The Lord Commands Israel Before Entering Canaan

33:50 The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. He said: 33:51 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 33:52 you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images, all their molten images, and demolish their high places. 33:53 You must dispossess the inhabitants of the land and live in it, for I have given you the land to possess it. 33:54 You must divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families. To a larger group you must give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group you must give a smaller inheritance. Everyone’s inheritance must be in the place where his lot falls. You must inherit according to your ancestral tribes. 33:55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, then those whom you allow to remain will be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your side, and will cause you trouble in the land where you will be living. 33:56 And what I intended to do to them I will do to you.”

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Before Israel crosses into Canaan, the Lord commands them to drive out the inhabitants, destroy their idols, and divide the land by lot among the tribes. If they leave the Canaanites in the land, those people will become irritants and thorns, and judgment will come on Israel.

The Lord speaks to Moses near the Jordan River, just before Israel enters the land. Israel must remove the people of Canaan and destroy the carved images, molten images, and high places tied to false worship. The land is not theirs by human power, but by the Lord’s gift. He has given it to them, so they must live in it as his people. The land is then to be divided by lot among the families, with larger groups receiving larger portions and smaller groups receiving smaller portions. But if Israel does not drive out the inhabitants, those people will become a source of trouble, like irritants in the eyes and thorns in the side. The warning is serious: what the Lord intended to do to them will instead fall on Israel if Israel disobeys.

• The Lord speaks with authority over the land of Canaan.
• Israel must drive out the inhabitants when they enter the land.
• Idols, carved images, molten images, and high places must be destroyed.
• The land is a gift from the Lord and an inheritance for Israel.
• The land is to be divided by lot among the tribes and families.
• Incomplete obedience will bring lasting trouble and covenant judgment.

• Command: drive out the inhabitants of the land.
• Command: destroy all carved images, molten images, and high places.
• Command: dispossess the inhabitants and live in the land.
• Command: divide the land by lot among the families.
• Warning: if the inhabitants remain, they will become irritants and thorns.
• Warning: the judgment meant for them will fall on Israel if Israel disobeys.

This passage shows that the Lord gives the land as an inheritance and requires Israel to live in obedience, removing idolatry and receiving his gift on his terms. It also shows the seriousness of covenant faithfulness: tolerating the land’s corrupt worship will bring judgment on Israel.

God’s gifts must be received on God’s terms. Sin that is left in place does not stay harmless; it becomes a snare. This passage must be read in its unique covenant setting and not used to justify modern violence or to erase Israel’s role in Scripture.

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