Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 23:33
They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.
Verse 33. They shall not dwell in thy land] They must be utterly expelled. The land was the Lord’s, and he had given it to the progenitors of this people, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The latter being obliged to leave it because of a famine, God is now conducting back his posterity, who alone had a Divine and natural right to it, and therefore their seeking to possess the inheritance of their fathers can be only criminal in the sight of those who are systematically opposed to the thing, because it is a part of Divine revelation.
WHAT a pity that the Mosaic Law should be so little studied! What a number of just and equal laws, pious and humane institutions, useful and instructive ordinances, does it contain! Everywhere we see the purity and benevolence of God always working to prevent crimes and make the people happy! But what else can be expected from that God who is love, whose tender mercies are over all his works, and who hateth nothing that he has made? Reader, thou art not straitened in him, be not straitened in thy own bowels. Learn from him to be just, humane, kind, and merciful. Love thy enemy, and do good to him that hates thee. Jesus is with thee; hear and obey his voice; provoke him not, and he will be an enemy to thine enemies, and an adversary to thine adversaries. Believe, love, obey; and the road to the kingdom of God is plain before thee. Thou shalt inherit the good land, and be established in it for ever and ever.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For if thou serve; or, for thou wilt serve; this will be the fruit of thy cohabitation with them, thou wilt thereby be drawn to idolatry.
It will surely, or, and assuredly this will be a snare; an occasion of further sin and utter ruin.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
They shall not dwell in thy land,…. The land of Canaan, given by God for an inheritance, and now would be in the possession of the Israelites; and therefore were not to suffer the old inhabitants to dwell with them in it, at least no longer than they could help it; they were to do all they could to root them out:
lest they make thee sin against me; by their ill examples and persuasions, drawing them into idolatry, than which there is no greater sin against God, it being not only contrary to his law, his mind, and will, but directly against his nature, being, perfections, and glory:
for if thou serve their gods, or “for thou wilt serve” t; this would be the consequence of their dwelling in the land, they would draw the Israelites into the worship of their idols, to which they were naturally prone; and should they commit idolatry,
it will surely be a snare unto thee: idolatry would be the cause of their ruin and destruction, they would be snared by it, as fishes in a net, or birds and beasts by traps and gins; or “for it will be a snare” u, that is, the Canaanites dwelling among them would be a snare to draw them into their idolatry, and go into ruin.
t “quia servies”, Malvenda. u “quia erit”, Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(33) They shall not dwell in thy land.Individuals might remain if they became proselytes, as Urijah the Hittite, Araunah the Jebusite, &c.; and the Gibeonites remained en masse, but in a servile condition. What was forbidden was the co-existence of friendly but independent heathen communities with Israel within the limits of Canaan. This would have been a perpetual snare to the Israelites, and would have continually led them into idolatry; as we find that it did during the period of the early Judges. (See Jdg. 1:27-36; Jdg. 2:11-13; Jdg. 3:5-7.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
33. They shall not dwell in thy land The reason given is apparent . Israel’s mission and the Mosaic dispensation were not a ministry of evangelization, but of conservation of fundamental principles of divine truth . The idolatries of the world and the hardness of human hearts made it necessary first to call a select people out from the nations, and train that peculiar people so that in fulness of time there might go out from them into all the world the saving light and truth of God’s holy revelation.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 23:33. They shall not dwell in thy land i.e. “They shall on no account be suffered to dwell within thy land, while continuing in the practice of idolatry;” the reason of which is subjoined; and it is added, If, seduced by them, thou shalt serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee. It will entangle thee in evil, and prove destructive to thee; and such was the event: see Jos 23:13. Num 25:1; Num 25:18. Jdg 2:1; Jdg 2:23. Houbigant observes, that the Samaritan reading, which all the ancient versions, except the Arabic, follow, is preferable in this place: and they, (i.e. the people,) will be a snare unto thee: upon which authority he renders the verse, they shall not dwell in thy land, lest they induce thee to sin against me; and thou serve their gods, after they have enticed thee.
REFLECTIONS.God having explained his judgments, concludes with most encouraging promises and solemn warnings.
1. He promises, that the Angel of the covenant, the great Head of his church, shall go before them. Under his conduct their enemies should fear and fall before them, till they were consumed; yet not all at once, but by little and little, till they were able to occupy the whole land. Mean time, every earthly blessing is assured to them: God’s people have even here sometimes a peculiar portion. Note; (1.) It is the comfort of every true faithful Israelite, that he is under the guidance of the great Redeemer, and shall be conducted safe to the promised possession of eternal rest. (2.) Though corruption, like these Canaanites, continues for a time, yet its power is broken in the justified soul, and shall soon be rooted out.
2. We have the injunctions given them to be obedient, and hear his voice. Christ must not only be trusted as a Saviour, but served as our Lord and Master; and how reasonable to yield to him a grateful return for all we are and have, since to his love we are indebted for all!
3. The care to be taken in destroying all monuments of idolatry, and avoiding all connexion with idolaters. Removal of all temptations to sin is necessary, in order to be preserved from it. Nothing is more dangerous than evil companions, and we must shun their company, if we would escape their wickedness.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
REFLECTIONS
Though, through the merciful bounty of a covenant God in Christ, I dare not seek justification before God, by the deeds of the law, yet as the grace of God, which bringeth salvation, hath taught me to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, may that grace enable me, to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world! And may all my life, and conversation prove, that though I work not for life, yet by his grace enabling me I am working from life, even the hidden life which is with Christ in God, that when Christ who is my life shall appear, I may also appear with him in glory.
Reader! I would charge it upon your conscience, as upon my own, to be frequently examining the heart concerning these things. Oh! let us be very jealous, with a godly jealousy over those springs of action, and keep the heart with all diligence, and more especially beg of God to keep it for us, who alone can keep it, for out of it are the issues of life.
Dearest Jesus! let the view presented to me of thy presence going before thy people, however short and transient the view, revive in my heart everything that is tender and affectionate, humble and obedient, to the remembrance of thee, and of thy dear name. Lord! may I never lose sight of thee under this glorious character of the Angel of the Covenant going before me. May I rejoice in that sweet assurance that God my Father’s name is in thee; that thou wilt, by little, and little, drive out the corruptions of my heart before thee; that thou wilt subdue the whole of them at length by the conquests of thy grace; that thou wilt safely conduct me through the whole of this wilderness state, and I shall at last, under thy power, arrive at the heavenly Canaan, to see thy face, and dwell with thee forever. Oh! when will the shadows of the night pass, and the day break from my beloved!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 23:33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.
Ver. 33. A snare. ] See Deu 7:16 Jos 23:13 Jdg 2:3 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
sin. Hebrew. chat’a. See App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
they make: 1Ki 14:16, 2Ch 33:9
it will surely: Exo 34:12, Deu 7:16, Deu 12:30, Jos 23:13, Jdg 2:3, 1Sa 18:21, Psa 106:36, 2Ti 2:26
Reciprocal: Exo 10:7 – snare Exo 24:3 – all the judgments Num 33:55 – shall be pricks Deu 7:2 – make no Deu 20:18 – General Deu 31:5 – according Jos 23:7 – That ye come Jos 24:15 – or the gods Jdg 2:2 – And ye shall Jdg 8:27 – a whoring 1Ki 11:2 – Ye shall not go in Neh 9:14 – commandedst Psa 147:19 – his statutes Mal 4:4 – with