Deuteronomy 20:17

But thou shalt utterly destroy them; [namely], the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

But thou shalt utterly {H2763} destroy {H2763} them; namely, the Hittites {H2850}, and the Amorites {H567}, the Canaanites {H3669}, and the Perizzites {H6522}, the Hivites {H2340}, and the Jebusites {H2983}; as the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} hath commanded {H6680} thee:

Rather you must destroy them completely - the Hitti, the Emori, the Kena'ani, the P'rizi, the Hivi and the Y'vusi - as ADONAI your God has ordered you;

For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you,

but thou shalt utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee;

Commentary

Deuteronomy 20:17 presents a stark and specific command from the LORD to the Israelites regarding the inhabitants of the land they were about to conquer. This verse mandates the complete destruction of several named Canaanite tribes—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as a direct instruction from God.

Context

This verse is found within a section of Deuteronomy (chapter 20) that outlines the laws of warfare for ancient Israel. It distinguishes between how Israel was to treat cities outside the promised land (where peace could be offered and inhabitants enslaved, Deuteronomy 20:10-15) and cities within Canaan. The command to "utterly destroy them" applied specifically to the indigenous peoples of Canaan. This was not a general rule for all warfare, but a unique, divine judgment against nations whose practices, including pervasive idolatry, child sacrifice, and gross immorality, were considered an abomination to God (Leviticus 18:24-28). The iniquity of these peoples had reached its full measure, and God used Israel as an instrument of His judgment, much as He had used other nations to judge Israel later for their own disobedience.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The command represents God's righteous judgment against extreme sin and corruption. The severity underscores the seriousness of the moral depravity prevalent among these Canaanite nations.
  • God's Holiness and Purity: This act was essential for preserving the spiritual purity of Israel. God commanded their destruction to prevent the Israelites from being defiled by their pagan practices and idolatry, which would lead them away from covenant faithfulness (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
  • Obedience and Land Possession: Israel's possession of the Promised Land was contingent upon their obedience to God's specific commands, including this difficult one. It was a test of their commitment to God's standards for a holy nation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "utterly destroy" in KJV translates the Hebrew verb חָרַם (ḥāram), which is often associated with the concept of herem. This term signifies "to devote to destruction," "to put under a ban," or "to utterly destroy." In this context, it means that these peoples and their possessions were to be completely consecrated to God by destruction, not for Israel's gain, but as an act of divine cleansing and judgment against their profound wickedness. This ensured no vestige of their corrupting influence remained to tempt Israel.

Practical Application

While the literal command to "utterly destroy" was a unique historical directive for ancient Israel's conquest of Canaan, the underlying spiritual principles remain relevant for believers today. This passage reminds us of God's absolute holiness and His intolerance for sin. For Christians, the "utter destruction" can be understood metaphorically as the necessity to decisively deal with sin and evil influences in our own lives. We are called to engage in spiritual warfare, casting down strongholds of sin, idolatry, and ungodliness within ourselves and refusing to compromise with the corrupting values of the world, thereby preserving our spiritual purity and devotion to God.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 34:5 (3 votes)

    For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.

  • Isaiah 34:6 (3 votes)

    The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, [and] with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.

  • Deuteronomy 7:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

  • Deuteronomy 7:2 (3 votes)

    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:

  • Jeremiah 50:35 (3 votes)

    A sword [is] upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise [men].

  • Jeremiah 50:40 (3 votes)

    As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour [cities] thereof, saith the LORD; [so] shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

  • Ezekiel 38:21 (3 votes)

    And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.