Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Don't say to yourself, after the LORD your God has driven them out ahead of you, 'The LORD brought me here to take this land because I'm righteous.' No, the LORD is driving them out because of their wickedness.
God is warning the Israelites not to think they're getting the Promised Land because they're so good—it's because the nations living there are wicked.
📚 Historical Context
Moses spoke these words to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness. The surrounding nations practiced child sacrifice, temple prostitution, and other detestable acts that violated God's moral standards. Moses knew the Israelites would be tempted to feel proud and self-righteous when they conquered these lands.
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