Deuteronomy 7

In this chapter, God instructs Israel on how they are to deal with the nations in Canaan. They are commanded to completely destroy the inhabitants, avoid intermarriage, and remain separate as a holy people. God promises blessings for obedience and warns of the consequences of disobedience.

Deuteronomy 7:1-3 (NKJV)
1 "When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you,
2 and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.
3 Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son."

God is commanding the Israelites to completely destroy the seven nations in Canaan when they conquer the land. These nations are larger and stronger, but Israel is to trust in God’s power. They are warned not to make any peace treaties or show mercy, and they are to avoid intermarrying with the Canaanites, as such alliances would corrupt their faithfulness to God. This strict separation was necessary to preserve their identity as God's chosen people and prevent idolatry.

Deuteronomy 7:4 (NKJV)
"For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly."

The warning against intermarriage is explained here: foreign spouses would lead Israelite children away from God toward idolatry. This would provoke God’s wrath, leading to Israel’s destruction. The danger of spiritual compromise is clear, as God wants to protect His people from being drawn into pagan worship.

Deuteronomy 7:5 (NKJV)
"But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire."

God instructs Israel not only to defeat these nations but also to eradicate every trace of their idolatry. The destruction of altars, pillars, and images emphasizes that Israel is to have no part in pagan worship. This complete removal would ensure they remained focused on the worship of God alone.

Deuteronomy 7:6 (NKJV)
"For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth."

God reminds the Israelites that they are set apart as His holy people. They are not like other nations but are chosen to be His treasured possession. This identity forms the basis of why they must remain separate and loyal to God alone, as their unique relationship with Him demands faithfulness.

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (NKJV)
7 "The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples;
8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt."

God clarifies that His choice of Israel was not based on their size or strength but purely on His love and the promises made to their ancestors. Their deliverance from Egypt was an act of His faithfulness. This reminder of grace helps Israel understand that their identity and success are grounded in God’s love and His covenant, not their own merit.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NKJV)
"Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;"

Here, God’s faithfulness is emphasized. He keeps His promises and extends mercy across generations to those who love Him and are obedient. This verse highlights the enduring nature of God's covenant and His reliability, encouraging Israel to remain devoted to Him.

Deuteronomy 7:10 (NKJV)
"And He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face."

God is just in dealing with those who reject Him. There is a clear distinction between His mercy toward those who love Him and His direct judgment on those who hate Him. This warning reminds Israel that rebellion against God has serious consequences, and God will not delay in punishing those who oppose Him.

Deuteronomy 7:11 (NKJV)
"Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them."

God calls Israel to be diligent in following His laws. Obedience is not optional but a necessary part of their covenant relationship with God. By keeping His commandments, they maintain their status as His chosen people and avoid the consequences of disobedience.

Deuteronomy 7:12-13 (NKJV)
12 "Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.
13 And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you."

God promises that obedience will lead to continued blessings. His covenant will bring love, prosperity, and growth, both in their families and their land. The flourishing of their crops, livestock, and children reflects God’s abundant care when Israel is faithful. God’s blessings encompass every area of their lives when they uphold His laws.

Deuteronomy 7:14-15 (NKJV)
14 "You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock.
15 And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you."

Israel is assured of being blessed above all other nations, with no barrenness or sickness. God promises health and prosperity, removing the plagues they had witnessed in Egypt. These blessings serve as a contrast between the fate of God’s people and the punishment of those who oppose them. Israel’s distinctiveness lies in God’s provision and protection.

Deuteronomy 7:16 (NKJV)
"Also you shall destroy all the peoples whom the Lord your God delivers over to you; your eye shall have no pity on them, nor shall you serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you."

Israel is warned not to pity the nations God delivers into their hands or serve their gods. Allowing any of these people to remain would be a spiritual trap, leading Israel into idolatry. God’s instructions are meant to safeguard Israel’s loyalty to Him alone, avoiding any compromise that could threaten their relationship with Him.

Deuteronomy 7:17-19 (NKJV)
17 "If you should say in your heart, 'These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?'
18 you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt:
19 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid."

God reassures Israel not to fear the nations, even though they may seem stronger. They are to remember how God delivered them from Egypt with miraculous signs and wonders. Just as He dealt with Pharaoh, He will defeat their current enemies. God’s past faithfulness provides the confidence they need to face future challenges.

Deuteronomy 7:20 (NKJV)
"Moreover the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed."

God promises supernatural intervention in their battles, symbolized by the hornet driving out their enemies. Even those who try to escape or hide will not be spared. This imagery reinforces that God is actively involved in Israel’s conquest and will ensure the complete destruction of their foes.

Deuteronomy 7:21-22 (NKJV)
21 "You shall not be terrified of them; for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you.
22 And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you."

Israel is reminded again not to be afraid, for God is present with them as their mighty protector. He will drive out the nations gradually, rather than all at once, to prevent the land from becoming desolate and overrun by wild animals. God’s timing in this process ensures their long-term security and sustainability.

Deuteronomy 7:23-24 (NKJV)
23 "But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed.
24 And He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you will destroy their name from under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them."

God reassures Israel that He will give them total victory over their enemies. They will not only defeat these nations but also remove any trace of their existence. This includes the defeat of their kings, ensuring that no one is left to challenge Israel’s authority. God’s promise of success underscores His commitment to securing the land for His people.

Deuteronomy 7:25 (NKJV)
"You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God."

Israel is instructed to burn the idols of the conquered nations and not to be tempted by the precious metals used in their construction. Taking any part of these idols would trap them in the very idolatry they were meant to avoid. The emphasis is on complete rejection of anything associated with false gods, as such practices are detestable to God.

Deuteronomy 7:26 (NKJV)
"Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing."

The Israelites are warned not to bring any objects of idolatry into their homes. Possessing such items would bring destruction upon them, as they represent a rejection of God’s holiness. They are to hate and reject all forms of idolatry as cursed and dangerous, ensuring that nothing compromises their loyalty to God.