and when the LORD your God delivers them up before you, and you strike them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 2. League. Yet Josue, (9:3,) by mistake, entered into one with the Gabaonites, and observed it; ( Bible.) whence we may conclude, that only such leagues are forbidden as would leave these nations in possession of their lands and idols. Calmet. 20:10. 23:6. With foreign nations it was lawful to make leagues defensive and offensive, as David, Asa, and the Machabees did with Hiram, Benadad, and the Romans, 3 Kennicott. 15:18, and so forth If the Hebrews were so hostile to the nations of Chanaan, it was in execution of God’s decree, who had sentenced them to die; and Tacitus hence unjustly inferred, that they hated all but their own nation. See Grot. Jur. ii. 15.—Them. This was ill executed. Jos. xiii. 13. Judge. 1. Menochius.