"Then you shall gatherallits bootyinto the middleof its opensquareand burnthe cityand allits bootywith fireas a wholeburntofferingto the LORDyour God;and it shall be a ruinforever.It shall neverbe rebuilt.
"Whoeverlieswith an animalshall surelybe putto death.
The oracleconcerning Damascus."Behold,Damascusis about to be removedfrom being a cityAnd will becomea fallenruin.
For You have madea cityinto a heap,A fortifiedcityinto a ruin;A palaceof strangersis a citynomore,It will neverbe rebuilt.
"Thereforebehold,the daysare coming,"declaresthe LORD,"That I will cause a trumpetblastof warto be heardAgainstRabbahof the sonsof Ammon;And it will becomea desolateheap,And her townswill be seton fire.Then Israelwill takepossessionof his possessors,"Saysthe LORD.
"I will makeyou a barerock;you will be a placefor the spreadingof nets.You will be builtnomore,for I the LORDhave spoken,"declaresthe LordGOD.
For I will makeSamariaa heapof ruinsin the open country,Plantingplacesfor a vineyard.I will pourher stonesdowninto the valleyAnd will laybareher foundations.
"The gravenimagesof their godsyou are to burnwith fire;you shall not covetthe silveror the goldthat is on them, nortakeit for yourselves, oryou will be snaredby it, for it is an abominationto the LORDyour God.
"You shall not bringan abominationinto your house,and likeit comeunderthe ban;you shall utterlydetestit and you shall utterlyabhorit, for it is somethingbanned.
They utterlydestroyedeverythingin the city,bothmanand woman,youngand old,and oxand sheepand donkey,with the edgeof the sword.
They burnedthe citywith fire,and allthat was in it. Onlythe silverand gold,and articlesof bronzeand iron,they putinto the treasuryof the houseof the LORD.
Then Joshuamade them takean oathat that time,saying,"Cursedbeforethe LORDis the manwhorisesup and buildsthiscityJericho;with [the loss of] his firstbornhe shall layits foundation,and with [the loss of] his youngestsonhe shall setup its gates."
So JoshuaburnedAiand madeit a heapforever,a desolationuntilthisday.
