Deuteronomy 20:17
17Instead you must utterly annihilate them ▼▼tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation seeks to reflect with “utterly.” Cf. CEV “completely wipe out.”
▼▼sn The Hebrew verb refers to placing persons or things so evil and/or impure as to be irredeemable under God’s judgment, usually to the extent of their complete destruction. See also the note on the phrase “the divine judgment” in
Deut 2:34.
—the Hittites, ▼▼sn Hittite. The center of Hittite power was in Anatolia (central modern Turkey). In the Late Bronze Age (1550-1200
b.c.) they were at their zenith, establishing outposts and colonies near and far. Some elements were obviously in Canaan at the time of the Conquest (1400-1350
b.c.).
Amorites, ▼▼sn Amorite. Originally from the upper Euphrates region (Amurru), the Amorites appear to have migrated into Canaan beginning in 2200
b.c. or thereabouts.
Canaanites, ▼▼sn Canaanite. These were the indigenous peoples of the land of Palestine, going back to the beginning of recorded history (ca. 3000
b.c.). The OT identifies them as descendants of Ham (
Gen 10:6), the only Hamites to have settled north and east of Egypt.
Perizzites, ▼▼sn Perizzite. This probably refers to a subgroup of Canaanites (
Gen 13:7;
34:30).
Hivites, ▼▼sn Hivite. These are usually thought to be the same as the Hurrians, a people well-known in ancient Near Eastern texts. They are likely identical to the Horites (see note on “Horites” in
Deut 2:12).
and Jebusites ▼▼tc The LXX adds “Girgashites” here at the end of the list in order to list the full (and usual) complement of seven (see note on “seven” in
Deut 7:1).
▼ —just as the Lord your God has commanded you,