Exodus 23:29

29 I will not drive them out within a year's time; if I did, the land would become deserted, and the wild animals would be too many for you.

Exodus 23:29 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 23:29

I will not drive them out from before thee in one year
This is observed before hand, lest the Israelites should be discouraged, and fear they should never be rid of them; and it was so ordered in Providence for the following reason:

lest the land become desolate;
there being not a sufficient number of Israelites to replace in their stead, to repeople the land, and to cultivate it; and yet their number was very large, being, when they came out of Egypt, as is generally computed, about two millions and a half, besides the mixed multitude of Egyptians and others, and during their forty years in the wilderness must be greatly increased:

and the beast of the field multiply against thee;
there being so much waste ground for them to prowl about in, they would so increase as to make head against them, and be too many for them; or, however, it would be difficult to keep them under control: the Targum of Jonathan adds,

``when they shall come to eat their carcasses (the carcasses of the Canaanites slain in war), and may hurt thee.''

Exodus 23:29 In-Context

27 "I will make the people who oppose you afraid of me; I will bring confusion among the people against whom you fight, and I will make all your enemies turn and run from you.

28 I will throw your enemies into panic; I will drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites as you advance.

29 I will not drive them out within a year's time; if I did, the land would become deserted, and the wild animals would be too many for you.

30 Instead, I will drive them out little by little, until there are enough of you to take possession of the land.

31 I will make the borders of your land extend from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Mediterranean Sea and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give you power over the inhabitants of the land, and you will drive them out as you advance.