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17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction;[a] only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction, and bring trouble upon it. 19 But all silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are sacred to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. 6.17 Following the indications elsewhere in the Old Testament, it would appear that the ban, that is, the physical destruction of the enemy in obedience to the Deity, was practiced much less than a reading of Joshua might suggest. Despite the high religious principles that motivated it, it must be seen in the light of the imperfect stage of moral development reached at that time.

17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted[a](A) to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute(B) and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid(C) the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things,(D) so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction(E) and bring trouble(F) on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron(G) are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”

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Footnotes

  1. Joshua 6:17 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 18 and 21.