Exodus 23

Exodus 23 continues God’s instructions to the Israelites regarding their conduct and responsibilities, particularly focusing on justice, fairness, and proper treatment of others. It also contains laws related to rest and religious festivals, concluding with God’s promises and the warning about Canaan's conquest.

Exodus 23:1-3 (NKJV)
1 “You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.
3 You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.”

These verses instruct the Israelites to uphold truth and justice in all matters. Spreading false reports or being part of false testimony is condemned. God emphasizes personal integrity by warning against following the crowd in committing evil. Even when sympathizing with the poor, they must not show favoritism that would lead to unjust outcomes. The goal is to maintain fairness and honesty in all legal proceedings, ensuring justice for everyone.

Exodus 23:4-5 (NKJV)
4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it.”

These verses highlight the importance of kindness and mercy, even toward one's enemies. The Israelites were commanded to assist those in need, even if the person was an adversary. Returning a stray animal or helping an overloaded donkey reflects a spirit of compassion and responsibility. These actions demonstrate that God's laws extend beyond legal duties to include moral obligations rooted in love and respect for others, even for enemies.

Exodus 23:6-8 (NKJV)
6 “You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute.
7 Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.
8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.”

Here, God instructs His people to protect the rights of the poor, ensuring that their cases receive fair judgment. They must distance themselves from lies and false accusations, and the sanctity of innocent life is stressed. Bribes are condemned as they corrupt justice, leading even wise men astray. These verses focus on the integrity required to maintain a just society, warning that God will not side with the wicked or allow injustice to stand.

Exodus 23:9 (NKJV)
9 “Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

God reminds the Israelites of their past as foreigners in Egypt, urging them to treat strangers with compassion. This law serves as a moral reminder that oppression and mistreatment are contrary to God’s character. The Israelites were to remember their own suffering and ensure that strangers in their land were treated justly, promoting empathy and fairness toward outsiders.

Exodus 23:10-11 (NKJV)
10 “Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce,
11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner, you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove.”

These verses introduce the principle of the sabbatical year. Every seventh year, the land was to be left uncultivated to provide for the poor and the wildlife. This law reveals God's concern for both the needy and the earth itself, allowing time for renewal. It promotes generosity and sustainability, ensuring that even those without land can benefit from the harvest during this special year.

Exodus 23:12 (NKJV)
12 “Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed.”

The Sabbath rest is reiterated here, emphasizing not only rest for people but also for animals and servants. The Sabbath was a time of renewal and refreshment for all, reflecting God's care for creation and His desire for both physical and spiritual restoration. It was a reminder of God's provision and the importance of rest and reflection in His plan.

Exodus 23:13 (NKJV)
13 “And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.”

God instructs His people to be cautious and vigilant in following His commands. They were to avoid even the mention of other gods, ensuring that their allegiance remained solely with the Lord. This verse highlights the importance of exclusive worship and avoiding any association with pagan practices, reminding them of God's jealousy for their devotion.

Exodus 23:14-17 (NKJV)
14 “Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year:
15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty);
16 and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.
17 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God.”

God commands the Israelites to observe three annual feasts: the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Harvest (also known as Pentecost), and the Feast of Ingathering (Tabernacles). These feasts were times of remembrance and celebration, honoring God's provision and deliverance. The males were required to present themselves before God, signifying a communal commitment to worship and thanksgiving, ensuring that the nation remained united in devotion to Him.

Exodus 23:18-19 (NKJV)
18 “You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; nor shall the fat of My sacrifice remain until morning.
19 The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

These verses outline proper practices for sacrifices and offerings. God emphasizes purity in worship, forbidding the use of leaven, which symbolized corruption. Additionally, the Israelites were commanded to offer the first and best of their harvest to God, showing gratitude and trust in His provision. The prohibition against boiling a young goat in its mother’s milk likely relates to separating pagan practices from Israelite worship, keeping their rituals distinct and holy.

Exodus 23:20-22 (NKJV)
20 “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
21 Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.
22 But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.”

God promises to send His Angel to guide the Israelites into the Promised Land. This divine messenger, who bears God’s name, is not just any angel but a manifestation of God's presence and authority—often understood as the pre-incarnate Christ. The phrase "My name is in Him" suggests that this Angel carries God's full authority and essence, indicating that He is more than a created being. The people were to obey and honor this Angel, as disobedience would lead to serious consequences, for He had the power to judge sins. However, if they remained faithful, God, through this Angel, would protect them, fight against their enemies, and ensure their success in entering the land. This divine presence foreshadows Christ’s role as the ultimate mediator and guide for His people.

Exodus 23:23-24 (NKJV)
23 “For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off.
24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars.”

God outlines His plan to bring the Israelites into Canaan, a land inhabited by various nations. His promise to "cut them off" refers to His judgment on these peoples for their idolatry and wickedness. Israel was to destroy all idols and sacred pillars, ensuring that no trace of pagan worship remained. The focus here is on maintaining spiritual purity and allegiance to God alone, rejecting the false gods of the land.

Exodus 23:25-26 (NKJV)
25 “So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
26 No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.”

God promises blessings of health, fertility, and provision in response to Israel’s faithfulness. By serving the Lord, they would experience His abundant care, with their basic needs of food and health met. The removal of sickness and barrenness was a direct indication of God's favor, showing that obedience to His laws resulted in physical and material blessings for the people.

Exodus 23:27-30 (NKJV)
27 “I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
28 And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you.
29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.
30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land.”

God outlines the gradual conquest of Canaan. Rather than immediate victory, God would drive out the inhabitants slowly, ensuring that the land remained habitable. He would use natural forces, like hornets, to assist in this process. This gradual approach would prevent the land from becoming overrun with wild animals before the Israelites could fully occupy it. The process of conquest would be divinely controlled and timed for the benefit of the people.

Exodus 23:31-33 (NKJV)
31 “And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.
32 You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
33 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

God defines the borders of the land He would give Israel, stretching from the Red Sea to the Euphrates River. The Israelites were commanded to drive out the inhabitants entirely, making no treaties or compromises. Allowing these people to remain would risk leading the Israelites into idolatry, which would be spiritually disastrous. God’s concern is that serving other gods would ensnare His people, pulling them away from faithfulness to Him.