Idolatrous Cities to Be Destroyed
When a report arises that people in one of Israel's cities have led it into other worship, the matter must not be handled by rumor alone. The people must investigate thoroughly until the charge is confirmed with certainty.
I12f, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said 13that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known), 14then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you,
If the city's apostasy is proven, its inhabitants, livestock, and plunder are devoted to destruction, and the city is burned and left in ruins. By keeping separate from what is devoted, Israel seeks the LORD's mercy, compassion, and continued blessing through obedience.
15you must surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword. Devote to destruction all its people and livestock. 16And you are to gather all its plunder in the middle of the public square, and completely burn the city and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. The city must remain a mound of ruins forever, never to be rebuilt. 17Nothing devoted to destruction shall cling to your hands, so that the LORD will turn from His fierce anger, grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as He swore to your fathers, 18because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments I am giving you today and doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God.