Leviticus 20:23
And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I detested them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about avoiding bad behavior; it's about actively not adopting the practices of the surrounding nations. God's disgust wasn't just for their actions, but for the very "way of life" that led to them, a lifestyle He was clearing out so His people could thrive in His presence.
This verse comes right after God lists a series of serious sins, including adultery, incest, and child sacrifice, all of which were practiced by the Canaanite nations. God commands Israel to avoid these practices because they are what led Him to detest and drive out the people who lived in the land before them. This warning emphasizes that Israel's obedience to God's laws is the condition for their continued possession of the Promised Land.
God's commands aren't just rules; they're about protecting us. This verse reveals why He detested the nations He drove out.
A Standard of Holiness
The core of this verse is a stark warning: 'You shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you.' God was not being arbitrary in His judgment of these nations. They had descended into practices that were utterly contrary to His holy design for humanity.
The Root of Detestation
'For they did all these things, and therefore I detested them.' The 'things' referred to are the detestable practices outlined in the preceding verses – idolatry, sexual immorality, and other gross sins. God's detestation wasn't a fickle emotion; it was a righteous response to pervasive wickedness that corrupted His creation. This was why He had to remove them from the land, making way for Israel. This divine abhorrence is a powerful indicator of how seriously God views sin.
God commanded Israel to be different. What happens when God's people start acting like the world around them?
A Distinct People
Israel was called to be a holy nation, set apart for God. This meant actively rejecting the practices of the surrounding peoples, who were deeply entrenched in sin. Walking 'in the customs' implies adopting their way of life, their moral standards, and their spiritual practices – essentially, becoming like them.
The Warning of Rejection
God's strong word 'detested' is not just about the nations He removed; it's also a severe warning to Israel. By adopting the 'ways' of these nations, Israel would be imitating the very sins that led to their expulsion. This assimilation would make them detestable in God's eyes too, jeopardizing their own place in the promised land and their relationship with Him. It highlights the crucial need for God's people to maintain a distinct identity and live by His standards, not the world's.
Understand the original words
bachal · Hebrew Verb
A state of being loathsome or abominable to God, typically resulting from practicing idolatry or violating moral laws; it signifies that the person or act is repulsive to God's holy nature.
This passage directly echoes Leviticus 20:23, warning Israel not to adopt the detestable practices of the nations they are displacing, emphasizing the need for distinctiveness in their walk with God.
Romans 12:2This New Testament verse challenges believers not to be conformed to the present age (or world system) and its ways, mirroring the Old Testament command to separate from the corrupt practices of surrounding nations.
1 Corinthians 10:11Paul reminds the Corinthians that the Israelites' experiences served as warnings, urging the church to avoid similar pitfalls and not to fall into the same patterns of sin that led to God's displeasure.
Jeremiah 10:2This prophetic passage directly addresses the danger of learning the ways of the nations, specifically mentioning their practices and idolatry, which is the very reason God warned Israel against them in Leviticus.
gillLeviticus 20:23: "And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them."
And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation which I cast out before you,.... Nation seems to be put for nations, for there were seven nations cast out for them; though the Canaanites may be intended, being a general name for the whole: some think the Amorites are meant, who were a principal nation, and notorious for their…
pooleLeviticus 20:23: "And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them."
No text from Poole on this verse.
This verse isn't just about avoiding bad behavior; it's about actively not adopting the practices of the surrounding nations. God's disgust wasn't just for their actions, but for the very "way of life" that led to them, a lifestyle He was clearing out so His people could thrive in His presence.
This verse comes right after God lists a series of serious sins, including adultery, incest, and child sacrifice, all of which were practiced by the Canaanite nations. God commands Israel to avoid these practices because they are what led Him to detest and drive out the people who lived in the land before them. This warning emphasizes that Israel's obedience to God's laws is the condition for their continued possession of the Promised Land.
This verse comes right after God lists a series of serious sins, including adultery, incest, and child sacrifice, all of which were practiced by the Canaanite nations. God commands Israel to avoid these practices because they are what led Him to detest and drive out the people who lived in the land before them. This warning emphasizes that Israel's obedience to God's laws is the condition for their continued possession of the Promised Land.
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"And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I detested them." — This verse isn't just about avoiding bad behavior; it's about actively not adopting the practices of the surrounding nations. God's disgust wasn't just for their actions, but for the very "way of l…
