Numbers 33:52

you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites just before they cross the Jordan into Canaan, framing the conquest as a direct divine mandate.

The words — וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם [ve./Ho.rash.Tem] translates to "and you will dispossess," and וְאִבַּדְתֶּם [ve./'I.bad.Tem] translates to "and you will destroy."

The thread — This directive recurs in Exodus 23:24, Leviticus 26:1, and Deuteronomy 20:16.

Why it lands — The text commands the removal of all foreign inhabitants and religious artifacts to secure the territory God designated as Israel's inheritance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְה֨וֹרַשְׁתֶּ֜םve./Ho.rash.Temand/ you will dispossess אֶת־'et-<obj.>כָּל־kol-all יֹשְׁבֵ֤יyo.she.Vei[the] inhabitants of הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ha./'A.retzthe/ land מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔םmi./pe.nei./Khemfrom/ before/ you וְאִ֨בַּדְתֶּ֔םve./'I.bad.Temand/ you will destroy אֵ֖ת'et<obj.>כָּל־kol-all מַשְׂכִּיֹּתָ֑םmas.ki.yo.Ta/mcarved images/ their וְאֵ֨תve./'Etand/ <obj.>כָּל־kol-all צַלְמֵ֤יtzal.Mei[the] images of מַסֵּֽכֹתָם֙ma.se.kho.Ta/mmolten metal/ their תְּאַבֵּ֔דוּte.'a.Be.duyou will destroy וְאֵ֥תve./'Etand/ <obj.>כָּל־kol-all בָּמֹתָ֖םba.mo.Ta/mhigh places/ their תַּשְׁמִֽידוּ׃tash.Mi.duyou will demolish

King James Version

Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:

Cross-references

Exodus 23:24 You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces.
Leviticus 26:1 “You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 20:16 However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes.
Deuteronomy 7:2 and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.
Deuteronomy 12:2 Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.
Judges 2:2 and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.’ Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done?
Exodus 23:31 And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.
Exodus 34:12 Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst.
Deuteronomy 7:25 You must burn up the images of their gods; do not covet the silver and gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it; for it is detestable to the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 12:30 be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.”