Exodus 23:32-33

[32] Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. [33] They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

What is the context of Exodus 23:32-33?

God’s Angel to Prepare the Way (Exodus 23:20-33 true)
A Promise of the Lord’s Presence (Exodus 23:20-33 true)
God Promises Help as the Israelis Enter Canaan (Exodus 23:20-33 true)
Conquest of Canaan Promised (Exodus 23:20-33 true)
The Angel and the Promises (Exodus 23:20-33 true)
Promises and Warnings (Exodus 23:20-33 true)
Reasons for Loyal Obedience (Exodus 23:20-33 true)
Conquest of the Land (Exodus 23:20-33 true)

What does Exodus 23:32-33 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

These verses contain a final warning. Israel was to make no covenants with the Canaanites or their gods because she already had a covenant with Yahweh. The Israelites failed here too (e.g, Joshua 9:3-15).

"The Decalogue begins with the command that Israel have no god other than Yahweh. The Book of the Covenant begins ( Exodus 20:23) and ends ( Exodus 23:32-33) with that same command, and all that lies between that beginning and that ending is designed to assure its obedience." ^[1]

It is very important to observe that God conditioned obtaining all that He promised the Israelites as an inheritance on their obedience. They could only enter into it by obeying God. Their inheritance was something different from their salvation, which came to them only by faith in God ( Genesis 15:6; Exodus 12:13; Exodus 14:31). The New Testament likewise teaches that justification comes solely by faith in God, but only obedient Christians will obtain the full inheritance that God has promised us (cf. Hebrews 3:12 to Hebrews 4:14). ^[2]