Deuteronomy 7:23

7:12-26 We are in danger of having fellowship with the works of darkness if we take pleasure in fellowship with those who do such works. Whatever brings us into a snare, brings us under a curse. Let us be constant to our duty, and we cannot question the constancy of God's mercy. Diseases are God's servants; they go where he sends them, and do what he bids them. It is therefore good for the health of our bodies, thoroughly to mortify the sin of our souls; which is our rule of duty. Yet sin is never totally destroyed in this world; and it actually prevails in us much more than it would do, if we were watchful and diligent. In all this the Lord acts according to the counsel of his own will; but that counsel being hid from us, forms no excuse for our sloth and negligence, of which it is in no degree the cause. We must not think, that because the deliverance of the church, and the destruction of the enemies of the soul, are not done immediately, therefore they will never be done. God will do his own work in his own method and time; and we may be sure that they are always the best. Thus corruption is driven out of the hearts of believers by little and little. The work of sanctification is carried on gradually; but at length there will be a complete victory. Pride, security, and other sins that are common effects of prosperity, are enemies more dangerous than beasts of the field, and more apt to increase upon us.

There seems to be here not so much as a reference to the plagues inflicted miraculously by God on Egypt (compare Exodus 15:26 ), as to the terrible diseases with which, above other countries, Egypt was infested. Compare Deuteronomy 28:27 , Deuteronomy 28:35 . It is not without significance that Egypt, which represents in Scripture the world as contrasted with the Church, should thus above other lands lie under the power of disease and death.

22. lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee—(See on [120]Ex 23:29). The omnipotence of their Almighty Ruler could have given them possession of the promised land at once. But, the unburied corpses of the enemy and the portions of the country that might have been left desolate for a while, would have drawn an influx of dangerous beasts. This evil would be prevented by a progressive conquest and by the use of ordinary means, which God would bless.

Israel had no need to be afraid of them, as Jehovah was in the midst of it a mighty God and terrible. He would drive out the nations, but only gradually, as He had already declared to Moses in Exodus 23:30-31 , and would smite them with great confusion, till they were destroyed, as was the case for example at Gibeon ( Joshua 10:10 ; cf. Exodus 23:27 , where the form המם is used instead of הוּם), and would also deliver their kings into the hand of Israel, so that their names should vanish under the heaven (cf. Deuteronomy 9:14 ; Deuteronomy 25:19 ; and for the fulfilment, Joshua 10:22 ., Deuteronomy 11:12 ; Deuteronomy 12:7-24 ). No one would be able to stand before Israel.

Deuteronomy 7:1-2 ; Deuteronomy 9:1 , and Deuteronomy 1:28 .) The words, "every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours," are defined more precisely, and restricted to the land of Canaan on both sides of the Jordan by the boundaries which follow: "from the desert (of Arabia on the south), and Lebanon (on the north), and from the river Euphrates (on the east) to the hinder sea" (the Mediterranean on the west; see Numbers 34:6 ). The Euphrates is given as the eastern boundary, as in Deuteronomy 1:7 , according to the promise in Genesis 15:18 . (On Deuteronomy 11:25 , cf. Deuteronomy 7:24 ; Deuteronomy 2:25 , and Exodus 23:27 .)

[Reformed Biblical] ## His father’s wife; his mother-in-law. See #Leviticus 18:8 20:11 1 Corinthians 5:1 . ## His father’s skirt, i.e. the skirt of the mother’s garment, i.e. the nakedness, which is here called his father’s skirt , because his father and mother were one flesh, or because his father alone had the right to uncover it. The phrase is taken from the ancient custom or ceremony of the bridegroom’s spreading the skirt of his garment over the bride, to signify his right to her, and authority over her, and his obligation to the marriage duty. See #Ruth 3:9 Ezekiel 16:8 . ## Who are to be excluded from the congregation, #Deuteronomy 23:1-6 . An Edomite and Egyptian not to be abhorred, and why, #Deuteronomy 23:7,8 . No uncleanness to be in the camp, #Deuteronomy 23:9-14 . No filthiness, #Deuteronomy 23:17 . No abominable sacrifice must be, #Deuteronomy 23:18 . No usury, but to strangers, #Deuteronomy 23:19,20 . Vows must be kept, #Deuteronomy 23:21-23 . The liberty that was lawful in their neighbour’s field or vineyard, #Deuteronomy 23:24,25 . ## Ver. 1. Heb. wounded by compression , or attrition , or contusion , to wit, of the stones, which was the course the Gentiles took with infants to make them eunuchs.