put to death] The Hebrew word Hherem, which is rendred by devoted, coming fron Hharam, which signifieth to consecrate, or curse; (but most usually to kill, or to destroy,) may be varied in the exposition of it, according to the difference of things or persons, to which it is applied; for applied to a thing without life, (as a fild is said to be Hherem, vers. 28. and the case is alike in other things also, set apart for Gods portion, Joshua 6:19.) it signifies either the alienation of it from all Civill right, and the perpetuall consecration, or dedication of it to the maintenance of Gods service and Sanctuary; (and if it were sold, or let out by the Steward, or some Officer belonging to the Sanctuary: for such dealing, in such affaires, it was in the yeare of Jubile to returne to the right of the Sanctuary againe, and to be disposed of, for the use and service thereof;) or the execration and destruction of it: If the thing called Hherem, were a living creature, and not of mankinde, it was either cleane or uncleane; if cleane, it was to be offered in sacrifice to God; if uncleane, the neck of it was to be broken: See Annot. on Exodus 13:13. If of mankinde, it was either of such as were acceptable to God, or execrable to him of the former sort were the Levites, who were chosen by God for the service of the Sanctuary all the dayes of their lives, in which respect they were Civilly dead, that is, so estranged from other worldly callings, and commerce, as if they were dead; and to continue so long in that service as that they must dye in it; and in this respect onely is the word Hherem, for the latter acception applyed to them, if they were such as were odious to God, as wicked men, and things belonging to them, which were abhorred of God for their sakes; then if he devoted them to destruction, there was no reprieve or preservation of them; Hherem applied to them was a fixed doome of their destruction, as of Idolaters, Exodus 22:20. and Canaanites, Deuteronomy 20:17. especially the Amalekites, Deuteronomy 25:19. See also 1 Samuel 15:3. 26. So that the manner of devoted things or persons called Hherem, was different from all others which might be redeemed; these being devoted absolutely and perfectly, with a resolution either expresse or implicite, to be irrevocable, never to be redeemed.