Deuteronomy 13:15

15 [then] you shall certainly strike down the inhabitants of that town with the {edge} of [the] sword; you shall destroy it and everything in it, its domestic animals with [the] {edge} of [the] sword.

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 {worthless men} have gone out from your midst and have seduced the inhabitants of their town, {saying}, 'Let us go and serve other gods!' whom you have not known,

14 then you shall inquire and examine and interrogate thoroughly, and, look! [It is] true; the thing has actually been done, this detestable thing in your midst,

15 [then] you shall certainly strike down the inhabitants of that town with the {edge} of [the] sword; you shall destroy it and everything in it, its domestic animals with [the] {edge} of [the] sword.

16 And [then] you shall gather all of its booty into the middle of its public square, and you shall burn the town and all [of] its war-booty totally for Yahweh your God, and it shall be {a pile of rubble forever}; it shall not be built again.

17 And let not something cling to your hand from the things devoted to destruction, so that Yahweh may turn back {from his burning anger}, and he may show compassion to you and he may [continue] to show compassion and [so] multiply you {just as he swore} to your ancestors,

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "mouth"
• [b] Literally "mouth"