Likewise, Yahweh did not choose Israel alone to execute justice in every case throughout history. 0000000696 00000 n 4. During which time they only grew worse. 0000001112 00000 n To the north, Canaan extended to Latakia, just south of Ugarit, and inland to Hamath. . 0000001321 00000 n At such moments there was only one place to look, and that is up, beyond oneself, to the One who could do so much more than we can ask or imagine.. True The Canaanites were, in a sense, squatters in a land that did not belong to them. First it must be understood that the extermination of the Canaanites had nothing to do with race, religion, or land. In her sensuous delight she decorated herself with suspended (human) heads while she attached (human) hands to her girdle. They have little to no political affiliation, they are just simple people hoping to live out their days in their fields, loving their families, and doing honest work. 32. 0000002013 00000 n The Scriptures point out the evil of Canaanite society for a reason. When we are addressing the Canaanites, what group do they belong to? But in order to understand why they lived the way they did, one must understand the gods that the people of the ancient Near East worshiped. [5] Martti Nissinen, Homoeroticism in the Biblical World: A Historical Perspective, trans. biblehub. Why did God command the genocide of the Canaanites? And just as the Israelites were to deal with their own sin in a just way, so is the Church. In fact, he made it clear that Israel, too, would be judged and would lose the land if they committed the same sins (Deut. Asherah or Ishtar, also known as the Queen of Heaven, was a female fertility goddess who was worshiped through sexual acts, including orgies. Some even consider them to be a specific social class (merchants). 5. Completely destroy them Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshipping their gods, and you will sin against the LORD your God.Deuteronomy 20:17-18, Moreh means teacher, the NIV Study Bible explains, it suggests that the Canaanites sought directions from their gods by this tree. The Lord was angered by their idol worship, leading to many immoral practices within the Canaanite culture. But the exact opposite happens with this story. 4. Additional Sources:NIV Study Bible, Copyright 1985, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2011 by Zondervan.Beck, John A. Most of Josh. Since the land wasn't empty, this could only be accomplished by driving the Canaanites out. The idea that women are more righteous or less sinful is a modern-day myth. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.Genesis 12:2-3. 7 all state the Canaanites will be in the kingdom of Yahweh), so that they might escape this judgment shows the love and mercy of Yahweh. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. What were two additional sins recorded that directly resulted from Israel's disobedience regarding the Canaanites? If you built a house, you were to lay one of your sacrificed children as the cornerstone to the building to ensure that the gods blessed the house and family all of its days. [12] Manniche, Sexual Life in Ancient Egypt, p. 10001. Walter Elwell helpfully draws the geographical boundaries for us: The first six [of the 11 people groups from Genesis 10] evidently occupied territory at or south of Sidon, whereas the others lived farther north. So in light of all the above up-post, the following seems very reasonable . Does the Bible Condemn Using Tarot Cards? It seems reasonable that if all flesh was corrupt, except for Noah, then someone else on the ark must have been the source for the post-Flood appearance of the Nephilim. It was divine judgment. (Wright, 93). 7; 2 Kgs. xref so eager for sin that you have not even demanded payment. And yet, God gave them a 400 year reprieve while Israel was in Egypt. The reason for the offer of peace was that these nations living at a distance from the Canaanites were morally salvageable and they were accordingly shown mercy if they would agree to make peace with the Israelites. The Amorites and other Canaanites were exceedingly wicked (for a list of some of their sins, see Leviticus 18 ). In contrast, the Bible gives very little detail of Israels battles, and the killing of the people is stated merely as a fact (Num. Inside his stomach was a fire, and children would be placed in his arms for burning. The Canaanites are identified in Genesis as descendants of Ham, son of Noah. Yahweh not only received her, but He declared her more righteous than even many of the grandsons of Abraham because of her desire to know Yahweh (Gen. 38:26). But why did this happen? End quote. Or to use our illustration previously, this would be akin to destroying a band of raiders in order to rescue others. It includes the sexual promiscuity and perversion particularly associated with fertility cults as well as the callousness of child sacrifice. ", "For all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you" Leviticus 18:27, ". Manniche, Lise. God ordered similar things when the Israelites were invading the promised land (Deuteronomy 2:34; 3:6; 20:16-18). Its original pre-Israelite inhabitants were called Canaanites. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969. Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because they had become so evil that even the other Canaanites were complaining about how evil they were (Gen. 18:20). FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson. When Achan stole from Yahweh after the defeat of Jericho (Josh. According to Genesis 9:20-27, Noah became drunk and afterward cursed Canaan.This is the Curse of Canaan, called the "Curse of Ham" since Classical antiquity because of the interpretation that Canaan was punished for his father Ham's sins. Sin is serious and carries with it consequence. Here is the list of the sins of the Canaanites: (1) They were having sex with their close family members. Sometimes Scripture will use a dominant tribe's name to include several tribes of the same category. This meant that according to the covenant they had agreed to, they were deserving of death. One attempt to rescue God from the story of the Canaanites is to say that Israel did this all on their own. Repeat . 0000000016 00000 n Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 2000. These initiates from the midst of a heathen cult. By Jesus being a human, He could represent humanity in their sin. The Egyptian Dream book has a section for men that begins with: Remember, the gods themselves were involved in incestuous relationships. Eventually, their idealistic lifestyle and unimaginable practices like child sacrifice caused them to meet their doom, though God remained patient with them for centuries. Leviticus 18:14, (6) They were having sex with their daughters-in law. The Hittite law states: There were even ritualistic practices involving animals tied to the bed of a woman in order to bring some kind of blessing. Ultimately, though, the Canaanite conquest isnt supposed to make sense. 16:21; 20:31; 23:37; Jer. Today He is still judging people by many means we do not always recognize because we do not have divine revelation. Though there is much to commend in Waltons work, I lean more towards the explanation of Christopher J.H. 6:17-21), and even the things the people were allowed to keep were to be cleansed first with fire or water in the tabernacle. He loves us so much that He does not want to punish us to the full extent that justice would require. Through My Bible - April 28. Leviticus 18:16, ( 8 ] They were having sex with their neighbor's wife.. Leviticus 18:20, (9) They were having homosexual sex. [15] Shelby Brown. They knew, therefore, what would happen if they continued in the path of Sodom and Gomorrah. His very nature demands that He punish and deal with sin. Brown, Shelby. The strategic location where the Canaanites were settled carries. CONCLUSION: The God of the Bible was totally justified in giving His command to the nation of Israel to totally destroy the Canaanite tribes. The Lord mentioned 7 nations by name who inhabited the land of Canaan in the time of Abraham unto the time of Joshua. Israel had sinned, violated Yahwehs covenant, taken some of the devoted things, stolen, lied, and put things among their own possessions. Leviticus 18:6 (2) They were having sex with their mothers. This is a sure and certain promise. That list is so hard to read. . Now if we take all these texts seriously as part of Gods own explanation for the events that unfold in the book of Joshua, we cannot avoid their implications. The overriding concern in all the episodes was remaining holy, found in Yahwehs demand for holiness, obedience, and purity of worship. It is clear from the narrative that God ordered the Israelites to take the land. The Canaanites appear most prominently, though, in the story of Numbers and Joshua as the conquest of Israel. Several months ago a FReeper made a comment about Michael Heiser and the Genesis 6 conspiracy. Ugaritic Baal myth describes Anat as taking joy in slaughtering her enemies, cutting off their heads and hands and wearing them as a necklace and belt. The desire for justice is foundational to the core of every human. Thus, at times the Canaanites point to a specific group of people (Joshua 11:3) but also it can refer to any of those who are mentioned in the Genesis 10 table of nations. The death of Yamm and Mot involved cutting them in half, grinding them up, and sifting them in the wind. They describe their conquests in great detail and brag about how they subjugated and destroyed other people groups. BTW, the term Canaanite in the Bible sometimes is a generic term for trader. That is why the Israelites were not sentenced to eternal punishment but for only 40 years. Sometimes the Amorites were named in the same way. I wasn't familiar with either, but I was curious, so I started doing a little research and it all ties into this thread pretty neatly. Yahweh was willing to show mercy to the Canaanites in the same way He had with Israel previously. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1998. . exemption for fair use of copyrighted works. They were a people who worshipped many gods and had many detestable practices. 1 Joseph put his face against his father's face, wept over him, and kissed him. Hawk, Daniel. Though on the surface Yahwehs command to exterminate the Canaanites may leave us emotionally uncomfortable, we must realize that we really do want a God who hates sin and punishes evil justly. 10 Things You Need to Know about the Number 666, 10 Books of the Bible You Should Read Again and Again, 10 Most Encouraging Bible Verses That Will Uplift Your Heart and Soul, 5 Things That Hurt Relationships with Grandkids, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life Losses, 4 Things You Should Know about Big George Foreman, 8 Ways You Are Belittling Your Husband and What God Says about It, Maybe Money Can Buy Happiness, but Not Joy. May Canaan be the slave of Shem. Genesis 9:25-26, Ham had four sons, but only one of them was cursed. Thats the point. Simon B. Parker, p. 148. What bothers many many readers of the Old Testament is why God, after commanding Israel not to murder, uses their nation as an instrument of genocide to punish. Copyright 2020. Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? Its supposed to be unsettling. 7:13) and to destroy all the idols (Deut. The Canaanites Were Not Salvageable --- They Had Sunk To The Very Bottom On The Immorality Scale: {C} Murdered Their Own Children {Molech}. So you were different from other women in your whorings. The judgment on the Canaanites did not take place before their iniquity was complete (Genesis 15:16). Now The Canaanites Had Sunk To Bestiality. 18:20-30; Deut. What is most interesting is that it goes on and states that if a woman has a dream where she embraces her own husband, she is doomed.[12]. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! The reason Yahweh repeatedly gives for the extermination of the Canaanites is that it is their judgment for their sin and rebellion against Him (Gen. 15:16; 18:20-21; Lev. But we would be remiss not to point to Jesus Christ. Leviticus 18:21. Under her feet were human heads, above her human hands flew like locusts. Day, John. A fitting illustration might be to say it could be compared to the Ally invasion of Nazi Germany (I am indebted to The Bible Project for this illustration). We Dont Hate Sin So We Dont Understand What Happened to the Canaanites: An Addendum to Divine Genocide Arguments, in Philosophia Christi 11:1 (Spring 2009). This shows that Israel themselves were now a thing for destruction. But they would no longer be thus when their sin had been dealt with. 12:24-29; Mark 3:22-27; Luke 11:15-22), so we through the Holy Spirit fight the demonic forces through prayer (which is our spiritual weapon), resisting the evil ideas of the demonic forces (James 4:7), and taking every thought captive (Rom. 0000001192 00000 n Cursed be Canaan! We would expect these people to be imprisoned or punished for the security of our families. Israel was never commanded in the Bible to kill the Canaanites merely to take control of the land. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. All of this must also be put in light of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection for the sins of all people of all nations (John 3:16-17). Leviticus 18:22, (10) They were giving their children to be murdered in sacrifice to Molech. They were not to go out to the other nations but were to live so righteously within their own borders that they would become a better and more blessed nation; in doing so, the people from the other nations would be so attracted to this difference that they would want to leave their old lives behind and join Israel. 0000009533 00000 n Jericho should have served as an example of Yahwehs mercy to the rest of the cities, but, unfortunately, it did not. The righteousness of Yahweh and His covenant with the family of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 15) is what led to Tamar leaving her Canaanite culture and joining the family and covenant of Abraham (Gen. 38). Nissinen, Marti. Yahweh is both a just and a merciful God. In Joshua 6, the narrator presents a wicked city that was being destroyed. Deuteronomy 7:1-2 - When . It seems from Gods promise to Abraham that they were wicked and idolatrous people. El, the father of the gods, was married to Asherah, by whom he had seventy children. Yahweh did not just in a blind rage punish people when they first did something wicked. [3] One of Baals wives was his daughter Pidray. The main point is that Yahweh loves humanity so deeply that despite His need to execute justice, He is looking for every excuse to forgive us. 17; Amos 1-2). They were descendants of Ham, who was a son of Noah, whom Noah had cursed. Just as Israel was not to judge the sins of the surrounding nations, we are not called to judge the sin of the unbelievers around us. Proving He is the God who does more than we can ask for or imagine, and always makes a way. 7:31; 19:5; 32:35; Isa. End of story. 3. The Canaanites are identified in Genesis as descendants of Ham, son of Noah. They have been abusing them for days and there is no end in sight. Wright explains it well: The degraded character of Canaanite society and religion is more explicitly described in moral and social terms in Leviticus 18:24-25; 20:22-24 and in Dt 9:5; 12:29-31. . Disclaimer: 50 0 obj <> endobj Yes, this means that conquest of evil is necessary. God remained patient with the Canaanite people for centuries. Yahweh has made it clear that He is willing to relent in His judgment if a nation repents of its sins and changes its ways (Jer. %PDF-1.4 % In fact, temple prostitution was a large part of worship in the Canaanite culture. To that point, Yahweh commanded the Israelites to not intermarry with the Canaanites, which seems odd if they were all supposed to be destroyed. He was cursed because of his sin against Noah (Genesis 9:20-25). Why prohibit intermarriage if they were to be completely wiped out? Today the church is not called to execute justice on the wicked in the same way. There, Israel had sinned against the covenant they made with Yahweh, when they worshipped the golden calves. 7:1). So although the Hivites are not named at Gen. 15:19-21, they are part of the equation. There is never a glorification of the battle, only a record of its accomplishment. Yahweh was extremely patient, waiting for hundreds of years for them to reach a certain point of immorality before He judged them, for Yahweh is slow to anger (Ex. And it seems that as history trudged along, the Canaanites became increasingly wicked. God will get his people to the promise land. The destruction of the Canaanites is a difficult story within Scripture. Daniel in 3D, pp. 1 Answer. Salem Media Group. How did the Canaanites have any time or energy for farming or building? Severe_Comment_7443 . They would often seduce men from other villages so that their men could kill them (Judg. <<395D2D047C712C4997B87D5B811ED3E2>]>> Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.. How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life Garrett Kell explains in an article for TGC, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The Canaanites abundant wickedness proved the curse was warranted, Garrett Kell explains in an article for TGC, As a result, they were enslaved by a coalition of easter kinds, by the Israelites during the conquest, and by Soloman during his reign as king. Hams other three sons, Cush, Egypt, and Put, were not cursed as Canaan was. However, incestuous fantasies were looked upon with favor and seen as a good omen.
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