We are commanded to execute every last inhabitant of a city which has been led to worship idols, and to burn the city and everything in it.
This mitzvah commands that an ir hanidachat — a city led astray into idolatry — must be utterly destroyed, its inhabitants killed, and all possessions burned as an offering to Hashem. The severity of this law underscores the threat posed by communal idolatry, which endangers the spiritual survival of the entire nation. While practically never carried out due to its stringent conditions, the mitzvah serves as a warning against collective betrayal of Hashem.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
Mitzvot that prohibit worship of false gods and practices associated with idol worship.
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