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Deuteronomy 13:17 - Destroy idolatry completely forever?

Deuteronomy 13:17 - דברים 13:17

Hebrew Text

וְאֶת־כָּל־שְׁלָלָהּ תִּקְבֹּץ אֶל־תּוֹךְ רְחֹבָהּ וְשָׂרַפְתָּ בָאֵשׁ אֶת־הָעִיר וְאֶת־כָּל־שְׁלָלָהּ כָּלִיל לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְהָיְתָה תֵּל עוֹלָם לֹא תִבָּנֶה עוֹד׃

English Translation

And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the open place of the city, and shalt burn with fire both the city and the entire plunder taken in it, for the Lord thy God: and it shall be a heap for ever; it shall not be built again.

Transliteration

Ve'et kol shlalah tikbotz el toch rechovah vesarafta va'esh et ha'ir ve'et kol shlalah kalil la'Adonai Elohecha vehayetah tel olam lo tivaneh od.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְאֶת־כׇּל־שְׁלָלָ֗הּ תִּקְבֹּץ֮ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ רְחֹבָהּ֒ וְשָׂרַפְתָּ֨ בָאֵ֜שׁ אֶת־הָעִ֤יר וְאֶת־כׇּל־שְׁלָלָהּ֙ כָּלִ֔יל לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְהָיְתָה֙ תֵּ֣ל עוֹלָ֔ם לֹ֥א תִבָּנֶ֖ה עֽוֹד׃
וְאֶת־כׇּל־שְׁלָלָ֗הּ תִּקְבֹּץ֮ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ רְחֹבָהּ֒ וְשָׂרַפְתָּ֨ בָאֵ֜שׁ אֶת־הָעִ֤יר וְאֶת־כׇּל־שְׁלָלָהּ֙ כָּלִ֔יל לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְהָיְתָה֙ תֵּ֣ל עוֹלָ֔ם לֹ֥א תִבָּנֶ֖ה עֽוֹד׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context and Source

The verse appears in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 13:17, discussing the severe consequences for an ir hanidachat—a city led astray into idolatry. The Torah commands its complete destruction, including burning all spoils and prohibiting its future rebuilding.

Explanation of the Verse

The verse outlines three key actions:

  • Gathering the Spoil: All plunder must be brought to the city square (rechovah). Rashi (Devarim 13:17) explains that this public display ensures transparency, preventing individuals from secretly keeping forbidden items.
  • Burning the City and Spoil: The city and its spoils must be burned entirely as an offering k'lil la'Hashem—"wholly for Hashem." Rambam (Hilchot Avodah Zarah 4:6) emphasizes that this act eradicates the influence of idolatry and serves as a deterrent.
  • Permanent Desolation: The city must remain a ruin (tel olam), never to be rebuilt. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 71a) notes that this law applies even if the location becomes desirable for settlement, reinforcing the severity of collective idolatry.

Halachic and Moral Implications

The Mishneh Torah (Hilchot Avodah Zarah 4:1-7) details the rigorous judicial process required before declaring a city an ir hanidachat, including multiple warnings and investigations. The Ramban (Devarim 13:17) adds that this law underscores the gravity of leading others astray, as collective sin warrants collective punishment.

Symbolic Meaning

The Midrash (Sifrei Devarim 94) interprets the burning of the spoil as a rejection of material gain derived from sin. By destroying everything, the community demonstrates that spiritual purity outweighs potential profit. The tel olam serves as a lasting memorial, warning future generations against idolatry.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sanhedrin 71a
The verse is referenced in the discussion about the laws concerning a 'rebellious city' (ir hanidachat), where the Talmud explores the conditions under which a city is to be destroyed according to biblical law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Deuteronomy 13:17 mean when it says to burn the city and its plunder?
A: This verse refers to the severe punishment commanded for an 'Ir Hanidachat' (a city led astray to idol worship). According to Jewish law (Rambam, Hilchot Avodah Zarah 4:6), if an entire Jewish city is led into idolatry, its inhabitants must be punished, and the city must be destroyed completely—including all its possessions—as a warning against idol worship. The burning symbolizes total rejection of sin.
Q: Why does the verse say the city should never be rebuilt?
A: The Torah commands that such a city remains a permanent ruin ('tel olam') as a lesson for future generations (Rashi on Deuteronomy 13:17). This serves as a visible reminder of the dangers of collective rebellion against Hashem and the severe consequences of idolatry in Jewish tradition.
Q: Does this law apply today?
A: According to the Talmud (Sanhedrin 71a), the laws of 'Ir Hanidachat' were almost never applied historically due to the strict requirements needed to convict an entire city. The Rambam (Hilchot Avodah Zarah 4:6) states that this law was intended more as a deterrent than a practical statute, emphasizing the severity of leading others astray.
Q: What does 'for the Lord your God' mean in this verse?
A: Rashi explains that the destruction is done l'shem Shamayim (for the sake of Heaven)—not out of anger, but to uphold the sanctity of Hashem's name. By eliminating idolatry completely, the people demonstrate their loyalty to Hashem and remove evil from their midst.
Q: What lesson can we learn from this verse today?
A: While the specific law may not apply literally today, the principle remains: Judaism demands absolute rejection of influences that lead people away from Torah values (Devarim 13:5). The verse teaches the importance of communal responsibility and the need to remove destructive ideologies that threaten Jewish spiritual life.