“Then they arrived at Dan-Ya‘an, went around to Tzidon and came to the stronghold of Tzor. They went on to the cities of the Hivi and of the Kena‘ani, and finished in the south of Y’hudah, at Be’er-Sheva.“-2 Samuel 24:7-8
So what are we to make of this mysterious reference to “the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites” in verse 8?
This has caused academic types to pull out their hair in frustration since not one specific town is listed.
We do know that all these cities were located in the northern part of Canaan.
However, there ain’t no need for frustration-driven hair pulling.
All you gotta do is go back to the Book of Judges and read the following verses:
“Manasseh did not drive them out.
Beth Shan remained.
Taanach remained.
Dor remained.
Ibleam remained.
Megiddo remained.
Canaanites clung to the land.
Israel grew stronger.
They pressed them into labor.
But never removed them fully.
Ephraim did not drive them out.
Gezer stayed Canaanite.
They lived among Ephraim.
Zebulun did not drive them out.
Kitron remained.
Nahalol remained.
They lived among Zebulun.
They were forced to labor.
Asher did not drive them out.
Akko remained.
Sidon remained.
Ahlab remained.
Akzib remained.
Helbah remained.
Aphek remained.
Rehob remained.
Asher lived among Canaanites.
They failed to drive them out.
Naphtali did not drive them out.
Beth Shemesh remained.
Beth Anath remained.
They lived among Canaanites.
They became forced laborers.
The Amorites pressed Dan back.
Confined to the hill country.
No descent to the plain.
The Amorites held firm.
Mount Heres stood.
Aijalon stood.
Shaalbim stood.
Joseph’s tribes grew strong.
The Amorites were subdued.
They too became laborers.”
-Judges 1:27-35
This passage contains a list of the towns and cities that the 12 tribes of Israel were ordered by God to conquer, BUT THEY FAILED TO DO IT!
Notice the parts I bolded above where it repeatedly says, “they did NOT drive them out.”
So there ain’t no mystery about what cities verse 8 in 2nd Samuel 24 is referencing.
It refers to the towns that had been left unconquered in the various territories that had been assigned to the Hebrew tribes.
Approximately 2 centuries had come and gone, and these cities were still remaining.
And I betcha a good portion of them were more or less on “friendly” terms with Israel.
This was a big no-no!
Just as the Lord separated the light from the darkness way back in Chapter 1 of Genesis…
So too was Israel to be separated from the heathen Gentiles.
Ya feel me here?
The Canaanites weren’t to be allowed to assimilate into the Kingdom of Israel.
I betcha as a result of this assimilation, a whole helluva lot of intermarriage was going on as well.
Another big no-no.
Why?
Because it would result in borrowing and integrating the customs and worship practices of the Canaanites into the Hebrew religion.
Again, this is a huge no-no!
Yeah, I know from a BS promote-peace-at-all-costs and pour-a-ton-of-maple-syrup-on-your-buckwheat-pancakes perspective, it sounds all lovey-dovey and harmonious and all.
But it’s just a bunch of leftist liberal, politically correct, multi-cultural booooooooooooooooool sheeeeeeeeeeeet rearing its ugly head here that would have Charlie Kirk turning over in his grave (may he rest in peace).
It reminds me of the so-called Chrislam movement, which is a modern attempt to blend the Biblical faith and Islam into a single religious framework.
It presents itself as all tolerant and peace-seeking.
But the idea collapses the moment you look at what each faith actually teaches.
The Chrislam movement leans heavily on the “same God, different path” idea.
But:
The God of the Bible reveals Himself as Father.
The God of the Qur’an explicitly denies fatherhood.
The Bible invites relationship.
The Qur’an emphasizes submission.
And that’s just a small part of how much at odds these two belief systems are with each other.
The truth is, Israel’s worship of Adonai was greatly contaminated by the practices of their gentile neighbors.
Things got so bad that the Lord would eventually boot out the ten northern tribes of Israel from the Promised Land.
The takeaway here is as clear as day.
What “Canaanite cities” has the Lord ordered you to expel from the Promised Land of your life that you’ve failed to drive out?
How about the Canaanite city called “Sunday afternoon porn binges that last 3 or more hours at a time?”
How about the Canaanite city called “It’s okay to accept the practice of marrying homosexuals in the name of Jesus because it’s all about love, man!”?
How about the Canaanite city called “All religions are basically different paths pointing to the same God”?
That last one, otherwise known as religious syncretism, is particularly prevalent in our day.
I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.
Let Northern Israel serve as a lesson to what will happen to you when you don’t boot out the forbidden Canaanite cities from your life like you were supposed to when you were born again.
You will end up being infected by the heathenism around you and expelled from the Promised Land.
Ya feel me?
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Do not be
mismatched with unbelievers.
For what partnership has
righteousness with lawlessness?
Or what fellowship has
light with darkness?”
2 Corinthians 6:14
“What accord has Messiah with Belial?
Or what portion does a believer
share with an unbeliever?”
2 Corinthians 6:15
“What agreement has the
Temple of God with idols?
For we are the
temple of the living God.”
2 Corinthians 6:16
“Therefore, go out from their midst,
and be separate from them,
says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing.”
2 Corinthians 6:17
“Do not love the world
or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.”
1 John 2:15
“A little leaven
leavens the whole lump.”
Galatians 5:9
“You adulterous people!
Do you not know that
friendship with the world
is enmity with God?”
James 4:4
“See to it that no one takes you captive
by philosophy and empty deceit,
according to human tradition.”
Colossians 2:8
“I know your works.
You tolerate that woman Jezebel…
leading my servants
into immorality and idolatry.”
Revelation 2:20
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