Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 23:24

"Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars." — Exodus 23:24 (ASV)

Nor do after their works. —The Canaanite nations were not merely idolaters; they were corrupt, profligate, and depraved. All the abominations mentioned in Leviticus 18:6-23 were practiced widely among them before they were dispossessed of their territory (Leviticus 18:24–30). No doubt the idolatry and the profligacy were closely connected, as among idolatrous nations generally; but it was for their profligacy rather than their idolatry that they were driven out. Thus, it was necessary to warn Israel against both.

Thou shalt ... quite break down their images. —Conquerors generally preserved the idols of the conquered nations as trophies of victory; to do so was forbidden to the Israelites. Idolatry had such a powerful and subtle attraction for them that there was a danger of their being seduced into it unless the entire apparatus of idol worship was destroyed and done away with. Hence the present injunctions, and others similar to them (Deuteronomy 7:5; and other similar passages).