TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Deuteronomy 7:12–26. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Here, I. The caution against idolatry is repeated, and against communion with idolaters: "Thou shalt consume the people, and not serve their gods." Deu 7:16. We are in danger of having fellowship with the works of darkness if we take pleasure in fellowship with those that do those works. Here is also a repetition of the charge to destroy the images, Deu 7:25, Deu 7:26. The idols which the heathen had worshipped were an abomination to God, and therefore must be so to them: all that truly love God hat what he hates. Observe how this is urged upon them: Thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; such a holy indignation as this must we conceive against sin, that abominable thing which the Lord hates. They must not retain the images to gratify their covetousness: Thou shalt not desire the silver nor gold that is on them, nor think it a pity to have that destroyed. Achan paid dearly for converting that to his own use which was an anathema. Nor must they retain them to gratify their curiosity: "Neither shalt thou bring it into thy house, to be hung up as an ornament, or preserved as a monument of antiquity. No, to the fire with it, that is the fittest place for it." Two reasons are given for this caution: - 1. Lest thou be snared therein (Deu 7:25), that is, "Lest thou be drawn, ere thou art aware, to like it and love it, to fancy it and pay respect to it" 2. Lest thou be a cursed thing like it, Deu 7:26. Those that make images are said to be like the, stupid and senseless; here they are said to be in a worse sense like them, accursed of God and devoted to destruction. Compare these two reasons together, and observe that whatever brings us into a snare brings us under a curse.
II.The promise of God's favour to them, if they would be obedient, is enlarged upon with a most affecting copiousness and fluency of expression, which intimates how much it is both God's desire and our own interest that we be religious. All possible assurance is here given them,
1.That, if they would sincerely endeavour to do their part of the covenant, God would certainly perform his part. He shall keep the mercy which he swore to thy fathers, Deu 7:12. Let us be constant in our duty, and we cannot question the constancy of God's mercy.
2.That if they would love God and serve him, and devote themselves and theirs to him, he would love them, and bless them, and multiply them greatly, Deu 7:13, Deu 7:14. What could they desire more to make them happy? (1.) "He will love thee." He began in love to us (Jo1 4:10), and, if we return his love in filial duty, then, and then only, we may expect the continuance of it, Joh 14:21. (2.) "He will bless thee with the tokens of his love above all people." If they would distinguish themselves from their neighbours by singular services, God would dignify them above their neighbours by singular blessings. (3.) "He will multiply thee." Increase was the ancient blessing for the peopling of the world, once and again (Gen 1:28; Gen 9:1), and here for the peopling of Canaan, that little world by itself. The increase both of their families and of their stock is promised: they should neither have estates without heirs nor heirs without estates, but should have the complete satisfaction of having many children and plentiful provisions and portions for them.
3.That, if they would keep themselves pure from the idolatries of Egypt, God would keep them clear form the diseases of Egypt, Deu 7:15. It seems to refer not only to those plagues of Egypt by the force of which they were delivered, but to some other epidemical country disease (as we call it), which they remembered the prevalency of among the Egyptians, and by which God had chastised them for their national sins. Diseases are God's servants; they go where he sends them, and do what he bids them. It is therefore good for the health of our bodies to mortify the sin of our souls.
4.That, if they would cut off the devoted nations, they should cut them off, and none should be able to stand before them. Their duty in this matter would itself be their advantage: Thou shalt consume all the people which the Lord thy God shall deliver thee - this is the precept (Deu 7:16); and the Lord thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them - this is the promise, Deu 7:23. Thus we are commanded not to let sin reign, not to indulge ourselves in it nor give countenance to it, but to hate it and strive against it; and then God has promised that sin shall not have dominion over us (Rom 6:12, Rom 6:14), but that we shall be more than conquerors over it. The difficulty and doubtfulness of the conquest of Canaan having been a stone of stumbling to their fathers, Moses here animates them against those things which were most likely to discourage them, bidding them not to be afraid of them, Deu 7:18, and again, Deu 7:21.
(1.)Let them not be disheartened by the number and strength of their enemies: Say not, They are more than I, how can I dispossess them? Deu 7:17. We are apt to think that the most numerous must needs be victorious: but, to fortify Israel against this temptation, Moses reminds them of the destruction of Pharaoh and all the power of Egypt, Deu 7:18, Deu 7:19. They had seen the great temptations, or miracles (so the Chaldee reads it), the signs and wonders, wherewith God had brought them out of Egypt, in order to his bringing them into Canaan, and thence might easily infer that God could dispossess the Canaanites (who, though formidable enough, had not such advantages against Israel as the Egyptians had; he that had done the greater could do the less), and that he would dispossess them, otherwise his bringing Israel out of Egypt had been no kindness to them. He that begun would finish. Thou shalt therefore well remember this, Deu 7:18. The word and works of God are well remembered when they are improved as helps to our faith and obedience. That is well laid up which is ready to us when we have occasion to use it.
(2.)Let them not be disheartened by the weakness and deficiency of their own forces; for God will send them in auxiliary troops of hornets, or wasps, as some read it (Deu 7:20), probably larger than ordinary, which would so terrify and molest their enemies (and perhaps be the death of many to them) that their most numerous armies would become an easy prey to Israel. God plagued the Egyptians with flies, but the Canaanites with hornets. Those who take not warning by less judgments on others may expect greater on themselves. But the great encouragement of Israel was that they had God among them, a mighty God and terrible, Deu 7:21. And if God be for us, if God be with us, we need not fear the power of any creature against us.
(3.)Let them not be disheartened by the slow progress of their arms, nor think that the Canaanites would never be subdued if they were not expelled the first year; no, they must be put out by little and little, and not all at once, Deu 7:22. Note, We must not think that, because the deliverance of the church and the destruction of its enemies are not effected immediately, therefore they will never be effected. God will do his own work in his own method and time, and we may be sure that they are always the best. Thus corruption is driven out of the hearts of believers by little and little. The work of sanctification is carried on gradually; but that judgment will at length be brought forth into a complete victory. The reason here given (as before, Exo 23:29, Exo 23:30) is, Lest the beast of the field increase upon thee. The earth God has given to the children of men; and therefore there shall rather be a remainder of Canaanites to keep possession till Israel become numerous enough to replenish it than that it should be a habitation of dragons, and a court for the wild beasts of the desert, Isa 34:13, Isa 34:14. Yet God could have prevented this mischief from the beasts, Lev 26:6. But pride and security, and other sins that are the common effects of a settled prosperity, were enemies more dangerous than the beasts of the field, and these would be apt to increase upon them. See Jdg 3:1, Jdg 3:4.
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Summary
Deuteronomy 7:18 delivers a foundational command to the Israelites on the cusp of entering the Promised Land: to actively resist fear of their formidable enemies by intentionally recalling and meditating upon the Lord God's powerful and decisive acts of deliverance against Pharaoh and all Egypt. This verse serves as a crucial reminder that their confidence and courage must be rooted not in their own strength or the weakness of their foes, but in the proven might and unwavering faithfulness of their covenant-keeping God, who had already demonstrated His absolute sovereignty over the greatest empire of their time.
Context
Literary Context
Deuteronomy 7:18 is strategically placed within Moses' second major discourse to the new generation of Israelites, delivered on the plains of Moab as they stand poised to cross the Jordan River and conquer Canaan. The book of Deuteronomy itself is structured as a series of farewell sermons, designed to reiterate the Mosaic Law and reinforce the unique covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel before they enter the land. Chapter 7 specifically outlines God's stringent command for Israel to utterly destroy the idolatrous nations inhabiting the land, emphasizing the profound danger of spiritual assimilation and the absolute necessity of maintaining holiness. This daunting command, however, naturally evokes apprehension given the superior numbers and military might of these Canaanite nations, as highlighted in Deuteronomy 7:1. Consequently, the directive "Thou shalt not be afraid of them" directly addresses this anticipated fear, immediately followed by the divine antidote: remembering God's past acts of power. The verse thus functions as a critical theological and psychological anchor for the immense task ahead, reinforcing the divine promise of ultimate victory.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Israelites stood at an epochal moment, forty years after their miraculous escape from Egyptian bondage. The generation that experienced the Exodus firsthand had largely passed away, and a new generation, born and raised in the wilderness, was about to confront the well-established, militarily superior, and deeply idolatrous Canaanite peoples. Fear was not merely a natural but an entirely understandable human response to such an overwhelming challenge. Culturally, "remembering" (Hebrew: zakar) in ancient Israel was far more than passive intellectual recall; it was a dynamic, active process of bringing past events into present consciousness, allowing them to shape identity, inform action, and reinforce faith. The Exodus from Egypt was the defining event of Israel's national identity and the supreme demonstration of Yahweh's power and faithfulness. Pharaoh and Egypt represented the pinnacle of human power and pagan idolatry in the ancient world, making God's triumph over them the ultimate, irrefutable proof that no earthly force could stand against Him when He acted on behalf of His chosen people. This historical reality was to be the wellspring of Israel's courage.
Key Themes
Deuteronomy 7:18 powerfully articulates several key themes central to the book of Deuteronomy and Israel's covenant relationship with God. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Overcoming Fear through Divine Assurance. The command "Thou shalt not be afraid" is not a denial of the threat but a divine injunction rooted in God's empowering presence and ultimate victory. It teaches Israel that their confidence must be in God's power, not their own strength, a theme echoed throughout Scripture (e.g., Isaiah 41:10). Secondly, the verse highlights The Power of Active Remembrance. The antidote to fear is not self-reliance but a deliberate, deep meditation on God's past faithfulness and power, specifically His miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage. This act of "well remembering" (Hebrew: zakar) is a profound spiritual discipline that builds faith for present and future challenges, ensuring that past mercies inform present courage. Lastly, it emphasizes God's Sovereign Deliverance. The specific example of God's judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt—encompassing the devastating plagues and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea—served as the foundational demonstration of God's absolute sovereignty over human rulers, natural forces, and false gods. This historical event proved that no power could stand against Him when He acted on behalf of His people, providing the wellspring of their courage for the conquest of Canaan, reminding them that the same God who delivered them from Egyptian bondage would also deliver them from the Canaanites, as famously declared in Exodus 14:14.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root carries a broad semantic range, from a reverential awe (as in "fear of the Lord," which is the beginning of wisdom) to a paralyzing, debilitating dread. In the context of Deuteronomy 7:18, the negative command "Thou shalt not be afraid" specifically refers to the latter—a faithless fear of human adversaries that would lead to disobedience, compromise, or a failure to trust God's promises. It implies a fear that causes one to shrink back or be affrighted by the challenges ahead.
This primitive root signifies much more than passive intellectual recall. Properly, it means "to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember." By implication, it can also mean "to mention" or "to recount." In this context, it denotes an active, conscious, and intentional effort to bring to mind past events, lessons, or covenants, often with the purpose of shaping present behavior or renewing commitment. To "well remember" (as emphasized by the KJV's "well") suggests a thorough, deep, and continuous engagement with the memory, preventing it from fading or becoming superficial, and allowing it to actively inform one's current state and future actions.
Derived from the verb "to be," this is the proper name of God, signifying "(the) self-Existent or Eternal." It is the Jewish national name of God, Jehovah, emphasizing His covenant faithfulness and unchanging nature. The specific use of "the LORD" (Yahweh) here underscores that it is not just any deity, but the personal, covenant-keeping God of Israel who performed these mighty acts, thereby providing the ultimate ground for their confidence and the antidote to their fear.
Verse Breakdown
"Thou shalt not be afraid of them"
This opening clause is a direct, emphatic divine imperative to Israel. It does not deny the existence of a threat or the natural human tendency to fear in the face of overwhelming odds (the "them" refers to the nations of Canaan, described in Deuteronomy 7:1 as "greater and mightier"). Rather, it is an instruction to actively resist succumbing to this fear, implying that fear is a choice or a state of mind that can be overcome through faith and reliance on God, rather than an inevitable outcome. This command sets the stage for the antidote that immediately follows.
"[but] shalt well remember"
The conjunction "but" introduces the crucial counter-strategy to fear: active, intentional, and thorough remembrance. The phrase "well remember" underscores the depth and continuous engagement required in this act of recall. It's not a casual thought, but a deliberate meditation, a bringing to the forefront of one's mind the foundational truths of God's character and actions. This remembrance is presented as the primary means by which Israel can overcome their natural apprehension and find the courage necessary for the daunting challenges ahead.
"what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;"
This specifies the precise content of the remembrance. The Exodus event, encompassing the ten devastating plagues, the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, and the utter defeat of the powerful Egyptian army, was the supreme historical demonstration of Yahweh's power, sovereignty, and unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people. Pharaoh, the most powerful ruler of his time, and Egypt, the dominant empire, represented the ultimate human opposition. God's decisive victory over them served as irrefutable proof that no earthly power could thwart His plans or stand against Him when He acted for Israel. This past triumph was to be the inexhaustible wellspring of Israel's confidence for their present and future battles against the Canaanites.
Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 7:18 employs several effective literary devices to convey its powerful message. Most prominently, there is a clear Contrast established between the negative command ("Thou shalt not be afraid") and the positive directive ("but shalt well remember"). This juxtaposition highlights the chosen antidote to fear: active faith rooted in historical truth, presenting a clear path from apprehension to courage. The verse also functions as a powerful Exhortation, a direct, urgent, and authoritative appeal from Moses, conveying God's divine will to His people at a critical juncture. Furthermore, it relies heavily on Historical Allusion, referencing the foundational, nation-defining event of the Exodus. This allusion is not merely a historical note but a potent rhetorical device, leveraging the collective memory and shared experience of God's miraculous intervention to instill courage and trust. The specificity of "Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt" grounds the theological principle in a tangible, undeniable historical reality, making God's power concrete and accessible to the new generation facing similar, albeit different, adversaries.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Deuteronomy 7:18 profoundly connects to the broader biblical narrative by emphasizing God's unchanging character, the vital role of memory in faith, and the nature of divine warfare. It reveals a God who is not only powerful enough to deliver His people from overwhelming odds but also faithful to His covenant promises. The command to remember underscores the principle that God's past actions are a guarantee of His future faithfulness and a source of present strength. This theological truth transcends the immediate context of the conquest of Canaan, establishing a timeless pattern for believers across all generations: when faced with daunting challenges, our courage is found not in our own might or the perceived weakness of our adversaries, but in the proven, sovereign power of God. The Exodus, as the ultimate demonstration of God's victory over the forces of oppression and idolatry, becomes a perpetual wellspring of hope and assurance for His people, reminding them that the God who acted decisively in the past will continue to act on their behalf.
Reflection and Application
Deuteronomy 7:18 offers timeless wisdom for believers navigating the "promised lands" and "giants" of their own lives. We frequently encounter situations that breed fear: overwhelming problems, intimidating adversaries, daunting tasks, or uncertain futures. This verse teaches us that our primary response should not be to succumb to paralyzing fear, but to actively engage in the spiritual discipline of remembrance. Just as Israel was to recall God's decisive victory over Pharaoh, we are called to bring to mind God's past faithfulness—both in the grand sweep of biblical history and in our personal experiences. Reflecting on how God has delivered, provided, and sustained us in the past builds a reservoir of faith and courage for present and future challenges. Our confidence should rest not in our own strength or the perceived weakness of our opponents, but in the unchanging character and limitless power of our sovereign God, who remains capable of overcoming any obstacle we face. This active remembering transforms our perspective, shifting our gaze from the size of our problems to the greatness of our God, enabling us to walk forward in trust rather than retreat in terror.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is "remembering" so important in the Bible, especially in contexts like Deuteronomy 7:18?
In the biblical context, "remembering" (Hebrew: zakar) is far more than passive intellectual recall; it's an active, intentional, and often communal act of bringing God's past deeds and covenant promises into the present, allowing them to shape identity, inspire obedience, and instill courage. For Israel, remembering the Exodus was foundational to their national identity and their understanding of God's character. It served as a constant reminder of God's power, faithfulness, and His commitment to His people. In Deuteronomy 7:18, remembering God's triumph over Pharaoh is crucial because it provides the historical evidence and theological basis for Israel to trust God for future victories, countering their natural fear of the Canaanites. This active remembrance transforms past events into present power, fostering faith and preventing spiritual amnesia, enabling God's people to move forward with divine confidence.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Deuteronomy 7:18, with its command to overcome fear by remembering God's past deliverance, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Israel was commanded to remember God's triumph over Pharaoh, believers today are called to remember Christ's decisive victory over far greater enemies: sin, death, and the devil. The Exodus was a powerful foreshadowing of the greater liberation accomplished by Jesus, the true Lamb of God whose atoning blood secures eternal freedom from the bondage of sin. Just as God delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage, Christ delivers us from the bondage of sin and the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). His resurrection is the ultimate "remember what the LORD your God did" moment, demonstrating His absolute triumph over all spiritual powers and authorities, disarming them and making a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15). Therefore, when we face overwhelming challenges or feel afraid, we "well remember" that Christ has already overcome the world (John 16:33), and that in Him, we are "more than conquerors" through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37). The Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in this victory, transforming our fear into unwavering faith as we fix our eyes on the finished, triumphant work of our Deliverer.