Shoftim 20:16 · unit 1

TT #319 · Parashas Shoftim · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 20:16

The Complete Passuk

רַ֗ק מֵעָרֵ֤י הָֽעַמִּים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַחֲלָ֑ה לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּ֖ה כׇּל־נְשָׁמָֽה׃

Only from the cities of these peoples that the Eternal your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive any soul.

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 200 / Sotah.

TT lemma: לֹא תְחַיֶּה כׇּל נְשָׁמָה.

Core Text

לֹא תְחַיֶּה כׇּל נְשָׁמָה – מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה.

English: ‘You shall not leave alive any soul’ – a positive commandment.

On the daf / in context: The complete destruction of the seven nations is a distinct mitzvah.

Derash classifying the command (Sifrei) — the language creates a positive duty of herem.

Regarding the cities of the seven nations in the Land, the Torah commands that no soul be left alive.