The Canaanites, inhabitants of the land of Canaan before the Israelite conquest, are frequently depicted in the Bible as embodying moral and spiritual corruption. Their practices and way of life were often in direct opposition to the laws and commandments given by God to the Israelites. The wickedness of the Canaanites is a recurring theme in the biblical narrative, serving as a backdrop for the divine mandate given to the Israelites to conquer and possess the land.

Idolatry and Pagan Worship

The Canaanites were notorious for their idolatrous practices, which included the worship of a pantheon of deities such as Baal, Asherah, and Molech. These deities were often associated with fertility, war, and the forces of nature. The Bible explicitly condemns these practices, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:31 : "You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods."

Moral Depravity

The moral depravity of the Canaanites is highlighted through their engagement in practices considered abominable by biblical standards. Leviticus 18 provides a detailed account of the sexual immorality prevalent among the Canaanites, including incest, adultery, and bestiality. Leviticus 18:24-25 warns the Israelites: "Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants."

Child Sacrifice

One of the most egregious practices attributed to the Canaanites was child sacrifice, particularly to the god Molech. This heinous act is repeatedly condemned in Scripture. In Jeremiah 19:5 , God expresses His abhorrence: "They have built the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it ever enter My mind."

Divine Judgment

The wickedness of the Canaanites ultimately led to divine judgment. God’s command to the Israelites to conquer Canaan was not merely a territorial acquisition but a divine judgment against the Canaanites' pervasive sinfulness. In Deuteronomy 9:4-5 , God clarifies to the Israelites: "Do not say in your heart, when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, 'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land.' But it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you."

Influence on Israel

Despite the clear instructions to avoid the practices of the Canaanites, the Israelites often fell into the same patterns of sin. The influence of Canaanite culture and religion proved to be a persistent snare for Israel, leading to periods of apostasy and divine discipline. Judges 2:11-13 recounts: "And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them."

The narrative of the Canaanites serves as a cautionary tale within the biblical text, illustrating the consequences of turning away from God’s commandments and embracing the practices of surrounding pagan cultures.Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 18:25,27,28
And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof on it, and the land itself vomits out her inhabitants.
Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 20:23
And you shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.
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Joshua's Conquest.
... The Hebrews were the instrument of God and the Canaanites were reaping what they ...
Old civilizations on account of their wickedness, were to soon fall and this ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter viii joshuas conquest.htm

Chapter xxxviii
... anything to do with this, or whether easygoing friendship with Canaanites lay at ...
in the estimation of the Lord." Specific mention is made of this wickedness. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxviii.htm

The Prophecy of Obadiah.
... summoned by Jehovah, vers.1-9; the cause of it, his wickedness against Judah ... host
of the children of Israel (shall possess) what are Canaanites unto Zarephath ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophecy of obadiah.htm

How, after the Death of Joshua their Commander, the Israelites ...
... up his lodging among strangers, for the city belonged to the Canaanites, but desired ...
of his kindred, and that they would be guilty of horrid wickedness if they ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how after the.htm

The Pioneer's Influence Upon a Nation's Ideals.
... Jordan had brought him into close contact with its inhabitants, the Canaanites. ...
determined to destroy the city because of its wickedness, Abraham persistently ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study v the pioneers influence.htm

The Ass and the Colt are the Old and the New Testament. Spiritual ...
... is that city which before He ascended to it contained the so-called [5069] "spiritual
hosts of wickedness in heavenly places," or the Canaanites and Hittites ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/18 the ass and the.htm

Achan's Sin.
... He knew that unless God made the Israelites victorious, the Canaanites would be
able to ... God showed Joshua how the man who had done the wickedness was to be ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/achans sin.htm

The Testament of Judah Concerning Fortitude, and Love of Money ...
... [102] I was twenty years old when this war befell, and the Canaanites feared me ... of
the wedding-feast I espoused Onan to her; and he also in wickedness knew her ...
/.../iv the testament of judah concerning.htm

A Summary of Israel's Faithlessness and God's Patience
... We have all unconquered 'Canaanites' in our hearts, and amity with them is supreme
folly and crying wickedness. 'Thorough' must be our motto. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a summary of israels faithlessness.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Built Great Cities; And How He Brought Some Of The Canaanites Into Subjection ... CHAPTER
5. Concerning The Wickedness Of Jehoram King O Jerusalem; His Defeat And ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Who were the Canaanites? | GotQuestions.org

Why did the Israelites take the Canaanites as slaves instead of destroying them as they were instructed? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God command the extermination / genocide of the Canaanites, women and children included? | GotQuestions.org

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