Deuteronomy Chapter 7

Driving Out the Nations

¹ “The LORD will take you to the land and clear out the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites—seven nations bigger and stronger than you. ² He’ll deliver them to you, defeat them, and destroy them. Don’t make treaties with them or show them mercy ³ or intermarry with them. ⁴ They’ll turn your children away from following him to serving other gods. His anger will flare and soon destroy you. ⁵ Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, burn their carved images.

⁶ “You’ve been set aside to the LORD your God. Out of all the earth’s nations, he chose you as his own. ⁷ He didn’t set his love on you because you were bigger than other nations; you were few compared to them. ⁸ Because he loved you and wanted to keep his oath to your ancestors, he brought you out with power and redeemed you from slavery under Pharaoh. ⁹ Know then that the LORD is faithful and keeps covenant and kindness to a thousand generations that love him and obey him. ¹⁰ But he repays directly people that hate him. He won’t delay repaying them with destruction. ¹¹ Keep the commandments, statutes, and case laws I’m commanding you.                                                                                                                       Deut 7:1-11

¹² “If you keep these case laws, he’ll keep you with his covenant and kindness. ¹³ He’ll love you, bless you, and multiply you. He’ll bless your offspring and what your ground produces—grain, new wine, olive oil. He’ll increase your herd and the young in your flock. ¹⁴ You’ll be more blessed than any other nation. No male or female will be sterile among you or your livestock. ¹⁵ He’ll keep you from getting sick and not put on you any of the diseases you knew in Egypt. He’ll lay them on people that hate you. ¹⁶ You’ll consume the nations he delivers to you. Don’t show them any mercy or serve their gods. That would be a snare to you.

¹⁷ “If you say to yourselves, ‘These nations are bigger than we are. How can we overtake them?’ ¹⁸ You don’t have to be afraid of them. Remember what the LORD did to Pharaoh and to Egypt. ¹⁹ Remember the great trials you saw, the signs and wonders, the strong hand and outstretched arm he delivered you with. That’s what he’ll do to the nations you’re afraid of. ²⁰ He’ll send hornets after them till they perish who hide from you. ²¹ A great, awesome God is among you. ²² He’ll clear them away little by little. You won’t be able to put an end to them right away. Wild animals would take over. ²³ He’ll deliver them by throwing them into confusion till you destroy them. ²⁴ He’ll deliver their kings to you to wipe out. Nobody will be able to resist you. ²⁵ Burn the carved images of their gods. Don’t covet the silver or gold that’s on them or take it for yourselves. It would be a snare to you, and it’s detestable to the LORD. ²⁶ Don’t bring anything detestable into your house to serve as a devoted thing. Detest it completely; abhor it utterly.

Deut 7:12-26