Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 7

Introduction

Deuteronomy 5-11. Moses’ Second Address.— This contains laws ( Deuteronomy 5:6-21) and (mainly) exhortation based on the fundamental conception of Yahweh’ s uniqueness. This discourse had probably an independent origin, but it is exceedingly homogeneous, and conforms throughout with the type of composition characteristic of D. Many of the best scholars, including Driver, regard Deuteronomy 5-26 with Deuteronomy 28 as one continuous composition, not improbably (they think) the original D code.

Deuteronomy 6-11. Consists of a lengthy homily based on the first commandment ( Deuteronomy 5:6). Israel is to worship and serve Yahweh alone.

Verses 1-5

Deuteronomy 7. The native races of Canaan are to be exterminated and everything connected with their religion destroyed, lest Israel be seduced by them to idolatry. For the list of nations, see Genesis 15:19-21 * and Exodus 3:8 *; see also Deuteronomy 1:4.

Deuteronomy 7:2 . utterly destroy: Deuteronomy 2:34 *.

Deuteronomy 7:4 . me: render “ Yahweh” (same Heb. consonants). Moses is the speaker.

Deuteronomy 7:5 . pillars (pp. 98f.): lofty altars, obelisks, used in heathen, perhaps sun-worship.— Asherim: p. 100, 1 Kings 15:13 *. (A.V. “ groves” ; so Welsh, following LXX, Vulg.), representations in wood of the old Semitic goddess Ashera, mentioned ( Ashirta) in the Tell el-Amarna tablets (p. 55). That pillars and Asherim are so often mentioned together supports the theory that the first were such altars as were used in sacrificing to the second.

Verses 6-24

Deuteronomy 7:6-24 gives reasons why Israel ought to serve Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 7:9 . Render, “ know therefore that Yahweh thy God is the” ( i.e. the true, see Deuteronomy 4:35) “ God, the faithful God, one who keeps His covenant to show lovingkindness to. them,” etc.

Deuteronomy 7:10 . Note the individualism of Dt. (see Deuteronomy 21:1-9 *).

Deuteronomy 7:13 . corn . . . wine (fresh made wine) and fresh (olive) oil are Yahweh’ s gifts, not those of the Baalim or Ashtaroth (gods and goddesses of the Canaanites).

Deuteronomy 7:15 . evil diseases of Egypt: e.g. dysentery, elephantiasis, and ophthalmia.

Deuteronomy 7:16 . snare: i.e. what leads to ruin, not what acts as an enticement to sin (see Isaiah 29:21).

Deuteronomy 7:20 . hornet: Exodus 23:28.

Deuteronomy 7:26 . See Joshua 7.— devoted thing: Deuteronomy 2:34 *.