Deuteronomy 13:15

15 Then you must certainly kill with your swords everyone who lives in that town. Destroy it completely. Wipe out its people and livestock.

Deuteronomy 13:15 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:15

Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the
edge of the sword
This could not be the work of a single person, nor of the whole sanhedrim, but was what the whole nation was to join in, according to the above note:

destroying it utterly;
pulling down the houses, and demolishing its walls and fortifications, or burning it, as afterwards explained:

and all that is therein;
men, women, and children:

and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword;
this severity was used to show the Lord's indignation against the sin of idolatry, and to deter persons from it, both individuals and bodies of men.

Deuteronomy 13:15 In-Context

13 You hear that evil men have appeared among you. They've tried to get the people of their town to do something wrong. They've said, "Let's go and worship other gods." But you haven't known anything about those gods before.

14 So you must question people. You must check the matter out carefully. If it's true, an evil thing has really happened among you. It's something the LORD hates.

15 Then you must certainly kill with your swords everyone who lives in that town. Destroy it completely. Wipe out its people and livestock.

16 Gather all of the goods of that town into the middle of the main street. Burn the town completely. Burn up everything in it. It's a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. The town must remain a pile of stones forever. It must never be built again.

17 Don't keep anything that should be destroyed. Then the LORD will turn away from his burning anger. He will show you mercy. He'll have deep concern for you. He'll increase your numbers. That's what he promised your people long ago. He took an oath when he made the promise.