Deuteronomy 7:7-17

7 non quia cunctas gentes numero vincebatis vobis iunctus est Dominus et elegit vos cum omnibus sitis populis pauciores

8 sed quia dilexit vos Dominus et custodivit iuramentum quod iuravit patribus vestris eduxitque vos in manu forti et redemit de domo servitutis de manu Pharaonis regis Aegypti

9 et scies quia Dominus Deus tuus ipse est Deus fortis et fidelis custodiens pactum et misericordiam diligentibus se et his qui custodiunt praecepta eius in mille generationes

10 et reddens odientibus se statim ita ut disperdat eos et ultra non differat protinus eis restituens quod merentur

11 custodi ergo praecepta et caerimonias atque iudicia quae ego mando tibi hodie ut facias

12 si postquam audieris haec iudicia custodieris ea et feceris custodiet et Dominus Deus tuus tibi pactum et misericordiam quam iuravit patribus tuis

13 et diliget te ac multiplicabit benedicetque fructui ventris tui et fructui terrae tuae frumento tuo atque vindemiae oleo et armentis gregibus ovium tuarum super terram pro qua iuravit patribus tuis ut daret eam tibi

14 benedictus eris inter omnes populos non erit apud te sterilis utriusque sexus tam in hominibus quam in gregibus tuis

15 auferet Dominus a te omnem languorem et infirmitates Aegypti pessimas quas novisti non inferet tibi sed cunctis hostibus tuis

16 devorabis omnes populos quos Dominus Deus tuus daturus est tibi non parcet eis oculus tuus nec servies diis eorum ne sint in ruinam tui

17 si dixeris in corde tuo plures sunt gentes istae quam ego quomodo potero delere eas

Deuteronomy 7:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 7

In this chapter the Israelites are exhorted to destroy the seven nations of the land of Canaan, when they entered into it, and to make no alliances with them of any kind, nor suffer any remains of idolatry to continue, De 7:1-5 to observe which, and other commands of God, they are urged from the consideration of their being freely chosen of God above all other people, and of their being redeemed out of the house of bondage, and of the Lord's being a covenant keeping God to them, De 7:6-11 and it is promised them, for their further encouragement to keep the commands of God, that they should have an increase of all temporal good things, and no evils and calamities should come upon them, De 6:12-16, and, lest they should be disheartened at the numbers and might of their enemies, they are put in mind of what God had done for them in Egypt, and of what he had promised to do for them now, De 7:17-20 and they are assured that the nations should be cast out before them by little and little, until they were utterly destroyed, De 7:21-24 and the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to destroy their images, and not admit anything of that sort to be brought into their houses, De 7:25,26.