Exodus 23:23
“When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to read this list of nations and think it means complete, utter annihilation for every single person. But notice the phrase "I will cut them off" – it's more about dismantling their nations and their idolatrous way of life, not necessarily exterminating every individual. This opens the door for people from those nations to potentially join Israel and worship God, showing God's grace extends beyond just the Israelites.
God is speaking to the Israelites, promising to send His angel ahead of them to guide them into the land already promised to them. This verse immediately follows instructions on how they are to deal with the peoples inhabiting that land, namely the Amorites, Hittites, and others listed, warning them not to worship their gods or serve them. The surrounding verses emphasize obedience to God and His angel, and the ultimate goal of driving out these nations.
Understand the original words
mal'ak · Hebrew Noun
A supernatural messenger sent by God to act on His behalf; in this context, it refers to a divine figure possessing the authority of God Himself.
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This passage recounts how Joshua, recalling God's actions, mentions the Amorites and other nations that Israel encountered, echoing the list of peoples God promised to drive out in Exodus 23:23.
Deuteronomy 7:1Here, Moses reiterates God's promise to drive out nations greater and mightier than Israel, directly paralleling the divine action described in Exodus 23:23.
1 Kings 13:34This verse reflects on the 'cutting off' of all nations that practiced idolatry, a concept directly related to God's promise in Exodus 23:23 to 'cut them off' from the land.
Acts 7:45Stephen's speech references the Israelites possessing the land allotted to the nations whom God drove out before them, a clear allusion to the fulfillment of the promise in Exodus 23:23.
pooleExodus 23:23: "For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off."
No text from Poole on this verse.
pulpitExodus 23:23: "For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off."
Verse 23. - The Amorites, and the Hittites, etc. The nations of Canaan proper, to whom the Gergashites are sometimes added. See the comment on 2 Samuel 3:8. I will cut them off. Or "cut them down," i.e., destroy them from being any longer nations, but not exterminate them, as is generally…
It's easy to read this list of nations and think it means complete, utter annihilation for every single person. But notice the phrase "I will cut them off" – it's more about dismantling their nations and their idolatrous way of life, not necessarily exterminating every individual. This opens the door for people from those nations to potentially join Israel and worship God, showing God's grace extends beyond just the Israelites.
God is speaking to the Israelites, promising to send His angel ahead of them to guide them into the land already promised to them. This verse immediately follows instructions on how they are to deal with the peoples inhabiting that land, namely the Amorites, Hittites, and others listed, warning them not to worship their gods or serve them. The surrounding verses emphasize obedience to God and His angel, and the ultimate goal of driving out these nations.
God is speaking to the Israelites, promising to send His angel ahead of them to guide them into the land already promised to them. This verse immediately follows instructions on how they are to deal with the peoples inhabiting that land, namely the Amorites, Hittites, and others listed, warning them not to worship their gods or serve them. The surrounding verses emphasize obedience to God and His angel, and the ultimate goal of driving out these nations.
"“When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out," — It's easy to read this list of nations and think it means complete, utter annihilation for every single person. But notice the phrase "I will cut them off" – it's more about dismantling their nations…
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