Deuteronomy 7:1-11

Deuteronomy 7:1-11

[1] When the LORD  thy God  shall bring  thee into the land  whither thou goest  to possess  it, and hath cast out  many  nations  before  thee, 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  [2] And when the LORD  thy God  shall deliver  them before  thee; thou shalt smite  them, and utterly  them; thou shalt make  no covenant  with them, nor shew mercy  unto them: [3] Neither shalt thou make marriages  with them; thy daughter  thou shalt not give  unto his son,  nor his daughter  shalt thou take  unto thy son.  [4] For they will turn away  thy son  from following  me, that they may serve  other  gods:  so will the anger  of the LORD  be kindled  against you, and destroy  thee suddenly.  [5] But thus shall ye deal  with them; ye shall destroy  their altars,  and break down  their images,  and cut down  their groves,  and burn  their graven images  with fire.  [6] For thou art an holy  people  unto the LORD  thy God:  the LORD  thy God  hath chosen  thee to be a special  people  that are upon the face  of the earth.  [7] The LORD  did not set his love  upon you, nor choose  you, because ye were more  in number than any people;  for ye were the fewest  of all people:  [8] But because the LORD  loved  you, and because he would keep  the oath  which he had sworn  unto your fathers,  hath the LORD  brought you out  with a mighty  hand,  and redeemed  you out of the house  of bondmen,  from the hand  of Pharaoh  king  of Egypt.  [9] Know  therefore that the LORD  thy God,  the faithful  God,  which keepeth  covenant  and mercy  with them that love  him and keep  his commandments  to a thousand  generations;  [10] And repayeth  them that hate  him to their face,  to destroy  them: he will not be slack  to him that hateth  him, he will repay  him to his face.  [11] Thou shalt therefore keep  the commandments,  and the statutes,  and the judgments,  which I command  thee this day,  to do  them.

What does Deuteronomy 7:1-11 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Moses mentioned seven nations that resided in Canaan here ( Deuteronomy 7:1), but as many as10 appear in other passages (cf. Genesis 15:19-21; Exodus 34:11; Numbers 13:28-29; Judges 3:5). Perhaps Moses named seven here for rhetorical purposes, seven being a number that indicates completion or fullness. One reason for the total extermination of these idolaters was the evil effect their corrupt worship would have on the Israelites and their relationship with Yahweh ( Deuteronomy 7:4). [1] They deserved to die for their sins ( Deuteronomy 9:4-5) and for their persistent hatred of God ( Deuteronomy 7:10; cf. Genesis 9:25-26; Genesis 10:15-18; Exodus 23:23).
"Thus he is not speaking of those Canaanites who actually forsook their idols and followed the Lord [2]." [3]
Israel was to be different from other nations (i.e, holy) because God had chosen to bless her ( Deuteronomy 7:6). Likewise Christians today should deal ruthlessly with sin in our lives (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:6). Israel"s election was not due to anything in her that merited God"s favor, but only to the free choice of God to bless whom He would bless.
"Israel had a priestly tribe, the tribe of Levi, but the nation as a whole was also to be a priesthood. The historical function of a priest was to represent man to God. The tribe of Levi represented Israel before God; and the nation Israel was to represent the Gentile nations before God." [4]
God"s promises to the Israelites" forefathers and His deliverance of Israel out of Egypt were demonstrations of the love that lay behind God"s election. The motive of love comes through clearly. The reason for this love was not that its recipients were attractive but that its giver is a loving Person.