במדבר, פרק ל״ג, פסוק נ״ב

As the Israelites stood at the banks of the Jordan River, moments before entering the Land of Israel, they received a critical condition for their settlement. Taking possession of the land was entirely dependent on completely clearing the territory of its previous inhabitants and removing every trace of idolatry, thereby preventing any negative spiritual influence [תורה תמימה, רלב״ג]. The initial step required driving out the people living there. The primary approach among commentators is that this was an active command to expel the inhabitants rather than a mere promise of inheriting the territory, as the instruction focuses on physically clearing the people from the area [רש״י, גור אריה, שפתי חכמים, העמק דבר]. This obligation applied to all residents, including nations outside the seven Canaanite nations. Even if the Israelites lacked the military strength to defeat certain groups in battle, they were still required to at least drive them away [אור החיים].

Once the inhabitants were removed, the focus shifted to eradicating their idolatry. The primary approach among commentators is that the Israelites were commanded to destroy the pagan houses of worship, which were distinctively paved with special marble stones where people would bow down with their hands and feet spread out [רש״י, שפתי חכמים, נתינה לגר]. The goal was to uproot the idolatry entirely [קיצור בעל הטורים], ensuring no memory of the worship sites remained, even though technically the stones themselves might have been permitted for other uses once detached [העמק דבר]. A slightly different perspective suggests that the targets of this destruction were visual symbols and physical aids designed to awaken and direct a person's thoughts toward idolatrous beliefs [רש״ר הירש].

The eradication process also targeted specific idols. Most commentators explain that this refers to statues cast from metal [רש״י]. Unlike the paving stones, these metal figures required total obliteration, with a strict prohibition against deriving any benefit from them. The underlying concern was that if the Israelites were to melt down the metal and repurpose it, they might eventually attribute their future successes to the lingering power of the original idol, which could draw them back into idol worship [רלב״ג, העמק דבר]. Offering a unique alternative, another view questions why metal idols would be singled out. This perspective suggests that the objects in question were not cast metal at all, but rather idols placed under the thick, protective shade of tree branches, similar to the worship of sacred trees [הכתב והקבלה].

Finally, the Israelites were instructed to demolish the high places. These elevated locations served as altars and central gathering points for those engaged in nature worship [אבן עזרא, רש״ר הירש]. Although these high places were not worshipped as gods themselves but merely served as meeting grounds for the worshippers, they still had to be completely obliterated. This ensured that absolutely no trace or echo of idolatrous culture would survive in the Land of Israel [העמק דבר].