Exodus 23:29

KJV

I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.

KJV (with Strong's)

I will not drive them out {H1644} from before {H6440} thee in one {H259} year {H8141}; lest the land {H776} become desolate {H8077}, and the beast {H2416} of the field {H7704} multiply {H7227} against thee.

Complete Jewish Bible

I will not drive them out from before you in one year, which would cause the land to become desolate and the wild animals too many for you.

Berean Standard Bible

I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you.

American Standard Version

I will not drive them out from before thee in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the beasts of the field multiply against thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 23:29 reveals God's strategic wisdom and profound care for the Israelites as they prepared to inherit the Promised Land. This verse, embedded within the covenant stipulations given at Mount Sinai, outlines a crucial aspect of their conquest: the dispossessing of the indigenous inhabitants would not be an instantaneous act. God, in His divine foresight, planned a gradual expulsion to prevent the land from becoming desolate and subsequently overrun by wild animals, thereby ensuring Israel's safety, successful settlement, and ability to cultivate their new inheritance in a sustainable manner.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Exodus 23:29 is situated within a significant section of the Book of the Covenant ([Exodus 20:22-23:33](/exodus/20-22-23-33 "Exodus 20-23 - The Book of the Covenant")), which details the laws and promises God established with Israel at Mount Sinai. Specifically, it falls within the concluding promises related to Israel's entry into and settlement of Canaan ([Exodus 23:20-33](/exodus/23-20-33 "Exodus 23:20-33 - Promises for Obedience")). Following a series of ethical, social, and cultic laws, this passage shifts focus to God's active role in the conquest. Verses 20-23 promise divine assistance through an angel who would lead them and drive out the nations. Verses 24-26 outline blessings for obedience, including health and prosperity, contingent upon their faithfulness. Then, verses 27-28 reiterate God's power to send terror and hornets to prepare the way, ensuring victory over their adversaries. Verse 29, however, introduces a vital caveat to this promise of conquest, explaining *how* the dispossessing would occur—not all at once—and providing the practical reasons for this phased approach, thus demonstrating God's meticulous planning for Israel's well-being and successful establishment in the land.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At the time of this divine pronouncement, the Israelites were a nomadic people, recently delivered from slavery in Egypt, encamped at the base of [Mount Sinai](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - Israel at Mount Sinai"). They were on the cusp of transitioning from a wilderness existence to settling an agrarian society in a land already inhabited by various established peoples, including the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites (as mentioned in [Exodus 23:23](/exodus/23-23 "Exodus 23:23 - Nations to be Driven Out")). The challenge of suddenly depopulating a vast territory and immediately re-establishing agricultural and civic infrastructure was immense. An empty land would quickly revert to wilderness, becoming unmanageable and dangerous. Wild animals, deprived of human population and cultivation, would proliferate, posing a significant threat to the new settlers, their livestock, and their ability to farm and thrive. God's plan, therefore, accounts for the practical realities of land management, ecological balance, and the safety of a transitioning population, ensuring that His promise of inheritance would be realized in a sustainable and secure manner, rather than through chaotic, immediate upheaval.
* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within Exodus and the Pentateuch. It highlights God's **Sovereignty and Providence**, demonstrating His meticulous control not only over the grand narrative of salvation but also over the practical details of Israel's settlement. It underscores the theme of **Divine Wisdom**, revealing that God's plans are not arbitrary but are perfectly calibrated to ensure the flourishing of His people, even if His timing differs from human expectation. The verse also implicitly touches upon **Covenant Faithfulness**, as God's promise to drive out the nations is a fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham ([Genesis 15:18-21](/genesis/15-18-21 "Genesis 15:18-21 - The Abrahamic Covenant")), yet the method of fulfillment is tailored to Israel's capacity and safety. Furthermore, it emphasizes **God's Protection and Care** for His chosen people, ensuring their physical security and successful establishment in the land He promised them, preventing chaos and danger that a sudden depopulation would bring, as further detailed in [Deuteronomy 7:22](/deuteronomy/7-22 "Deuteronomy 7:22 - Gradual Dispossession").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Drive out (Hebrew, גָּרַשׁ, _gârash'_):** This primitive root signifies "to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce; cast up (out), divorced (woman), drive away (forth, out), expel, [idiom] surely put away, trouble, thrust out." In the context of Exodus 23:29, it refers to God's act of expelling the existing inhabitants of Canaan before Israel. The explicit negation "I will not drive them out... in one year" emphasizes that while God is the active agent of expulsion, His method is strategic and gradual, not immediate, for Israel's benefit.
* **Desolate (Hebrew, שְׁמָמָה, _shᵉmâmâh'_):** This feminine noun, derived from a root meaning "to be appalled, to be desolated, to be devastated, to be laid waste," describes the dire state of the land if suddenly emptied of its inhabitants. It implies not merely an empty space, but one that would become wild, untamed, overgrown, and unproductive—a wilderness prone to ecological imbalance. God's concern is for the land's habitability and Israel's long-term ability to cultivate and prosper within it.
* **Multiply (Hebrew, רַב, _rab'_):** By contraction from a root meaning "to be abundant," this word signifies "to abound (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality); (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase." Here, it speaks of the unrestrained increase of "the beast of the field." Without human settlement, cultivation, and hunting, the wild animal populations would rapidly grow in number, overwhelming the new, sparse Israelite population and making the land dangerous and difficult to manage. It highlights the practical threat posed by an ecological imbalance that God actively seeks to prevent.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I will not drive them out from before thee in one year":** This initial clause establishes the divine timing and method of conquest. God, as the sovereign Lord, explicitly states His intention for a gradual, not instantaneous, expulsion of the Canaanite nations. This reveals a deliberate, strategic plan that prioritizes Israel's long-term well-being over immediate gratification, demonstrating God's wisdom in managing the transition and ensuring a sustainable inheritance for His people.
* **"lest the land become desolate":** This phrase provides the first practical reason for the gradual conquest. If the land were suddenly emptied of its inhabitants, it would quickly revert to an uncultivated, wild state. Fields would become overgrown, irrigation systems would fail, and existing infrastructure would decay. Such desolation would make it incredibly difficult for the Israelites, a people transitioning to agriculture, to settle, cultivate, and thrive in their new inheritance, potentially hindering the very purpose of their entry into Canaan.
* **"and the beast of the field multiply against thee":** This second practical reason highlights a direct and immediate threat to Israel's safety and prosperity. A desolate, unmanaged land would become a breeding ground for wild animals. These "beasts of the field" (e.g., lions, bears, wolves, wild boars, etc.) would pose a significant danger to the sparse Israelite population, their livestock, and their crops, hindering their ability to establish stable communities and agricultural practices. God's plan is thus a protective measure, ensuring His people's security, successful settlement, and ability to prosper without being overwhelmed by the natural consequences of a sudden demographic void.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several literary devices to convey God's strategic wisdom and protective care. **Divine Foresight** is paramount, as God anticipates the practical challenges Israel would face if the conquest were immediate, revealing a plan that extends far beyond human short-sightedness. This also demonstrates **Anthropomorphism**, where God is portrayed with human-like wisdom and strategic planning, making His actions relatable and understandable to the Israelites, emphasizing His deliberate and rational approach. The phrase "lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee" uses clear **Cause and Effect** to explain the rationale behind the gradual expulsion, explicitly linking the potential negative consequences to the divine decision. Furthermore, there is an element of **Paradox** in God's "delay" being a profound form of blessing and protection; what might seem like a slow process is, in fact, the most beneficial and secure path. The specific mention of "the beast of the field" also functions as **Metonymy**, representing the broader challenges and dangers associated with an unmanaged wilderness, including the loss of agricultural productivity and the threat to human and animal life.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 23:29 profoundly illustrates God's meticulous providence, sovereign wisdom, and unwavering commitment to His covenant people. It underscores that God's plans are not arbitrary but are carefully calibrated to ensure the ultimate good and flourishing of those He calls. His timing, though often not immediate, is always perfect, designed to prepare both the circumstances and His people for the fulfillment of His promises. This verse teaches us about divine patience and the reality that significant transformations, whether national or personal, often unfold gradually, with God orchestrating every detail to prevent chaos, ensure sustainable growth, and enable His people to truly inhabit and steward the blessings He bestows. It is a testament to God's holistic care, considering not only spiritual but also practical and ecological realities.

* [Deuteronomy 7:22](/deuteronomy/7-22 "Deuteronomy 7:22 - Gradual Dispossession")
* [Joshua 10:42](/joshua/10-42 "Joshua 10:42 - The Lord Fought for Israel")
* [Psalm 37:7](/psalms/37-7 "Psalm 37:7 - Rest in the Lord and Wait Patiently")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 23:29 offers a powerful lesson in trusting God's timing and process. In a world that often demands instant results and immediate gratification, this verse reminds us that God's wisdom frequently manifests through incremental progress. We may pray for immediate deliverance from trials, instant sanctification, or sudden breakthroughs in our circumstances, but God, in His infinite foresight, often works "by little and little." This gradual unfolding is not a sign of His slowness or inability, but rather His profound care, preparing the "land" of our lives (our character, circumstances, and relationships) to sustain the blessings He intends. Just as He protected Israel from the physical dangers of a desolate land and multiplying beasts, He protects us from spiritual and practical dangers we might not even perceive in our haste for immediate results. It encourages us to cultivate patience, to persevere through seasons of waiting, and to believe that God's method is always perfectly designed for our ultimate good and the fulfillment of His purposes in us, ensuring our spiritual and practical flourishing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently seeking immediate results, and how might God be inviting you to trust His gradual process instead?**
* **How does the concept of God protecting Israel from "the beast of the field" resonate with how God protects you from unseen dangers or overwhelming challenges today?**
* **What might be the "desolation" or "wild beasts" in your spiritual journey that God is preventing by His patient, step-by-step work in your life?**

### FAQ
**Why did God not drive out the inhabitants immediately if He was all-powerful?**

Answer: God's decision not to drive out the inhabitants immediately was not due to a lack of power, but rather a profound demonstration of His strategic wisdom and providential care for Israel. As [Exodus 23:29](/exodus/23-29 "Exodus 23:29 - God's Gradual Conquest") explicitly states, an immediate expulsion would have led to the land becoming desolate. A desolate land would quickly be overrun by wild animals ("the beast of the field"), posing a significant threat to the sparse Israelite population and making it difficult for them to cultivate and settle the land effectively. God's plan ensured a sustainable and safe transition for His people into their inheritance, allowing them time to grow in number and capacity to properly manage and inhabit the land. This gradual approach is also clearly articulated in [Deuteronomy 7:22](/deuteronomy/7-22 "Deuteronomy 7:22 - Gradual Dispossession").

**What "beasts of the field" were a concern for the Israelites?**

Answer: The "beast of the field" refers to various wild animals native to the region of Canaan that would have posed a significant threat to a new, relatively small, and transitioning population. This would have included large predators such as lions (which were present in the ancient Near East), bears, wolves, and possibly wild boars or other large, dangerous animals that could endanger human life, livestock, and destroy crops. Without the established human populations to manage the land, control animal populations through hunting, and maintain agricultural spaces, these beasts would have multiplied rapidly, making settlement perilous and agricultural development nearly impossible for the Israelites. God's foresight prevented this ecological imbalance from overwhelming His people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 23:29, with its emphasis on God's gradual, strategic work for the good of His people, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the establishment and expansion of God's kingdom and the process of sanctification in the believer. Just as God did not instantly clear the land for Israel, the kingdom of God did not arrive in its fullness with a single, overwhelming act, but was inaugurated by Christ's first coming and continues to expand "by little and little" through the ages, as illustrated by parables like the [mustard seed](/matthew/13-31 "Matthew 13:31 - Parable of the Mustard Seed") and the [leaven](/matthew/13-33 "Matthew 13:33 - Parable of the Leaven"). Moreover, the process of sanctification in a believer's life is rarely an instantaneous, complete transformation. Rather, it is a lifelong journey where Christ, through the power of the [Holy Spirit](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Holy Spirit, the Helper"), gradually drives out the "old self" and cultivates the "new creation" ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")). The "beasts of the field" that threaten to overrun the desolate land can be seen as spiritual enemies—sinful desires, temptations, and the schemes of the adversary ([Ephesians 6:11-12](/ephesians/6-11-12 "Ephesians 6:11-12 - The Armor of God"))—which Christ, our ultimate Protector and Good Shepherd ([John 10:11](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - The Good Shepherd")), progressively subdues within us, ensuring that our hearts, the "land" of our lives, become a fruitful dwelling for His Spirit, not a desolate wilderness vulnerable to spiritual attack. This gradual work ensures our spiritual maturity and capacity to bear fruit for His glory ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - Fruit of the Spirit")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 7:22

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.

Joshua 17:12

Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out [the inhabitants of] those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

Joshua 17:13

Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.

Judges 3:1

¶ Now these [are] the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, [even] as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan;

Judges 3:4

And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

Joshua 16:10

And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.

Joshua 15:63

As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.