John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:15
Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword ,.... This could not be the work of a single person, nor of the whole sanhedrim, but was what the whole nation was to join in, according to the above note: destroying it utterly ; pulling down the houses, and demolishing its walls and fortifications, or burning it, as afterwards explained: and all that is therein ; men, women, and children: and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword ; this... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:12-18
Here the case is put of a city revolting from its allegiance to the God of Israel, and serving other gods. I. The crime is supposed to be committed, 1. By one of the cities of Israel, that lay within the jurisdiction of their courts. The church then judged those only that were within, 1 Cor. 5:12, 13. And, even when they were ordered to preserve their religion in the first principles of it by fire and sword to propagate it. Those that are born within the allegiance of a prince, if they take up... read more