You shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword; you shall devote it and all that is in it and its animals to destruction with the edge of the sword.
English: “You shall surely strike” — I know only the form of striking stated concerning them; from where do I know that if you cannot put them to death by the form of striking stated concerning them you may strike them with any form of striking that you can? From the doubled language “hakkeh takkeh” — in any manner.
On the daf / in context: The emphatic infinitive absolute expands the permitted means of execution beyond the primary method when that method is unavailable.
Type of Learning
Derash on the verse (Bava Metzia) — alternative means of execution are permitted when necessary.
What Is Learned
If the prescribed method of striking cannot be used, any effective method of putting them to death is permitted.