What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 20:17? For you must devote them to complete destruction God’s order is absolute. Israel’s armies were not merely to defeat these peoples but to erase their influence so that nothing remained to lure the nation into idolatry. • Deuteronomy 7:2 declares, “When the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, you must devote them to complete destruction.” • Joshua 6:17 applies the same principle at Jericho: “The city and everything in it are devoted to the LORD for destruction.” • By eliminating every vestige—people, shrines, artifacts—Israel would guard its own heart (Deuteronomy 20:18). • This decisive action underscores God’s holiness and His right to judge persistent, entrenched evil (Genesis 15:16; Romans 1:18). the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites These six nations formed the core of Canaan’s pagan culture, centers of violence, child sacrifice, and occult practices. • Deuteronomy 7:1 names the same peoples and notes they were “seven nations greater and stronger than you,” magnifying God’s power in the coming conquest. • Exodus 3:8 lists them as occupants of the land God promised Abraham’s descendants, linking conquest to covenant fulfillment (Genesis 17:8). • Joshua 3:10 announces that the living God would “surely drive out before you the Canaanites … and Jebusites,” assuring Israel that victory depended on divine action, not human strength. • Their centuries-long rejection of common grace reached a tipping point; judgment fell only after ample time for repentance (cf. Jonah 3 for contrast). as the LORD your God has commanded you The authority behind this directive is personal and covenantal—“the LORD your God.” • Deuteronomy 12:30-31 warns Israel not to inquire about pagan gods “for every abhorrent thing the LORD hates they have done for their gods.” The command to destroy protected Israel from adopting those practices. • Joshua 1:7 encourages Joshua to “be strong and very courageous” by keeping all Moses had commanded; success hinged on obedience. • 1 Samuel 15:22 reveals God values obedience above sacrifice; Saul’s partial compliance with a similar command cost him the kingdom. • Obedience continues to mark God’s people today: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15), though now the battle is spiritual (Ephesians 6:12) rather than military. summary Deuteronomy 20:17 records a specific, historical command rooted in God’s holiness, justice, and covenant faithfulness. Total destruction of Canaan’s corrupt cultures safeguarded Israel from idolatry and showcased the Lord’s power to keep His promises. While the church’s mission is not physical conquest, the principle endures: wholehearted obedience and uncompromising separation from sin keep God’s people aligned with His righteous purposes. |
    |