Final answer:
The student's question relates to the treatment of defeated nations as described in the Bible, specifically Deuteronomy 7, which commands the Israelites to 'utterly destroy' their enemies, make 'no idols', and show 'no mercy'. These directives are indicative of the severe demands placed upon the Israelites to maintain loyalty to God and avoid idolatry, reflecting the historical and religious context of the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to specific texts in the Bible, particularly from the book of Deuteronomy (Deut), which contains commands given to the Israelites regarding the treatment of defeated nations. According to Deuteronomy 7:2, God commands the Israelites to 'utterly destroy' and show 'no mercy' to their enemies. This reflects a broader theme within certain Old Testament scriptures, where the Israelites are often commanded to engage in strict and even violent measures against their enemies. For example, in Deuteronomy 20:13-14 and 20:16, there are instructions to put all males to the sword and to not leave anything that breathes alive in the cities that the Lord is giving them as an inheritance. Deuteronomy 21:10-13 discusses the taking of 'beautiful women' from the enemy as captive wives, showing the complexity and harshness of ancient warfare and societal norms as written in these texts.
In direct response to the student's question, the completion of the sentence from Deuteronomy 7 would be as follows: Regarding the defeated nations, you will utterly destroy them. You shall make no idols. You shall show them no mercy.
These passages are a reflection of the historical context and the belief system of the period in which the Old Testament was written. The scriptures show the expectation of complete loyalty to God, as indicated in Exodus 20:4-6, demanding that the Israelites avoid idolatry and follow God's commandments to receive God's love and avoid punishment.