Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire.
Here is, I. A very strict caution against all friendship and fellowship with idols and idolaters. Those that are taken into communion with God must have no communication with the unfruitful works of darkness. These things they are charged about for the preventing of this snare now before them. 1. They must show them no mercy, Deu 7:1, Deu 7:2.
Commenting on Deuteronomy 7:1-11
But thus shall ye deal with them,.... The inhabitants of the land of Canaan: ye shall destroy their altars; on which they sacrificed to their idols: and break down their images; of their gods, and the statues and pillars erected to the honour of them: and cut down their groves; sacred to idols, which were usually planted on hills, and about Heathen temples, and under...
thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, &c.--The removal of the temples, altars, and everything that had been enlisted in the service, or might tend to perpetuate the remembrance, of Canaanite idolatry, was likewise highly expedient for preserving the Israelites from all risk of contamination.