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.
You must completely attack the people of that city with the sword, destroying it entirely along with everything in it, including the livestock.
This verse commands the complete destruction of a city that has turned away from God to worship false gods.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context of ancient Israel, God was establishing a covenant nation that was to be set apart from surrounding pagan cultures, with laws designed to protect the community from idolatry and spiritual corruption. Deuteronomy 13 specifically addresses the severe measures commanded if an entire city turned to worship other gods, reflecting the urgency of maintaining covenant faithfulness in the Promised Land. This was part of the Mosaic Law given through Moses to ensure the Israelites' holiness as they prepared to settle Canaan.
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