Deuteronomy 7

King James Version

Full text for Deuteronomy Chapter 7

1¶ When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

2And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

3Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

4For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

5But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

6For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth.

7The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people:

8But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

9Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he [is] God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

10And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

11Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.

12¶ Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

13And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

14Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.

15And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all [them] that hate thee.

16And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee.

17If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations [are] more than I; how can I dispossess them?

18Thou shalt not be afraid of them: [but] shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;

19The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid.

20Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed.

21Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God [is] among you, a mighty God and terrible.

22And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.

23But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.

24And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.

25The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold [that is] on them, nor take [it] unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it [is] an abomination to the LORD thy God.

26Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: [but] thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it [is] a cursed thing.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD commands Israel to utterly destroy the seven nations in Canaan, their altars, and images, and to make no covenants or marriages with them, lest they be led to idolatry. This is because Israel is a holy people, chosen by God's love and faithfulness, not their own merit. Obedience to these commands will bring blessings and divine assistance in conquering the land, while disobedience will incur wrath.

Medium Summary

Upon entering the promised land, Israel is commanded to utterly destroy the seven indigenous nations, making no covenants or intermarriages, and demolishing their idolatrous objects. This strict instruction is given to prevent Israel from being led astray to serve other gods, which would provoke the LORD's anger. God emphasizes that Israel was chosen as a special people, not for their multitude, but solely out of His enduring love and faithfulness to the oath sworn to their fathers, as evidenced by their deliverance from Egypt. The chapter assures Israel that if they diligently keep God's commandments, He will faithfully bless them with prosperity, health, and success in conquering their enemies. They are encouraged not to fear the nations, but to remember God's powerful acts in Egypt, for He will gradually deliver these nations into their hands, ensuring their complete destruction and the eradication of their idolatry.

Long Summary

Deuteronomy 7 begins with the LORD's command to Israel regarding their entry into the promised land, instructing them to utterly destroy the seven nations inhabiting it—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Israel is forbidden from making any covenant or showing mercy to these nations, nor are they to intermarry with them, lest such alliances lead their children to serve other gods and provoke the LORD's swift anger. Instead, they are to dismantle all pagan altars, break down images, cut down groves, and burn graven images with fire. The chapter then explains the profound reason for these commands: Israel is a holy and special people, chosen by the LORD not because of their numerical superiority—for they were the fewest—but purely out of His steadfast love and His commitment to the oath sworn to their fathers, as demonstrated by their powerful redemption from Egyptian bondage. The LORD is presented as a faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy to a thousand generations for those who love and obey Him, but repays those who hate Him with destruction. Consequently, Israel is exhorted to diligently keep all commandments, statutes, and judgments. The text promises that if Israel hearkens to and performs these judgments, the LORD will reciprocate with covenant faithfulness, showering them with love, multiplication, fruitful land, abundant livestock, and freedom from sickness, transferring diseases to their enemies. Israel is cautioned against fearing the numerically superior nations, being reminded instead of God's mighty deeds against Pharaoh and Egypt, including signs, wonders, and the “hornet” that will precede them. The LORD assures them He will gradually dispossess these nations, preventing the increase of wild beasts, until their kings are delivered into Israel's hand and their names are destroyed from under heaven. Finally, Israel is strictly warned against desiring the silver or gold on the graven images, as these are an abomination, and bringing such cursed things into their homes would likewise bring a curse upon them; they must utterly detest and abhor them.

Core Concepts

  • Divine SeparationIsrael is commanded to utterly destroy the seven nations of Canaan, their altars, and images, and to avoid covenants or intermarriages with them. This is to prevent spiritual defilement and turning away from the LORD to serve other gods.
  • God's Electing LoveIsrael's chosen status as a holy and special people is attributed solely to the LORD's love and His faithfulness to the oath sworn to their fathers. Their election was not based on their size or merit, but on divine grace.
  • Covenant FaithfulnessThe LORD is described as a faithful God who keeps His covenant and mercy to those who love Him and obey His commandments for a thousand generations. Conversely, He repays those who hate Him with destruction.
  • Blessings of ObedienceAdherence to God's judgments and statutes promises abundant blessings, including love, multiplication, fruitful land, healthy livestock, and protection from sickness. These blessings are a direct result of God's covenant faithfulness.
  • Conquest and Divine AidIsrael is encouraged not to fear the greater nations, but to remember God's mighty acts in Egypt. The LORD promises to fight for them, gradually driving out the inhabitants and ensuring their complete destruction, delivering their kings into Israel's hand.
  • Abhorrence of IdolatryIsrael is strictly forbidden from desiring or taking any silver or gold from the graven images of the nations, as these are an abomination to the LORD. Bringing such cursed things into their homes would bring a curse upon them, emphasizing the need for complete detestation.