The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 161

Vers. 1-5.-Extermination with a 'TMral purpo9e, When the Israelites were to cross into Canaan, they were directed to exterminate the seven nations they would find there. This is their commission. The invasion is to be conducted upon this principle. And here let us notice- ' • I. NaTIONS, LIKE INDIVIDUALS, MAY BECOME INCORRIGIBLE, There can be no doubt that sin tends to a final and incorrigible condition if the Divine mercy is not accepted and allowed to exercise its undermining power. These nations of Canaan were mani- festly in this hopeless, utterly ruined state. God regarded them as beyond redemption, and their continuance would only prove pestilential. It is well for individuals, as well as nations, to realize this sad possibility. II. Gon HAS EVERY RIGHT TO REMOVE INCORRIGIBLES FROM THE EARTH. As Creator, he has given them every advantage and chance. But the deceitful heart has spurned admonition and mercy. The result is that there is nothing left for them but to be cut off righteously, and that without remedy. But the propriety of extermination should be determined by the Lord himself (cf. Dr. Mozley's 'Old Testament Lectures,' No. IV., on 'Exterminating Wars'). Ill. 'l'HE ISRAELITES WERE BENT INTO CANAAN TO ESTABLISH THE TRuE WORSHIP OF Gon. They were not to be ashamed of their religion, bnt to establish it, and to allow nothing to interfere with it. As Abraham had entered Canaan centuries before as the promulgator of a new religion, so his descendants were to enter into the promised land with the view of establishing the religion of Abraham in spite of all possible oppositiou. They were not ordinary but religious emigrants. IV, 'l'HE SPARING OF THE CANAA.NITES WOULD ONLY ENDANGER THEIR RELIGIOUfl FAITH, Some people think they may associate with irreligious people, and even marry them, in the hope of bringing them to a better way of thinking. The plea is generally one got up in the interests of self-pleasing instead of duty. But such hopes are gene- rally disappointed; and the Apostle Paul warns us distinctly against the temptatiou (2 Cor. vi. 14). Now, the Israelites were warned against making any covenant with the Canaanites or showing any mercy towards them. Association would only lead to apostacy on the part of Israel. It would be allowing the pestilence to propagate itself. The alternati \'e for Israel was "Exterminate these incorrigible sinners, or by their seductions they will lead yon on to your destruction at the hands of a just God" (ver. 4). V. EXTERMINATION MAY CONSEQUENTLY, IN SOME OASES, BE THE O::S""LY COURSE CON- SISTENT WITH TIIE DIVINE HONOUR AND THE INTERESTS OF HIS KINGDOM. If people have ~ right to preserve themselves from a physical pestilence, have they not an equal right 111 the case of moral pollutions? Besides, the clear direction of God vindicates the whole procedure as rio-bt as well as wise (cf. Jellett's 'Moral Difficulties of the Old Testament,' p. 38; als~ Dr. Arnold's 'Sermons on Interpretation of Scripture,' p. 31). -R. M.E. Vers. 6-8.-0n the election of nations. We are here introduced to remarkable words touching the election of, or we might say, selection of the Jews. T~e leadi_ng principles of the Divine administration are here set before us. The followmg points may be noticed:- 1. THE JEWS WERE SELE0TED NOT ON ACCOUNT OF ANY NATIONAL SUI'ERIORITY, 150 THE BOOK OF' Dt:UTt:noNoMY. [en. Vlr. 1-tG.