Deuteronomy 7:2-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 7:1-11

Here is, I. A very strict caution against all friendship and fellowship with idols and idolaters. Those that are taken into communion with God must have no communication with the unfruitful works of darkness. These things they are charged about for the preventing of this snare now before them. 1. They must show them no mercy, Deut. 7:1, 2. Bloody work is here appointed them, and yet it is God's work, and good work, and in its time and place needful, acceptable, and honourable. (1.) God here... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 7:2

And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee ,.... Into their hands: thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them ; men, women, and children; which was ordered not merely to make way and room for the people of Israel to inherit their land, but as a punishment for capital crimes they had been guilty of, such as idolatry, incest, murder, &c.; wherefore though they were reprieved for a while for Israel's sake, till their time was come to possess the land, they were at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 7:3

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them ,.... Unless they became proselytes, as Rahab, who was married by Salmon, and so those of other nations, as Ruth the Moabitess, and so any captive taken in war; otherwise it was not lawful, bad consequences have followed upon it, which it is the design of this law to prevent; that is, being snared and drawn aside into idolatry, which was the case of Solomon: thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 7:2

Thou shalt smite them, etc. - These idolatrous nations were to be utterly destroyed, and all the others also which were contiguous to the boundaries of the promised land, provided they did not renounce their idolatry and receive the true faith: for if they did not, then no covenant was to be made with them on any secular or political consideration whatever; no mercy was to be shown to them, because the cup of their iniquity also was now full; and they must either embrace, heartily embrace,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 7:3

Neither shalt thou make marriages, etc. - The heart being naturally inclined to evil, there is more likelihood that the idolatrous wife should draw aside the believing husband, than that the believing husband should be able to bring over his idolatrous wife to the true faith. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 7:2

Verse 2 2.Thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them. Those who think that there was cruelty in this command, usurp too great authority in respect to Him who is the judge of all. The objection is specious that the people of God were unreasonably imbued with inhumanity, so that, advancing with murderous atrocity, they should spare neither sex nor age. But we must first remember what we shall see hereafter, i.e., that when God had destined the land for His people, He was at liberty utterly to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 7:1-4

EXPOSITION ENTIRE SEPARATION FROM IDOLATROUS NATIONS ENJOINED . The Israelites were about to enter on a country occupied by idolaters, and they are commanded not to spare them or to allow them to continue in their proximity, or to have any friendly relations with them (cf. Le 27:28). The Lord would cast out these nations, and deliver them, though greater and mightier than they, into their hands; and they were to smite them and place them under the ban; they were to make... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 7:1-5

Extermination with a moral purpose. When the Israelites were to cross into Canaan, they were directed to exterminate the seven nations they would find there. This is their commission. The invasion is to be conducted upon this principle. And here let us notice— I. NATIONS , LIKE INDIVIDUALS , MAY BECOME INCORRIGIBLE . There can be no doubt that sin tends to a final and incorrigible condition if the Divine mercy is not accepted and allowed to exercise its undermining power.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 7:1-6

Judgment without mercy. This decree is to be viewed— I. AS A JUST JUDGMENT ON PEOPLES WHOSE INIQUITIES CRIED FOR VENGEANCE . The doomed nations had been long borne with ( Genesis 15:16 ). Their iniquities were of a kind and degree of enormity which imperatively called for a Divine interposition (Le 18:27, 28; Deuteronomy 9:4 ). This was the true ground of God's dealings with them, and furnishes a sufficient answer to all cavils. The destruction of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 7:1-11

A holy people's policy of self-preservation. We have in this paragraph a glance onward to the time when Israel's march through the wilderness would be completed, and when the people to whom God had given the land should be confronted with those who had it previously in possession. In our Homily on it let us observe— I. WE HAVE HERE POINTED OUT THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH ISRAEL WOULD TAKE POSSESSION OF THE LAND . 1. There was a great covenant promise... read more

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