Exodus 23:20-33

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• God will drive out the wicked from Canaan; but he will do so by degrees (to keep the land from deteriorating and

• Do not go after their false gods, or they will be your downfall.

Details and/or Comments

• My angel will lead you; obey him and I will drive out the Canaanites, etc.

• Reject their fake gods; serve only the True God; and you will be blessed.

• I will drive them out slowly, so that the land will not become desolate and wild.

• I will give you the entire land. Only do not go after their fake gods, or they will destroy you.

God's "Angel"

• In other places the "angel" mentioned here is described as "the angel of God's presence," "the angel of Yahweh," etc. The characteristics given this "angel" (in various places in the books of the Moses) suggests that this is not just a heavenly being. Rather, it seems to be a manifestation of God's presence.

• See: The Angel of Yahweh

Scripture

Exodus 23:20-33 – GOD will drive out the wicked from Canaan. (Note: Centuries later, he did the same with Israel, when they became wicked.)

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Exo 23:20 "Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Exo 23:21 Pay attention to him, and listen to his voice. Don't provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for my name is in him.	You must pay attention to God's “angel.” Disobedience will not be pardoned...
Exo 23:22 But if you indeed listen to his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries. Exo 23:23 For my angel shall go before you, and bring you in to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I will cut them off.	In contrast, obedience will result in God opposing your enemies – he will cut them off. Blessings with Obedience / Curses with Disobedience
Exo 23:24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor follow their practices, but you shall utterly overthrow them and demolish their pillars. Exo 23:25 You shall serve Yahweh your God, ...	You must serve the True God and not go after the fake gods or the practices of the pagans. First Commandment
... and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from your midst. Exo 23:26 No one will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will fulfill the number of your days.	If so, God will bless you in many ways. Blessings (and Their Nature)
Exo 23:27 I will send my terror before you, and will confuse all the people to whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.	He will oppose (and drive away) your enemies. People of Canaan
Exo 23:28 I will send the hornet before you, which will drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before you.	He will drive them out with the hornet. (The hornets in the land are quite large; they sting fiercely when provoked. But it is uncertain whether the word "hornet," as used here, refers to an actual hornet, or is symbolic for panic or terror.)
Exo 23:29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the animals of the field multiply against you. Exo 23:30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and inherit the land.	He will do it little by little, so that the land will not become a wilderness – desolate and filled with wild animals. Wild Animals Desolate Land
Exo 23:31 I will set your border from the Red Sea even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.	Description of your borders. Land of Canaan Promised Land
Exo 23:32 You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. Exo 23:33 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me, for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you."	You must make no agreement with them or their gods, nor live with them (lest they tempt you to sin). "Unequally Yoked"

Scripture Passages (Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.) Genesis  •  Exodus  •  Leviticus  •  Numbers  •  Deuteronomy  •  Joshua  •  Judges  •  Ruth  •  1 Samuel  •  2 Samuel  •  1 Kings  •  2 Kings  •  1 Chronicles  •  2 Chronicles  •  Ezra  •  Nehemiah  •  Esther  •  Job  •  Psalms  •  Proverbs  •  Ecclesiastes  •  Song of Solomon  •  Isaiah  •  Jeremiah  •  Lamentations  •  Ezekiel  •  Daniel  •  Hosea  •  Joel  •  Amos  •  Obadiah  •  Jonah  •  Micah  •  Nahum  •  Habakkuk  •  Zephaniah  •  Haggai  •  Zechariah  •  Malachi Matthew  •  Mark  •  Luke  •  John  •  Acts  •  Romans  •  1 Corinthians  •  2 Corinthians  •  Galatians  •  Ephesians  •  Philippians  •  Colossians  •  1 Thessalonians  •  2 Thessalonians  •  1 Timothy  •  2 Timothy  •  Titus  •  Philemon  •  Hebrews  •  James  •  1 Peter  •  2 Peter  •  1 John  •  2 John  •  3 John  •  Jude  •  Revelation

—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.