Deuteronomy 13:15

15 statim percuties habitatores urbis illius in ore gladii et delebis eam omniaque quae in illa sunt usque ad pecora

Deuteronomy 13:15 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:15

Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the
edge of the sword
This could not be the work of a single person, nor of the whole sanhedrim, but was what the whole nation was to join in, according to the above note:

destroying it utterly;
pulling down the houses, and demolishing its walls and fortifications, or burning it, as afterwards explained:

and all that is therein;
men, women, and children:

and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword;
this severity was used to show the Lord's indignation against the sin of idolatry, and to deter persons from it, both individuals and bodies of men.

Deuteronomy 13:15 In-Context

13 egressi sunt filii Belial de medio tui et averterunt habitatores urbis tuae atque dixerunt eamus et serviamus diis alienis quos ignoratis

14 quaere sollicite et diligenter rei veritate perspecta si inveneris certum esse quod dicitur et abominationem hanc opere perpetratam

15 statim percuties habitatores urbis illius in ore gladii et delebis eam omniaque quae in illa sunt usque ad pecora

16 quicquid etiam supellectilis fuerit congregabis in medium platearum eius et cum ipsa civitate succendes ita ut universa consumas Domino Deo tuo et sit tumulus sempiternus non aedificabitur amplius

17 et non adherebit de illo anathemate quicquam in manu tua ut avertatur Dominus ab ira furoris sui et misereatur tui multiplicetque te sicut iuravit patribus tuis