Deuteronomy 20:16

But of the cities of those people, which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance,.... The cities of the seven nations, six of which are mentioned by name in the next verse:

thou shalt…

Directions intended to prevent wanton destruction of life and property in sieges. Deu 20:16 Forbearance, however, was not to be shown toward the Canaanite nations, which were to be utterly…

They are here directed what method to take in dealing with the cities (these only are mentioned, Deu 20:10, but doubtless the armies in the field, and the nations they had occasion to deal with, are…

But Heb. rak, introducing an opposite case, see Deu 10:15.

thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth Heb. any breath, i.e. human life (Gen 2:7; 1Ki 17:17; Isa 42:5), cp. the deuteronomic Jos 10:40;…