In a message dated 9/24/1999 1:26:34 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
lilyofthevalley@... writes:

<< The reasons for the utterly destruction of all that was
 in the city of Jericho, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and 
sheep, and
 ass, with the edge of the sword was taken to prevent alien elements of 
Canaanite
 culture and worship, on the basis of their total corruption before God, from
 infecting Israel.  >>

Thank you for your in-depth answer to my concerns.  But your answers demands 
another question, if I might;
If utter destruction was required to not infect Israel, why were the virgin 
women kept. We all know what virgin girls are used for, and this produced 
infected half breeds.
Paul