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Deuteronomy 7:23,24
But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed…

Deuteronomy 3:3
So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.

Deuteronomy 23:14
For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

utterly

Deuteronomy 20:16,17
But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give theefor an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: …

Leviticus 27:28,29
Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath,both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thingis most holy unto the LORD…

Numbers 33:52
Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:

make no

Deuteronomy 20:10,11
When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it…

Exodus 23:32,33
Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods…

Exodus 34:12-16
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: …

then you must devote them to complete destruction
The command to devote to destruction, or "herem," involves the total annihilation of the Canaanite peoples and their religious practices. This is not merely a military strategy but a theological mandate to purify the land from idolatry and moral corruption (Deuteronomy 20:16-18). The cultural context of the Canaanites included practices such as child sacrifice and temple prostitution, which were abominations to the LORD (Leviticus 18:24-30). This command foreshadows the ultimate judgment of sin and evil, pointing to the eschatological destruction of all that opposes God (Revelation 19:11-21). It also serves as a type of Christ's victory over sin and death, where He completely destroys the power of the enemy (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).

Make no treaty with them
This prohibition against making treaties is a safeguard against syncretism and the dilution of Israel's covenant identity. Treaties in the ancient Near East often involved political alliances and religious syncretism, which could lead Israel away from exclusive worship of Yahweh (Exodus 23:32-33). The command reflects the need for Israel to remain distinct and holy, set apart for God's purposes (Leviticus 20:26). This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are warned against being unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

and show them no mercy
The instruction to show no mercy is a difficult and often controversial aspect of the text, reflecting the severity of God's judgment against sin. It underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of idolatry, which can lead to spiritual and moral decay (Deuteronomy 7:4). The historical context involves the need to prevent Israel from adopting Canaanite religious practices, which would lead to their downfall (Judges 2:1-3). This command is not a general principle for all time but specific to the conquest of Canaan, highlighting the unique role of Israel in God's redemptive history. It points to the ultimate justice of God, where mercy is extended through Christ, but judgment remains for those who reject Him (John 3:36).

“ The LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed.” (Deuteronomy 7:23)

• God Himself initiates the victory; Israel is not conquering by luck or superior tactics but by divine intervention, just as He promised inExodus 23:27-31 and fulfilled inJoshua 24:12.

• The phrasing underscores covenant faithfulness—what the Lord swore to Abraham inGenesis 15:18-21 He now brings to pass.

• Because the outcome is the Lord’s doing, Israel must rely on Him rather than on their own strength, echoingDeuteronomy 9:3, “the LORD your God is the consuming fire who will destroy them and subdue them before you.”

“ You must utterly destroy them…” (Deuteronomy 7:2)

• This was a specific, time-bound command for the conquest generation. It removed entrenched evil practices (Leviticus 18:24-30) and preserved Israel from idolatry.

• Comparable orders appear in1 Samuel 15:3 andNumbers 21:2-3, always tied to protecting worship purity.

• The severity highlights God’s holiness: sin that has ripened for judgment (Genesis 15:16) meets the full weight of divine justice.

“ Do not make a covenant with them or show them favor.” (Deuteronomy 7:2)

• Treaties implied shared gods (Exodus 34:12-15). Entering one would blur the line between Yahweh worship and paganism.

• Israel’s later compromise with the Gibeonites inJoshua 9 illustrates the danger—peace secured by deception bred ongoing complications (2 Samuel 21:1-2).

• The Lord desires exclusive allegiance; His people cannot bind themselves to systems opposed to Him (2 Corinthians 6:14-17 applies the same principle today).

“ …show them no mercy.” (Deuteronomy 7:2)

• Mercy in this context would have meant allowing the nations to continue practices like child sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:31). True compassion protects future generations from such horrors.

• God’s justice is never cruel caprice; it is righteous and measured (Psalm 19:9). Yet it is also final—Hebrews 10:31 reminds, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

• For believers now, the battle is spiritual (Ephesians 6:12). We show no mercy to sin in our own lives, putting it to death (Romans 8:13), while extending personal mercy to people as Christ commands (Matthew 5:44).

Deuteronomy 7:2 presents a four-fold directive rooted in God’s covenant faithfulness and holiness: He wins the battle, commands total removal of corrupting influences, forbids compromising alliances, and requires resolute opposition to evil. The passage reveals both the severity of divine justice and the safety found in wholehearted obedience. While the original command was specific to Israel’s conquest, its underlying principles—trust God’s power, guard against idolatry, refuse compromised allegiance, and deal decisively with sin—remain timeless for God’s people today.

Thou shalt make no covenant with them.--The reason for this is too obvious to need comment. If Israelites and idolaters were united--still more if they were intermingled in marriage--there was an end to the distinction of race and religion--an end to the supremacy of Israel or the isolation of the people of Jehovah, as exhibiting His Law and the blessings of His government to mankind. It must be remembered, however, that the isolation here commanded was only a means to an end; it was not the end itself. It may be further observed that as soon as the danger of idolatry was at an end, the isolation of Israel in a great measure ceased. The object of giving the people a land of their own, and supremacy among the surrounding nations, was to enable them to develop the religion which was to prepare the way for Christianity. When the religious principles of the nation were sufficiently fixed to make their political supremacy unnecessary, this supremacy was taken away.

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