Deuteronomy 20:16

WEB

But of the cities of these peoples, that the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;

KJV

But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

Commentary

But of the cities of those people, which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance,.... The cities of the s even nations, six of which are mentioned by name in the next verse: thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth; the reason of this severity was because of their wickedness, the capital crimes and gross abominations they were guilty of, and for which they deserved to die; and on account whereof they were reserved to this destruction, when the measure of their iniquities was full, such as idolatry, incest, witchcraft, soothsaying, necromancy, &c. see Lev 18:3 .