Deuteronomium 20:17

17 Maar gij zult ze ganselijk verbannen: de Hethieten, en de Amorieten, en de Kanaanieten, en de Ferezieten, de Hevieten, en de Jebusieten, gelijk als u de HEERE, uw God, geboden heeft;

Deuteronomium 20:17 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 20:17

But thou shalt utterly destroy them
Men, women, and children: some think this is to be understood only of such cities which did not accept of terms of peace; for they are of opinion that Joshua made proclamation of peace to all the cities of Canaan; which being not complied with, he destroyed them as they fell into his hands; and they suppose that the Gibeonites had not heard of such a proclamation, and therefore were spared; and it is certain that there were many who were suffered to live among them, who it may be thought were allowed on their becoming proselytes, which was one of the terms of peace, as Rahab and her household did, and which is the sense of some of the Jewish writers. Jarchi on the following verse observes, that if they repented, and became proselytes, they might be received: namely,

the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the
Hivites and the Jebusites;
one of the seven nations is here omitted, the Girgashites, as they are also in ( Exodus 23:23 ) . It is said ^F2, that

``Joshua sent three letters into the land of Israel before they went into it; in the first, whoever would turn (and flee) might; in the second, whoever would make peace might; in the third, whoever would make war might: the Girgashites, believing God, went to Africa, according to ( Isaiah 36:17 ) , the land there is Africa; the Gibeonites made peace and dwelt in the land; thirty one kings made war, and fell:''

as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee;
( Deuteronomy 7:1 Deuteronomy 7:2 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 T. Hieros. Shebiith, fol. 37. 3. Debarim Rabba, sect. 5. fol. 241. 2. Vid. Maimon. Hilchot Melachim, c. 6. sect. 5. & Migdol Oz in ib.

Deuteronomium 20:17 In-Context

15 Alzo zult gij aan alle steden doen, die zeer verre van u zijn, die niet zijn van de steden dezer volken.

16 Maar van de steden dezer volken, die u de HEERE, uw God, ten erve geeft, zult gij niets laten leven, dat adem heeft.

17 Maar gij zult ze ganselijk verbannen: de Hethieten, en de Amorieten, en de Kanaanieten, en de Ferezieten, de Hevieten, en de Jebusieten, gelijk als u de HEERE, uw God, geboden heeft;

18 Opdat zij ulieden niet leren te doen naar al hun gruwelen, die zij hun goden gedaan hebben, en gij zondigt tegen den HEERE, uw God.

19 Wanneer gij een stad vele dagen zult belegeren, strijdende tegen haar, om die in te nemen, zo zult gij haar geboomte niet verderven, de bijl daaraan drijvende; want gij zult daarvan eten; daarom zult gij dat niet afhouwen (want het geboomte van het veld is des mensen spijze), opdat het voor uw aangezicht kome tot een bolwerk.