John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:17
And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand ,.... That is, they might not take anything whatever to their own use; for all being devoted to destruction, was cursed, and brought a curse upon the man that should make it his own property, as Achan did, when Jericho was destroyed: that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger ; stirred up by the idolatry of the city: and show thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee ; who, seeing wrath gone forth, might... 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