Topical Bible: Miscegenation: Joshua

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Topical Encyclopedia

The topic of miscegenation, or the intermarriage between different ethnic groups, is addressed in various parts of the Bible, particularly in the context of the Israelites and their interactions with surrounding nations. In the Book of Joshua, the issue of intermarriage is closely tied to the Israelites' conquest of Canaan and their covenant relationship with God.

Biblical Context

The Book of Joshua recounts the Israelites' entry into the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua, following the death of Moses. As they conquer the land, they are repeatedly instructed to remain separate from the Canaanite nations. This separation is not based on ethnic superiority but on religious purity and the maintenance of their covenant with God.

Divine Command

In Joshua 23, Joshua gathers the leaders of Israel and reminds them of God's commands regarding the nations that remain in the land. He warns them against intermarriage with these nations, emphasizing the spiritual dangers rather than ethnic concerns. Joshua 23:12-13 states: "For if you ever turn away and make alliances with the remnant of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you."

Religious Implications

The primary concern with intermarriage in the context of Joshua is the potential for the Israelites to be led astray into idolatry and to forsake their exclusive worship of Yahweh. The surrounding nations practiced various forms of idolatry and pagan worship, which were abominations in the sight of the Lord. The command to avoid intermarriage was thus a safeguard to preserve the religious and moral integrity of the Israelite community.

Historical Examples

Throughout the conquest narrative, the Israelites are reminded of the consequences of disobedience. The account of Achan in Joshua 7 serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of disregarding God's commands. Although not directly related to intermarriage, Achan's sin of taking forbidden items from Jericho illustrates the broader theme of the need for obedience to God's laws to ensure the community's well-being.

Covenant Faithfulness

The emphasis on avoiding intermarriage in Joshua is ultimately about maintaining covenant faithfulness. The Israelites are called to be a holy people, set apart for God's purposes. This call to holiness is reiterated throughout the Old Testament and is foundational to understanding the biblical perspective on intermarriage.

Conclusion

The Book of Joshua presents a clear directive against intermarriage with the Canaanite nations, rooted in the need to preserve the religious purity and covenant relationship of the Israelites with God. This directive underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands and the dangers of syncretism and idolatry.

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Joshua 23:12
Else if you do in any wise go back, and join to the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you:
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