דברים, פרק י״ג, פסוק י״ז

Uprooting idolatry demands a decisive and absolute public response. An entire city that has been led astray must be transformed from a thriving settlement into an eternal ruin, serving as a lasting testament to the gravity of the sin. The process begins with collecting all abandoned and ownerless property into the center of the city [ביאור יש״ר, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The guiding principle is that all the possessions of the city's inhabitants are condemned to be burned. This includes the property of the wicked located outside the city limits, provided it can be brought inside at the time of the fire.

However, there are specific exceptions to the property slated for destruction. Items attached to the ground, such as unpicked fruit, are spared [תורה תמימה], as are deposits belonging to individuals from other cities who are exempt from the judgment [תורה תמימה, אדרת אליהו]. Another essential exception involves holy items, such as sacred texts, dedicated funds, and tithes. Out of respect for their sanctity, these items are not burned but are instead redeemed or placed in respectful storage [רבנו בחיי, תורה תמימה, מלבי״ם].

The gathered property must be placed in the main city square to publicly display the severity of the punishment and serve as a powerful deterrent. If the city happens to lack a central square, or if its square is located outside the city walls, the people are required to construct and prepare a new square within the city specifically to fulfill this requirement [רלב״ג, תורה תמימה, אדרת אליהו, מלבי״ם].

Once everything is gathered, the city is entirely consumed by fire, leaving absolutely nothing behind [אבן עזרא, ביאור יש״ר]. The primary approach among commentators emphasizes that this total destruction must be carried out exclusively for the sake and honor of God, with the sole purpose of eradicating evil. By destroying all the wealth, the executors prove to the public that they did not act out of greed or a desire to profit from the sinners [רש״י, רא״ש, דעת זקנים, רלב״ג]. In fact, God views the execution of this harsh justice as the equivalent of a burnt sacrifice, entirely consumed upon the altar [רבנו בחיי, תורה תמימה, אדרת אליהו].

In the aftermath, the city is left as an eternal mound of stones and steep ruins [אבן עזרא, אוהב גר, ביאור יש״ר]. This desolation stands as a tangible, severe warning for all future generations [ביאור שטיינזלץ], as a location where the impurity of idolatry once held strong sway remains spiritually dangerous and firmly under a ban [העמק דבר]. Regarding the future of this site, commentators disagree on the extent of its desolation. One perspective maintains that the prohibition against rebuilding applies only to constructing new homes and structures, while the abandoned land may still be cultivated for gardens and orchards [רלב״ג, ר' עקיבא בתורה תמימה ובאדרת אליהו]. Conversely, a stricter view argues that the prohibition is absolute and eternal, forbidding any form of rehabilitation, even for agricultural needs, ensuring the site remains completely desolate forever [מלבי״ם, ר' יוסי הגלילי באדרת אליהו].