Exodus 34:11-12
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This verse isn't just a list of enemies; it’s a profound assurance that God is actively clearing the path for His people. The explicit mention of driving out these nations before Israel emphasizes that their conquest is not due to their own strength but is a divine act of removal, ensuring they can obey God's commands without the corrupting influence of idolatry.
“Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fresh from God's gracious renewal of the covenant after the golden calf incident, Moses is given new commands specifically designed to protect Israel from idolatry as they prepare to enter the promised land. God assures them He will personally drive out the Canaanite nations before them, making their conquest possible so they can obey His instructions not to make alliances with these peoples. This promise sets the stage for the detailed laws that follow, which emphasize their unique relationship with God and separation from surrounding pagan practices.
Before God lists the nations He will drive out, He gives a crucial command. What does it mean to 'observe' God's commands?
The verse begins with a strong imperative: 'Observe what I command you this day.' This isn't just a casual 'pay attention.' The Hebrew word carries a sense of careful attention, listening, and doing. It sets the stage for the promise that follows, emphasizing that Israel's success in possessing the land is directly tied to their obedience.
Obedience is Key
This instruction highlights a fundamental principle of the covenant relationship: promises are often conditional upon obedience. God's powerful actions, like driving out nations, are not an excuse for Israel to be complacent. Instead, they are the backdrop against which Israel's faithfulness is to be tested and proven. Your obedience is the pathway through which God's promises become your reality.
Why does God list these specific nations? What's the significance of naming them?
God names six nations: the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. This wasn't just a random collection of peoples; they were the established inhabitants of the land God had promised to Abraham and his descendants.
More Than Just Names
This list serves several purposes:
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Understand the original words
berit · Hebrew Noun
A binding, solemn agreement between two parties, typically involving mutual obligations, promises, and often sealed by a ritual, frequently used to describe God's relationship with His people.
moqesh · Hebrew Noun
An object, trap, or lure that entices someone into danger or sin, leading to their eventual ruin or downfall.
This passage reiterates the command to drive out the nations, emphasizing that Israel's conquest of the land is a divine act, not solely their own strength.
Joshua 3:10This verse echoes the promise of driving out the Canaanites as Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land, highlighting God's active participation in their inheritance.
Exodus 23:28This passage links God's promise to drive out the nations with a warning against idolatry, showing the spiritual warfare aspect of occupying the land.
Deuteronomy 9:3Moses reminds Israel that their possession of the land is not due to their own righteousness but because God is driving out these nations before them.
ellicottExodus 34:11: "Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite."
(11) The Amorite, and the Canaanite . . . — The same six nations are particularised in Exodus 3:8 ; Exodus 3:17 , in Exodus 23:23 , and also in Exodus 33:2 . In Deuteronomy 7:1 , and Joshua 3:10 ; Joshua 24:11 , the Girgashites are added, and the number of the nations made seven.
pulpitExodus 34:11: "Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite."
Verse 11. - Observe thou that which I command thee this day. The precepts expressly given (vers. 12-26) are, as observed above, almost wholly positive. The moral law did not require recapitulation, because it was enjoined on the people afresh by the writing on the two tables (ver. 28). I drive out b…
This verse isn't just a list of enemies; it’s a profound assurance that God is actively clearing the path for His people. The explicit mention of driving out these nations before Israel emphasizes that their conquest is not due to their own strength but is a divine act of removal, ensuring they can obey God's commands without the corrupting influence of idolatry.
Fresh from God's gracious renewal of the covenant after the golden calf incident, Moses is given new commands specifically designed to protect Israel from idolatry as they prepare to enter the promised land. God assures them He will personally drive out the Canaanite nations before them, making their conquest possible so they can obey His instructions not to make alliances with these peoples. This promise sets the stage for the detailed laws that follow, which emphasize their unique relationship with God and separation from surrounding pagan practices.
Fresh from God's gracious renewal of the covenant after the golden calf incident, Moses is given new commands specifically designed to protect Israel from idolatry as they prepare to enter the promised land. God assures them He will personally drive out the Canaanite nations before them, making their conquest possible so they can obey His instructions not to make alliances with these peoples. This promise sets the stage for the detailed laws that follow, which emphasize their unique relationship with God and separation from surrounding pagan practices.
"“Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to w…" — This verse isn't just a list of enemies; it’s a profound assurance that God is actively clearing the path for His people. The explicit mention of driving out these nations before Israel emphasizes…
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Last reviewed October 2026
