Berean Standard Bible

Deuteronomy 13:12-17

12IfH3588, regarding oneH259 of the citiesH5892 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 is givingH5414 you to inhabitH3427 H8033, you hearH8085 it saidH559 13that wickedH1100 menH376 H1121 have arisenH3318 from among youH7130 and have led the peopleH3427 of their cityH5892 astrayH5080 , sayingH559, “Let us goH1980 and serveH5647 otherH312 godsH430” (whichH834 you have notH3808 knownH3045), 14then you must inquireH1875, investigateH2713, and interrogateH7592 thoroughlyH3190. And ifH2009 it is established with certaintyH571 H3559 H1697 that thisH2063 abominationH8441 has been committedH6213 among youH7130, 15you must surely putH5221 the inhabitantsH3427 of thatH1931 cityH5892 to the swordH6310 H2719. Devote to destructionH2763 1 allH3605 its people and livestockH929.

16AndH853 you are to gatherH6908 allH3605 its plunderH7998 inH413 the middleH8432 of the public squareH7339, and completely burnH8313 H784 the cityH5892 and allH3605 its plunderH7998 as a whole burnt offeringH3632 to the LORDH3068 your GodH430. The city must remainH1961 a mound of ruinsH8510 foreverH5769, neverH3808 to be rebuiltH1129 H5750.

17NothingH3808 H3972 devoted to destructionH2764 shall clingH1692 to your handsH3027, so thatH4616 the LORDH3068 will turnH7725 fromH4480 His fierce angerH2740 H639, grantH5414 you mercyH7356, show you compassionH7355, and multiply youH7235 asH834 He sworeH7650 to your fathersH1,

Notes

1. Deuteronomy 13:15 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; similarly in verse 17. ↩