7:1 into the land that you are about to enter In Exod 23:20–23, Yahweh told Moses that an angel would bring them to Canaan (which Judg 2:1–3 validates). The angel is not mentioned here. Instead Yahweh is described as leading the people, an idea consistent with Deut 4:37, where Yahweh said He would bring Israel to the land.

seven nations mightier and more numerous than you See Gen 10:15–17; 13:7; 15:19–21.

7:2 you must utterly destroy them The Hebrew concept of cherem, which is evoked in the Hebrew text here, meant designating someone or something as sacred property. This designation often involved destruction. See note on Josh 6:16; note on Josh 6:17; compare note on Deut 2:34.

7:3 you shall not intermarry with them Intermarriage with the Canaanite populations would lead the Israelites to adopt their ways, including their gods—a violation of the first (5:7; Exod 20:3; compare Deut 6:4) and second commandments (5:8–10; Exod 20:4–6). Destruction of those populations would prevent intermarriage with them and idolatry. Compare note on Deut 7:2.

7:4 he would quickly destroy you On several earlier occasions, Yahweh made clear that disloyalty to Him meant death and expulsion from the land (Lev 26; Deut 4:26–28, 40).

7:5 you shall break down their altars Israel was to destroy the altars because they were central to the worship of the gods of Canaan through sacrifice.

stone pillars The Hebrew word used here, matsevah, refers to standing stones (whether fashioned by human hands or not) that had religious significance. Some matsevoth known to archaeologists have religious symbols carved on them. Ancients apparently believed these stones represented the deity or could be inhabited by the deity. There are parallels in the patriarchal narratives where pillars commemorated appearances of Yahweh (see Gen 28:16–22; Josh 24:26).

Asherah poles This refers to wooden poles or a tree planted by an altar (see Deut 16:21). The context of some ot passages indicates that the Asherah pole was a symbol for the Canaanite goddess Asherah. At other times, worshipers used the Asherah when there is no mention of the goddess (Judg 6:25–32).

Pagan Deities in the Old Testament Table

7:6 for him a people, a treasured possession The Hebrew word used here, segullah, refers to one’s accumulated property. Although Yahweh as creator owns everything, He singles out and cherishes Israel.

from among all the peoples Moses links these instructions with those from Exod 19:6; 23:20–33; and Deut 34:10–15, implying that Israel’s unique and privileged status requires vehement rejection of other gods and everything associated with devotion to them.

7:8 the love of Yahweh for you Yahweh’s decision was entirely voluntary and rooted in His own will; Yahweh did not choose to love Israel because of their quality or merit.

redeemed you from the house of slavery Refers to the plagues and the exodus from Egypt (see Exod 7–14).

7:9 his loyal love The Hebrew term used here, chesed, denotes loving favor and is tied to the covenants Yahweh has made with His people (see Gen 15; Exod 24). Compare the use of chesed elsewhere (e.g., Gen 24:14, 27; Exod 20:6; 34:6; Deut 5:10).

Chesed Word Study

7:12 his covenant and his loyal love Indicates the link between Yahweh’s covenant with the patriarchs (Gen 12:1–3, 15, 17) and loyal obedience to Yahweh as the only God. The promises of the Abrahamic covenant, including the land (Gen 12:1–3; 15:1–6), are conceptually tied to the Sinai covenant. See Deut 4:40; 6:3.

7:13 newborn calves of your cattle Loyalty to Yahweh will result in fertility, health, and agricultural abundance.

7:14 there shall not be sterility and bareness Fertility and abundance will result from Israel’s exclusive faithfulness to Yahweh.

7:15 the harmful diseases of Egypt Israel’s exclusive faithfulness to Yahweh will bring health as well as fertility and abundance. The mention of sickness and disease does not refer to the plagues preceding the exodus (Exod 7–12) but to disease (see Deut 28:27, 60).

7:19 the signs and the wonders and the workings of the strong hand Refers to God’s amazing displays of divine power in the plagues on Egypt and the exodus (see Exod 7–12).

so Yahweh your God will do Yahweh was successful in bringing His people out of Egypt even though Egypt’s population was larger than Israel’s. Likewise, Yahweh will destroy Israel’s enemies even though they are greater than Israel.

7:20 will send the hornets among them The Hebrew description here literally calls for wasps to sting the Canaanites to death. More metaphorically, such swarms might cause panic among the Canaanites, making them vulnerable to attack or retreat.

7:22 little by little Compare with Deuteronomy 9:3 where God promises to destroy the inhabitants of the land quickly.

7:25 it is a detestable thing to Yahweh your God Moses’ words here are not a comprehensive condemnation of wealth; they are directed at idolatrous practices and the idolatry of greed. Idols are to be destroyed. Even the material from which they are made or overlaid (silver and gold) must be destroyed. Compare Josh 7:1, 20–21.

7:26 a thing devoted to destruction Meaning to designate the things as sacred property (cherem in Hebrew), which often involved complete destruction of the property (see note on Deut 7:2). This principle of cherem lies behind the entire discussion of driving out the nations of Canaan in Lev 7. The Israelites are engaged in a war against wicked people who have been placed under the judgment of Yahweh (Deut 9:4–5); these people will lead the Israelites to idolatry if they are not destroyed. The Israelites will be susceptible to destruction themselves if they adopt the religious practices of the inhabitants of Canaan or take property designated as cherem (compare Josh 7:11–15). See note on Josh 6:16; note on Josh 6:17.