Exodus 23:31, commentary and pictures

The instruction belongs to what was given on the mount in Exodus 19-24 for men to obey, given by Christ Jesus as Teacher on Mount Sinai, the same Teacher who afterward spoke in human flesh. The promised bounds of the land are set from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness or desert to the river. The same bounds are set from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines and from the desert to the river, extending to the Philistine Sea. God promises to deliver the inhabitants of the land into Israel's hand, and Israel is to drive them out before them. The same promise to set the bounds and deliver the inhabitants into their hand was made on condition of obedience to all His commandments given from Sinai.

Their removal was not to be completed in one year but to happen gradually, as Israel increased and grew numerous enough to inherit the land. In this way the land would not become desolate, and wild beasts would not multiply against them before they could occupy it. The blessing was conditional on obedience to God, belonging to the blessings given only on condition of obedience. Israel was to make no covenant with the nations or their gods, to let none of them remain in the land, and to refuse their worship, because idolatry would become a snare. Moses was to gather up the truth and light and grace of God and carry it out before the people in practice, leaving an example of holy obedience. Faithful to Him, Israel was to subdue even greater and more powerful nations and to stand as a barrier against the spread of moral evil.

If Israel agreed to keep the commandments they would be as kings and priests unto God, and God would communicate directly with them. Israel pledged compliance with voice and hands lifted to heaven, but broke the condition while Moses was in the mount by making the calf and by refusing his call to take position on his side, so three thousand perished in disloyalty. The instruction is to be studied and presented before the people now just as verily as it was needed by the children of Israel in the days of Moses. Its presentation calls for all contention to cease and for loving as brethren with softened and subdued hearts, and like the laws written in a book in these chapters it guards against doing injustice and guides dealings with one another. God still tests by His Word, giving the same reward now to those who obey with the heart, so that obedient Bible students who work out truth in character will have strength under every temptation and keep hold on God.