wickedness. The text repeatedly links their destruction to their "abominations" – practices like child sacrifice, rampant idolatry, and sexual immorality that had become deeply ingrained in their culture (Leviticus 18:24-30). God had shown incredible patience, allowing their sins to reach a point where their judgment was both deserved and necessary.
Divine Justice and God's People
This destruction served a dual purpose: it was an act of divine justice against extreme evil, and it was a crucial protective measure for Israel. Allowing these deeply entrenched idolatrous practices to persist among the Israelites would inevitably lead them astray, contaminating their worship and relationship with God. This command ensured that the land given to Israel as an inheritance would be free from the corrupting influences that had doomed its former inhabitants.
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The command to leave "nothing that breathes" seems absolute. But did this really include animals? And were there any exceptions for people?
While the command to leave "nothing that breathes" is stark, the context reveals it primarily refers to human life and applies under specific circumstances. The spoils of war, including livestock, were generally permitted.
"Nothing that Breathes" - Primarily Human
Scholarly understanding and other biblical passages clarify that "nothing that breathes" primarily means no human beings. The Hebrew word used for "breath" (neshamah) can refer to any living creature, but in this context, it's understood to mean human life. Livestock and other spoils were intended for the Israelites' benefit, as indicated in other related commands (Deuteronomy 20:14).
The Condition of Surrender
Crucially, this extreme measure was reserved for those who resisted Israel's advance and refused offers of peace. If a city surrendered peacefully when approached, the inhabitants were spared (Deuteronomy 20:10-11). This command for total destruction was specifically for cities that fought against Israel and were subsequently conquered, representing those who actively defied God's will and people.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the one true God of Israel, revealing His holiness, self-existence, and faithfulness to His people. It signifies the God who entered into a personal, binding relationship with Israel.
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
A portion or possession received by divine gift or promise. In the Old Testament, it refers primarily to the land of Canaan given by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
cherem · Hebrew Noun
A term referring to the act of dedicating something or someone entirely to God. In the context of war, it involved the total destruction of an enemy and their possessions as an act of holy judgment to prevent idolatrous influence.
This passage echoes the severity of Deuteronomy 20:16 by describing the complete destruction of Jericho, leaving 'nothing that breathed' alive, reinforcing the theme of utter annihilation for those resisting God's command.
1 Samuel 15:3This passage shows Saul failing to obey a similar command from God to 'utterly destroy all that the Amalekites have' and 'do not spare them,' highlighting the critical importance and strictness of such divine directives.
Deuteronomy 7:1-2This passage provides the direct context and reason for the command in Deuteronomy 20:16, explaining that these nations were to be utterly destroyed to prevent Israel from being led into idolatry.
Genesis 15:16This verse speaks of the 'iniquity of the Amorites not yet being complete,' which is the underlying divine judgment that necessitated the severe measures described in Deuteronomy 20:16 when Israel later entered the land.
gillDeuteronomy 20:16: "But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:"
But of the cities of those people, which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance,.... The cities of the seven nations, six of which are mentioned by name in the next verse: thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth; the reason of this severity was because of their wickedness, the capital crimes and gross abominations they w…
calvinDeuteronomy 20:10-18: "When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it."
But 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.
Tantum mulieres, et parvulos, et animalia, et quicquid fuerit in urbe, omnia spolia ejus praedaberis tibi: comedesque spolia inimicorum tuorum, quos dederit…
This verse highlights a crucial distinction: not all enemies faced the same fate. Unlike distant cities that could be offered terms of peace, these specific inhabitants were to be completely wiped out, as they were deemed a direct spiritual threat to Israel's covenant.
This passage is part of a larger section detailing the laws of warfare for the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. Unlike distant cities to which Israel was commanded to first offer terms of peace, the cities within Canaan, which God was giving them as their inheritance, were subject to a different, harsher command. This decree of complete annihilation for the inhabitants was explicitly tied to the deep wickedness of these nations and the need to prevent Israel from being corrupted by their idolatrous practices.
This passage is part of a larger section detailing the laws of warfare for the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. Unlike distant cities to which Israel was commanded to first offer terms of peace, the cities within Canaan, which God was giving them as their inheritance, were subject to a different, harsher command. This decree of complete annihilation for the inhabitants was explicitly tied to the deep wickedness of these nations and the need to prevent Israel from being corrupted by their idolatrous practices.
"But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and th…" — This verse highlights a crucial distinction: not all enemies faced the same fate. Unlike distant cities that could be offered terms of peace, these specific inhabitants were to be completely wiped ou…
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