The Conquest of Canaan
7: 1-26
Chapters 5 and 6 set out the fundamental requirements of the covenant of faith, stress the sovereignty of YHVH, and the need for absolute obedience. That being understood, some instructions about the attitude Isra’el should adopt towards the people of Canaan are given.212 God’s choice of Isra’el as His special nation must always be central to her identity. As a result, YHVH demanded the extermination of the seven nations living in the Land promised to Isra’el (to see link click Ag – The Problem of Holy War in the TaNaKh), because Isra’el’s identity needed to be guarded against corruption.
Look, she lives as a nation apart, said the prophet for hire Balaam about Isra’el, and does not consider herself as being like other nations (Numbers 23:9b). From the call of Abram to the exodus from Egypt, the people of Isra’el were expected to be a separated people, not because they were better than any other nation, but because they were different. They were God’s chosen people. ADONAI commanded Abram to leave Ur of the Chaldees and to go to the Land that He would show him (Genesis 11:31-12:4). But when Abram left that Land and went down to Egypt for help, YHVH had to chasten him (see the commentary on Genesis Dv – Now There Was a Famine in the Land, and Abram Went Down to Egypt to Live). Throughout her history, when Isra’el maintained a separated position by obeying God’s mitzvot and seeking to please Him, she succeeded in all that she did. But when she began to compromise with the other nations and to worship their gods, it led to failure and defeat.213
The following outline lays out the chapter in chiastic fashion. Isra’el’s covenantal relationship with God (B) provides the rationale for the demanded extermination of the Canaanites (A).
A Warning Against Idolatry – 7:1-6 (Ca)
B God Has Chosen Isra’el – 7:7-11 (Cb)
B Because You are Listening – 7:12-15 (Cc)
A Show No Pity – 7:16-26 (Cd)214
From Chapter 7 through Chapter 11 we find many commandments and warnings preparing the Israelites to enter the Land of promise. Moshe prepares them with some concepts that are hard to grasp, about God, about sin, about judgment and holiness.215
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