Deuteronomy 20:16
French (La Sainte Bible par Louis Segond 1910)
Mais dans les villes de ces peuples dont l'Eternel, ton Dieu, te donne le pays pour héritage, tu ne laisseras la vie à rien de ce qui respire.
What Does This Mean?
This verse is from God, telling the Israelites to destroy all living things in the cities they conquer. It's about the rules for war and conquest. The key message is the complete destruction of those cities as instructed by God.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing a game where you have to clean up your room, but there are some toys that are causing problems. God is telling the Israelites that they need to get rid of everything that might cause trouble in the cities they take over.
Historical Background
This verse is part of the book of Deuteronomy, written by Moses around 1250 BC. It was addressed to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land, and the cultural setting was the ancient Near East, where war and conquest were common.
Living It Out Today
In a modern context, this verse can remind us of the importance of dealing decisively with harmful influences in our lives. For example, if a toxic friendship is affecting your mental health, it may be necessary to end the relationship completely.
Topics
warconquestobediencedestructiondivine instructionancient near east
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the context of this verse?
This verse is part of God's instructions to the Israelites about how to handle the cities they conquer as they enter the Promised Land.
Why does God command this?
In the context of the ancient Near East, this was seen as a necessary act of cleansing and ensuring that the Israelites would not be influenced by the religious practices of the people they conquered.
How can we apply this in modern life?
We can apply this by recognizing the need to decisively remove harmful influences from our lives, much like the Israelites had to remove harmful influences from the cities they conquered.
What other Bible verses discuss similar themes?
Similar themes can be found in Joshua 6:21, where the Israelites follow God's command to destroy Jericho, and in 1 Samuel 15:3, where Saul is commanded to destroy the Amalekites.