¹⁶ However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes.^{(A) 17} Completely destroy^[a] them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the Lord your God has commanded you. ¹⁸ Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods,^(B) and you will sin^(C) against the Lord your God.

³ The Lord your God himself will cross^(A) over ahead of you.^(B) He will destroy these nations^(C) before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross^(D) over ahead of you, as the Lord said.