Deuteronomy 20:13
And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:
Original Language Analysis
וּנְתָנָ֛הּ
hath delivered
H5414
וּנְתָנָ֛הּ
hath delivered
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 10
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
יְהוָ֥ה
And when the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֥ה
And when the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 10
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
3 of 10
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ
it into thine hands
H3027
בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ
it into thine hands
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
4 of 10
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
וְהִכִּיתָ֥
thou shalt smite
H5221
וְהִכִּיתָ֥
thou shalt smite
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
5 of 10
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
7 of 10
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Historical Context
Canaanite civilization practiced child sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21), cultic prostitution, and extreme violence. God's judgment through Israel removed cultural cancer after 400+ years of patience (Genesis 15:16—'the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full'). Archaeological evidence confirms Canaanite depravity's extent.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you reconcile God's love with His commanded destruction of Canaanites—is judgment inconsistent with grace?
- What does Canaan's destruction teach about hell's reality and God's holy intolerance of persistent evil?
- Why can't modern Christians invoke 'holy war' while ancient Israel could—what authority distinction exists?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword—Victory belongs to the LORD—human effort doesn't produce conquest; divine intervention does. The herem (חֵרֶם, 'devotion to destruction') applied to Canaanite cities involved executing combatants (every male, זָכָר, zakhar), removing military threat and judgment on persistent idolatry.
Modern readers recoil at divine violence, yet God's holiness demands judgment. The soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20). Canaan's destruction foreshadows hell's reality: The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). Israel's warfare enacted God's judicial prerogative. We can't command such wars (lacking divine authority), but we acknowledge God's right to judge.