Deuteronomy 7:22
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 7:22
22 And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 7 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of creation, obedience, covenant. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-26: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it contributes to the biblical metanarrative of redemption. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 7:22
22 And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.
Analysis
God's gradual conquest strategy ('by little and little') serves wise purposes: preventing land desolation and wild beast proliferation. This shows divine wisdom in means as well as ends—God's purposes are accomplished at His pace, not ours. Immediate total conquest would have created ecological problems (abandoned farmland reverting to wilderness, dangerous animal populations). This teaches patience in God's timing and methods. God often works gradually in sanctification—progressive holiness, not instant perfection (Philippians 1:6). The phrase 'lest the beasts of the field increase' shows God's care for practical concerns, not just spiritual abstractions. Divine wisdom governs both salvation and the ordinary details of life.
Historical Context
Israel's actual conquest occurred in stages: initial campaigns under Joshua (7-8 years), followed by gradual consolidation over generations. Judges records ongoing conflicts with remaining Canaanite populations. Full territorial control wasn't achieved until David's reign, roughly 400 years after the initial conquest. This gradual process frustrated impatient Israelites but served God's wise purposes. Archaeological evidence shows some Canaanite cities were destroyed (Jericho, Hazor), others captured gradually, and some coexisted for extended periods before final Israelite control.
Reflection
- How does God's gradual timing in your sanctification and circumstances demonstrate His wisdom?
- What impatience with God's pace reveals about your trust in His sovereign wisdom?
- How can you faithfully work 'little by little' toward God's purposes without demanding immediate completion?
Word Studies
- God: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) H430 - God (plural of majesty)