Deuteronomy 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 {H5221} smite {H5221} the inhabitants {H3427} of that city {H5892} with the edge {H6310} of the sword {H2719}, destroying it utterly {H2763}, and all that is therein, and the cattle {H929} thereof, with the edge {H6310} of the sword {H2719}.

you must put the inhabitants of that city to death with the sword, destroying it completely with the sword, everything in it, including its livestock.

you must surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword. Devote to destruction all its people and livestock.

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.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:15 presents a stern command within the Mosaic Law, outlining the severe consequences for a city in Israel that turns to idolatry. It details the required action after a thorough investigation confirms that inhabitants have been enticed to serve other gods. The verse emphasizes a complete and utter destruction, reflecting God's absolute intolerance for apostasy within His covenant people.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy (Chapter 13) that addresses the grave danger of idolatry and false prophets. Moses, speaking to the Israelites on the plains of Moab before they enter the Promised Land, lays out the laws concerning spiritual purity and loyalty to Yahweh. The preceding verses (Deuteronomy 13:1-14) describe the process for identifying and verifying a city that has fallen into apostasy, having been led astray by "children of Belial" (worthless persons) to worship other gods. If such a rebellion is confirmed, Deuteronomy 13:15 specifies the extreme measure of judgment: the entire city, its inhabitants, and even its livestock are to be utterly destroyed by the sword, and everything within it burned as a sacrifice to the Lord (Deuteronomy 13:16).

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Judgment: The command underscores God's righteous judgment against blatant rebellion and idolatry. It demonstrates the seriousness with which God views spiritual infidelity among His chosen people.
  • Holiness and Purity: This radical act of destruction, known as herem (devotion to destruction), was intended to purge evil from the midst of Israel and maintain the nation's spiritual purity, preventing the spread of idolatry to other communities.
  • Zero Tolerance for Idolatry: The severity of the command highlights God's absolute demand for exclusive worship. Idolatry was not merely a ritual offense but a direct betrayal of the covenant relationship with God.
  • Communal Responsibility: The entire city faced judgment because the sin of idolatry had permeated the community, and the community had failed to uphold its covenant obligations.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "destroying it utterly" or "devoting it utterly" translates the Hebrew term αΈ₯Δ“rem (חרם). This concept signifies something set apart for God, often for complete destruction, especially in the context of holy war or the purging of evil from Israel. It is not merely annihilation but a consecration to God by destruction, removing the defiling influence from the land. This is seen famously in the command given for Jericho's destruction in Joshua 6:17.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 13:15 reveals the profound seriousness of idolatry in the Old Testament covenant. For Israel, worshipping other gods was a direct violation of the First Commandment and jeopardized their unique relationship with the holy God. This severe penalty served as a stark warning to all Israel about the consequences of spiritual apostasy and reinforced the necessity of maintaining their covenant faithfulness in the land God was giving them. It emphasized that God's holiness demanded a pure people in a pure land (Leviticus 11:44).

Practical Application

While the literal application of such commands belongs to a specific historical and theological context of ancient Israel under a theocratic government, the underlying principles remain relevant for believers today:

  • Radical Purity: Believers are called to a radical commitment to God, rooting out all forms of "idolatry" in their lives. This includes anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts or minds, whether it be materialism, ambition, or self-worship (Colossians 3:5).
  • Spiritual Vigilance: We must be vigilant against influences that would draw us away from God, whether from within our communities or from the broader culture.
  • Understanding God's Holiness: The verse reminds us of God's absolute holiness and His intolerance of sin. While Christians live under the new covenant of grace through Christ, the seriousness of sin and the ultimate justice of God remain foundational truths.

The passage underscores the importance of unwavering loyalty to God, a principle that transcends time and remains central to the Christian faith.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 27:28

    Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, [both] of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing [is] most holy unto the LORD.

  • Deuteronomy 7:2

    And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

  • Exodus 22:20

    He that sacrificeth unto [any] god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

  • Revelation 18:18

    And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is] like unto this great city!

  • Revelation 18:24

    And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

  • Exodus 23:24

    Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

  • Revelation 17:16

    And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
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