تثنية ٧:٩

ALL COMMUNION WITH THE NATIONS FORBIDDEN. (Deu. 7:1-26) the Hittites--This people were descended from Heth, the second son of Canaan (Gen 10:15), and occupied the mountainous region about Hebron, in the south of Palestine. the Girgashites--supposed by some to be the same as the Gergesenes (Mat 8:28), who lay to the east of Lake Gennesareth; but they are placed on the west of Jordan (Jos 24:11), and others take them for a branch of the large family of the Hivites, as they are omitted in nine out of ten places where the tribes of Canaan are enumerated; in the tenth they are mentioned, while the Hivites are not. the Amorites--descended from the fourth son of Canaan. They occupied, besides their conquest on the Moabite territory, extensive settlements west of the Dead Sea, in the mountains. the Canaanites--located in Phœnicia, particularly about Tyre and Sidon, and being sprung from the oldest branch of the family of Canaan, bore his name. the Perizzites--that is, villagers, a tribe who were dispersed throughout the country and lived in unwalled towns. the Hivites--who dwelt about Ebal and Gerizim, extending towards Hermon. They are supposed to be the same as the Avims. the Jebusites--resided about Jerusalem and the adjacent country. seven nations greater and mightier than thou--Ten were formerly mentioned (Gen 15:19-21). But in the lapse of near five hundred years, it cannot be surprising that some of them had been extinguished in the many intestine feuds that prevailed among those warlike tribes. It is more than probable that some, stationed on the east of Jordan, had fallen under the victorious arms of the Israelites.

The only true and living God, and not the idols of the Gentiles, who are false and lifeless ones, and therefore not the proper objects of adoration: the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy; as appeared by fulfilling the promise made to their fathers, in bringing them out of Egypt, and now them to the borders of the land of Canaan given them for an inheritance: with them that love him, and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations; see Exo 20:6 which are not the causes or conditions of his covenant and mercy, nor of his keeping them, but descriptive of the persons that enjoy the benefit thereof.

By this was Israel to know that Jehovah their God was the true God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant, showing mercy to those who love Him, even to the thousandth generation, but repaying those who hate Him to the face. This development of the nature of God Moses introduces from Exo 20:5-6, as a light warning not to forfeit the mercy of God, or draw upon themselves His holy wrath by falling into idolatry. To this end He emphatically carries out still further the thought of retribution, by adding להאבידו, "to destroy him" (the hater), and וגו יאהר לא, "He delays not to His hater (sc., to repay him); He will repay him to his face." "To the face of every one of them," i.e., that they may see and feel that they are smitten by God (Rosenmller).

Moses in this chapter exhorts Israel, I. In general, to keep God's commandments (Deu 7:11, Deu 7:12). II. In particular, and in order to that, to keep themselves pure from all communion with idolaters. 1. They must utterly destroy the seven devoted nations, and not spare them, or make leagues with them (Deu 7:1, Deu 7:2, Deu 7:16, Deu 7:24). 2. They must by no means marry with the remainders of them (Deu 7:3, Deu 7:4). 3. They must deface and consume their altars and images, and not so much as take the silver and gold of them to their own use (Deu 7:5, Deu 7:25, Deu 7:26). To enforce this charge, he shows that they were bound to do so, (1.) In duty. Considering [1.] Their election to God (Deu 7:6). [2.] The reason of that election (Deu 7:7, Deu 7:8). [3.] The terms they stood upon with God (Deu 7:9, Deu 7:10). (2.) In interest. It is here promised, [1.] In general, that, if they would serve God, he would bless and prosper them (Deu 7:12-15). [2.] In particular, that if they would drive out the nations, that they might not be a temptation to them, God would drive them out, that they should not be any vexation to them (Deu 7:17, etc.).

7:9 A faithful God is absolutely dependable and can be leaned upon. Abraham was commended as being righteous because he believed God; he was wholly dependent upon God’s faithfulness (Gen 15:6). • Contrasted with human agents, who often break their pledges, the Lord faithfully keeps his covenant.