Exodus 34:12

12 cave ne umquam cum habitatoribus terrae illius iungas amicitias quae tibi sint in ruinam

Exodus 34:12 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 34:12

Take heed to thyself
This is said not to Moses, but to the people of Israel, as a caution to them when they should enter the land of Canaan, and possess it:

lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither
thou goest:
enter into a league and alliance, to live friendly and amicably, and support and assist each other against the common enemy; whereas they were to smite the seven nations and destroy them, and show them no mercy, ( Deuteronomy 7:1 Deuteronomy 7:2 )

lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee;
be the means of drawing them into the same sinful practices with themselves, especially into idolatrous ones, and so of bringing ruin and destruction on them.

Exodus 34:12 In-Context

10 respondit Dominus ego inibo pactum videntibus cunctis signa faciam quae numquam sunt visa super terram nec in ullis gentibus ut cernat populus in cuius es medio opus Domini terribile quod facturus sum
11 observa cuncta quae hodie mando tibi ego ipse eiciam ante faciem tuam Amorreum et Chananeum et Hettheum Ferezeum quoque et Eveum et Iebuseum
12 cave ne umquam cum habitatoribus terrae illius iungas amicitias quae tibi sint in ruinam
13 sed aras eorum destrue confringe statuas lucosque succide
14 noli adorare deum alienum Dominus Zelotes nomen eius Deus est aemulator
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.