Deuteronomy 20:17
But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee:
Deuteronomy 20:17 (KJV)
Context
Deuteronomy is part of the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. It records the laws and instructions God gave to Israel through Moses. The people stood on the edge of Canaan, the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses was about to die, so he delivered these final words to prepare them for what lay ahead. This verse is part of his last instructions before they entered the land.
Meaning
In this verse, God commands Israel to “utterly destroy” six nations living in Canaan: the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. The Hebrew word behind “utterly destroy” is herem. It means to devote something completely to God, often by placing it under a ban of total destruction. This was not a human plan for conquest. It was a direct order from the LORD, and it applied only to these nations at this specific time in history. The command was limited, not a general rule for all warfare.
The command may seem harsh, but its purpose was protective. God knew that if these idolatrous peoples remained, they would lead Israel into worship of false gods. The surrounding passage explains that leaving them would cause Israel to “serve their gods” (Deuteronomy 20:18). So the destruction was meant to keep God’s people pure and faithful to Him alone. It also served to purify the land of Canaan, which God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Biblical connections
This command also fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham. In Genesis 15:16, God told Abraham that his descendants would possess Canaan, but only after the iniquity of the Amorites had reached its full measure. The conquest was therefore an act of divine judgment on nations whose sin had become complete. Israel served as the instrument of that judgment, not out of hatred but in obedience to God’s righteous plan. The command demonstrated God’s justice and His desire for His people to remain separate from corrupting influences.
Application
This verse does not give believers today permission to harm others. The New Testament does not carry forward this command for the church. Instead, it calls Christians to a different kind of separation. Believers are to put to death the deeds of the flesh and to avoid influences that would draw them away from Christ. The lesson is about taking sin seriously and guarding the heart against corruption. The command was specific to that time and place, not a pattern for modern life.
God’s holiness stands behind this command. He will not tolerate persistent rebellion and idolatry. The severity of the judgment shows how seriously God views sin. At the same time, His faithfulness is clear. He kept His promise to give the land to Abraham’s descendants, and through that nation the Messiah came to bless all people. The gospel reveals that salvation is now open to people from every nation, including those once counted as enemies.
Reflection
Consider what “utterly destroy” might mean in your own walk with God. Are there habits, attitudes, or attachments that lead you away from Him? The command to Israel was physical, but the principle for believers is spiritual. Just as Israel was called to remove what endangered their covenant with God, Christians are called to remove whatever threatens their devotion to Christ.
This passage also reminds us that God’s ways are higher than ours. His judgments are always right, even when we cannot fully understand them. The conquest of Canaan was a unique event in redemptive history, not a pattern for modern warfare. It points to the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin, while the gospel reveals that salvation is now open to people from every nation, including those once counted as enemies.
