Numbers 33:56

Moreover it shall come to pass, [that] I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.

Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do {H6213} unto you, as I thought {H1819} to do {H6213} unto them.

And in this event, I will do to you what I intended to do to them."

And then I will do to you what I had planned to do to them.”

And it shall come to pass, that, as I thought to do unto them, so will I do unto you.

Commentary

Numbers 33:56 serves as a solemn warning to the Israelites, delivered just before they entered the Promised Land. This verse underscores the severe consequences of failing to obey God's commands regarding the land's original inhabitants.

Context

This verse concludes a crucial section in the Book of Numbers, specifically in chapter 33, which recounts the entire journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the plains of Moab, poised to cross the Jordan River. Following a detailed itinerary, God gives specific instructions to Moses concerning the conquest and settlement of Canaan. In Numbers 33:52-53, the Lord commands them to drive out all the inhabitants, destroy their carved images, and possess the land by lot. The preceding verse, Numbers 33:55, warns that if they do not drive out the inhabitants, those who remain will become "pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides," vexing them in the land where they dwell. Verse 56 then delivers the ultimate consequence of such failure.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Retribution: God's character is consistent. The judgment He intended for the idolatrous Canaanites, if not executed by Israel, would be turned upon Israel itself. This highlights God's unwavering standard of holiness and justice.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The verse powerfully illustrates the principle that disobedience to God's clear commands carries severe penalties. Failure to complete the task of spiritual and physical cleansing of the land would result in God treating Israel as He would have treated their enemies.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: Israel's possession and enjoyment of the Promised Land were conditional upon their obedience to God's covenant. This warning was a call to faithfulness, reminding them that their blessings were tied to their actions.
  • Warning and Choice: God clearly presents the stakes. The Israelites had a choice: obey and secure their inheritance, or disobey and face displacement, just like the nations they were meant to dispossess.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them" emphasizes a principle of divine reciprocity. There isn't a complex Hebrew term here, but the stark parallelism highlights God's commitment to His word, whether it be in blessing or judgment. The intended "doing" to the Canaanites was their complete removal and destruction from the land due to their wickedness (see Genesis 15:16 for the "iniquity of the Amorites"). The warning is that Israel would experience a similar fate—displacement and affliction—if they adopted the practices or tolerated the presence of those God had condemned.

Practical Application

For believers today, Numbers 33:56 serves as a potent reminder of the importance of spiritual diligence and obedience. Just as Israel was commanded to clear the land of spiritual pollutants, we are called to put off the old man and his deeds (Ephesians 4:22) and to remove spiritual "thorns" and "pricks" from our lives—those sins, habits, or influences that hinder our walk with God. If we tolerate sin or ungodly influences in our lives, they can become a source of vexation and ultimately lead to spiritual consequences that mirror the judgment God has for the unrighteous. This verse teaches that God's standards of holiness are unwavering, and His warnings are given out of love, urging us towards faithfulness and true freedom.

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Cross-References

  • Luke 21:23 (3 votes)

    But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

  • Luke 21:24 (3 votes)

    And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

  • Deuteronomy 28:63 (3 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, [that] as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:17 (2 votes)

    Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave [them] all into his hand.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:20 (2 votes)

    And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:

  • Leviticus 18:28 (2 votes)

    That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that [were] before you.

  • Ezekiel 33:24 (2 votes)

    Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we [are] many; the land is given us for inheritance.