Topical Bible: Judgments: Upon the Canaanites

◄ Judgments: Upon the Canaanites ►

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The judgments upon the Canaanites are a significant theme in the Old Testament, reflecting God's divine justice and the fulfillment of His promises to the patriarchs. The Canaanites, inhabitants of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants, were subject to divine judgment due to their idolatry, immorality, and opposition to God's people.

Divine Decree and Promise

The judgment upon the Canaanites was first intimated in God's covenant with Abraham. In Genesis 15:16, God tells Abraham, "In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." This indicates that the Canaanites' sinfulness would eventually reach a point warranting divine intervention.

Moral Corruption and Idolatry

The Canaanites were known for their idolatrous practices and moral corruption, which included child sacrifice, sexual immorality, and other abominations. 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. The land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its iniquity, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants."

Conquest and Fulfillment

The conquest of Canaan under Joshua was the primary means by which God's judgment was executed. Joshua 11:20 states, "For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be completely destroyed without mercy and be annihilated, as the LORD had commanded Moses." This reflects the divine mandate given to Israel to act as instruments of God's judgment.

Specific Judgments

Several specific judgments upon Canaanite cities and peoples are recorded in the Book of Joshua. Jericho, the first city conquered, was utterly destroyed as a demonstration of God's power and judgment (Joshua 6:21). Ai, after an initial setback due to Achan's sin, was also captured and destroyed (Joshua 8:28). The coalition of Canaanite kings, including those from Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, was defeated in a miraculous victory at Gibeon (Joshua 10:10-11).

Divine Justice and Mercy

While the judgments upon the Canaanites were severe, they also highlight God's justice and the seriousness of sin. The sparing of Rahab and her family (Joshua 6:25) demonstrates God's mercy and willingness to save those who turn to Him in faith, even from among the Canaanites.

Theological Implications

The judgments upon the Canaanites serve as a sobering reminder of God's holiness and the consequences of persistent sin. They underscore the importance of obedience to God's commands and the fulfillment of His promises to His people. The narrative also foreshadows the ultimate judgment and redemption found in Jesus Christ, who offers salvation to all who believe, transcending ethnic and cultural boundaries.

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Leviticus 18:25
And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof on it, and the land itself vomits out her inhabitants.
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Deuteronomy 7:1
When the LORD your God shall bring you into the land where you go to possess it, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you;
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Deuteronomy 12:29-32
When the LORD your God shall cut off the nations from before you, where you go to possess them, and you succeed them, and dwell in their land;
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Library

Balak's Inquiries Relative to the Service of God, and Balaam's ...
... them. This was one of the sins of the Canaanites, which above all others,
availed to bring the divine judgments upon them. And when ...
/.../sermon xviii balaks inquiries relative.htm

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
... My law, and walk not in My judgments; if they ... shall go up for us against the Canaanites
at the ... It indicates that Jacob's blessing upon Judah still possessed ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessing of jacob upon.htm

The Last Words of the Old and New Testaments
... historically is to the judgments that were inflicted upon the nations that occupied
the land before the Israelitish invasion, those Canaanites and others who ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the last words of the.htm

The Blessing and the Curse.
... beware how you choose death, as the Canaanites chose it. ... shew ourselves fools above
all nations upon earth ... say in all"giving men right judgments; putting good ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xxiv the blessing and.htm

The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
... ascendency and leave its impression upon the Pentateuch. ... came into contact with the
Canaanites and Phoenicians ... 20, and bears the title Judgments, which recalls ...
/.../viii the development of the.htm

Achan's Sin, Israel's Defeat
... the western Palestine, but the remoter Canaanites (lowlanders) of ... harsh, 'Wherefore
art thou thus fallen upon thy face ... God's judgments may be long in being put ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/achans sin israels defeat.htm

The Intercourse of God and his Friend
... them still more than among the Canaanites, whose iniquity ... The whirlwind of temporal
judgments makes no distinctions between ... them with 'I have taken upon me to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the intercourse of god and.htm

The Godhood of God
... Because God is righteous, His judgments fall on those who ... He is the One who sent
the plagues upon Egypt, and ... The Canaanites had a will when they determined to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the godhood of god/the godhood of god.htm

Against Rash and Vain Swearing.
... unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites.". ... purposed to keep thy righteous
judgments," to him ... an impertinent accumulation of one oath upon another; he of ...
/.../sermons on evil-speaking by isaac barrow/against rash and vain swearing.htm

Mercy, Omnipotence, and Justice
... prophets he will not hew him by judgments; he will ... a perpetual sermon; there it must
be upon its mountain ... had threatened to root out the Canaanites; he declared ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/mercy omnipotence and justice.htm