Topical Bible: Idolatry: The Jews: Followed the Canaanites In

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Idolatry, the worship of idols or false gods, is a recurring theme in the history of the Israelites, particularly as they settled in the land of Canaan. Despite the clear commandments from God to abstain from idol worship, the Israelites frequently fell into the practices of the surrounding Canaanite nations, adopting their gods and rituals.

Biblical Commandments Against Idolatry

The prohibition against idolatry is foundational in the Mosaic Law. The first two of the Ten Commandments explicitly forbid the worship of other gods and the making of idols: "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath" (Exodus 20:3-4). These commandments underscore the exclusive worship and reverence due to Yahweh, the God of Israel.

Influence of the Canaanites

Upon entering the Promised Land, the Israelites were instructed to destroy the Canaanite altars, break their sacred stones, and cut down their Asherah poles (Exodus 34:13). However, the Israelites often failed to fully obey these commands, leading to their spiritual downfall. The Book of Judges records multiple instances where the Israelites turned to the gods of the Canaanites, such as Baal and Ashtoreth, after the death of Joshua and the elders who had served with him (Judges 2:10-13).

Consequences of Idolatry

The adoption of Canaanite idolatry brought severe consequences upon the Israelites. The Lord's anger was kindled against them, resulting in oppression by surrounding nations and internal strife. Judges 2:14-15 states, "So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist."

Prophetic Warnings and Reforms

Throughout their history, the Israelites were repeatedly warned by prophets to turn away from idolatry and return to the worship of Yahweh. Prophets like Elijah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah spoke against the idolatrous practices that had infiltrated the nation. Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) is a notable example of the prophetic call to abandon idolatry.

Reforms were occasionally instituted by righteous kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah, who sought to rid the land of idolatrous practices and restore the worship of Yahweh. 2 Kings 18:4 records Hezekiah's actions: "He removed the high places, shattered the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles."

Continued Struggle with Idolatry

Despite periods of reform, the struggle with idolatry persisted throughout the history of Israel and Judah. The allure of Canaanite religious practices, combined with political alliances and cultural assimilation, often led the Israelites away from their covenantal obligations. This persistent idolatry ultimately contributed to the downfall and exile of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

The history of the Israelites' idolatry serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of syncretism and the importance of faithfulness to God's commandments. The biblical narrative consistently emphasizes the need for exclusive devotion to Yahweh and the rejection of all forms of idolatry.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 2:11-13
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Chronicles 5:25
And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A Kingdom's Epitaph
... bare notice in verse 6, immediately followed by verse ... which were needed to keep the
Jews from becoming ... The home-made idolatry is gibbeted as being according to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a kingdoms epitaph.htm

The Syrian Persecution.
... roses, and pelting with stones those who followed him, so ... Some of the Jews had begun
to weary of their ... room in order to pervert the Jewish youth to idolatry. ...
/.../yonge/the chosen people/lesson xvii the syrian persecution.htm

Joshua's Conquest.
... would have occurred and Joshua would have followed Exodus and ... of the old world and
the Jews were simply ... Idolatry, vice and superstition were everywhere and the ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter viii joshuas conquest.htm

Appendix. The Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament.
... Its design is to show the folly of idolatry. ... else he would have taken notice of the
important events that followed. ... to wreak his vengeance on the Jews in Egypt ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/appendix the apocryphal books of.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... of the Philistines by his troops was followed by the ... Edom by the prophet Obadiah
is not that of idolatry or the ... of Edom rather than of the Jews, differing from ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

The Kingdom of Samaria.
... warned by the fate of Nadab, but followed the same ... were massacred, and the land purified
from this idolatry. ... slew one hundred and twenty thousand Jews in one ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson viii the kingdom of.htm

The Historical Books.
... with its calamitous consequences, and the idolatry of Solomon ... spare the sins of the
pious monarchs that followed. ... written, after the return of the Jews from the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

The Assumption of Moses
... to suppose that Pseudo-Moses followed the system ... as instruments of chastisement for
sinning Jews; and when ... with the reward of their lawlessness and idolatry. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the assumption of moses.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... which lesser number Josephus seems sometimes to have followed. ... begins to call his
nation Jews, he having ... Israel and Judah from the grossest idolatry and impiety ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

Acts XV
... Idolatry, with all the pollutions connected with it, was ... saying to them, You must
live like the Jews. ... No doubt the prayers of the brethren followed them both ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xv.htm