THE SEVEN ENEMIES OF ISRAEL IN THE PROMISE
LAND
“When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are
entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites,
Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven
nations larger and stronger than you and when the Lord your God has delivered
them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them
totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.” (Deuteronomy
7:1-2)
When Israel entered the Promised Land (1300-1200 B.C.), it
came with enemies, seven cruel and wicked nations that God commanded Joshua to
wipe out. He made it clear they were so vile that unless destroyed, they would
corrupt Israel’s devotion to Him (Deuteronomy 7:12-16). It’s hard to remember
all of the “ite” nations in the Old Testament. Knowing a little about each of
Israel’s seven ancient enemies will help you in your visit to Israel. We’ll
break them down into two groups in two separate articles.
Very little is known about the ancient inhabitants of
Canaan, except that the land was named after Noah’s grandson, Canaan (Genesis
9:18). He was Ham’s youngest of four children, and Ham’s unrighteous behavior
toward Noah brought a curse upon Canaan’s line (Genesis 9:22-27). After the
Tower of Babel, Canaan’s descendants took most of the land west of the Jordan
River (along with Syria and Phoenicia), and the curse took effect. They became
seven wicked nations (Genesis 10:15-20).
They were all idol worshippers with incestuous gods (Baal
had sex with his mother Asherah, his sister, and his daughter), and believed in
incest, bestiality, adultery, child sacrifice, rape, temple sex with
prostitutes, orgies, and other sexual deviances. Excavations of these temple
sites (so-called “high places” with stone pillars and altars) revealed containers
with sacrificed child remains offered to Molech (Jeremiah 32:35).
God knew these vile people would ruin the Israelites. He
warned Israel that if they did not destroy them, the land would “vomit” them
out too (Leviticus 18:28; Numbers 33:56; Deuteronomy 8:19–20). God does not
play favorites, even with Israel, and what He promised happened (Judges 3:5-6,
Ezra 9:1-2). Here’s a thumbnail of each Canaanite nation:
After Joshua became leader the new generation of Israel
entered in to the new land of Canaan as our Lord promised. God gave them an
important commandment "When the LORD your God brings you into the land you
are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites,
Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven
nations larger and stronger than you—and when the LORD your God has delivered
them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them
totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry
with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for
your sons". (Deut.7:1-3 NIV)
First we can examine the types of enemies there were in
Promised Land. Ancient peoples had a simple approach to their names. They would
call people by an obvious trait like their character, tradition or occupations.
These seven nations had significant reasons for their names enabling Israel to
identify their enemy and find how to beat them (or defeat them) and we can do
the same.
Researchers explain the meaning of those nations;Map of
the Nations of Canaan
HITTITES
- This name means terror. They were giants who brought fear,
confusion and discouragement to others. This is our enemy too because as
spiritual Israelites we should only fear God and not anything other than God and
not man. Proverbs 29:25 (NIV) says "Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe".
• The Hittites were
descendants of Heth, Canaan’s second son. Their name in Hebrew (chathath) means “terror,” and they lived in Hill Country
around Hebron. Abraham buried Sarah in a cave he bought from a Hittite, and
David committed adultery with the wife of a Hittite. They also settled in the
mountainous areas of Turkey and northern Syria, where ruins of their ancient
capital were discovered near Ankara.
HITTITES Meaning of
the name >> Sons of terror
Characteristics and effects
*SUBLIMINAL TORMENTS, PHOBIAS, TERROR, DEPRESSION, DECEIT
*Anger; attack of the emotions and are the spirits behind
nightmares and non-rational phobias such as
claustrophobia, agoraphobia, exaggerated fear of dogs
*Deep emotional despair and torment, and causes a desire not
to live anymore.
* Hittite spirits, therefore, are ALSO BEHIND SUICIDES
GIRGASHITES
- The meaning of the word "Girgashite" is as one who returns back
from a pilgrimage. Therefore, they are people that go back and are earthly.
They build their houses using clay which shows they are not stable in their
mind-set. This is our enemy too because we have to be stable in our faith
always based on Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 28:16 (ESV), "Thus says the Lord
God, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone,
a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes
will not be in haste.'..."
• The Girgashites are a
mystery. Their name in Hebrew (Gargishta) refers to
clay soil as in 1 Kings 7:46. Mark 5:1 refers to the “region of the Gerasenes,” and Matthew 8:28 to “the region of Gadarenes,” so they probably lived near
the Sea of Galilee. Josephus said they came from Canaan’s fourth son, Gergesus.
Moses gave the command that the Girgashites were to be utterly destroyed, but
rabbinic tradition says they fled to North Africa.
GIRGASHITES Meaning
of name >> Clay dwellers
Characteristics and effects
*Focus on earthliness, unbelief in what cannot be seen.
*This type of spirit promotes a focus on earthly, temporal,
things, and produces a disdain for things
that are "spiritual" and eternal, thereby denying the truth of
the following passage:
*While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are
eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)
*Girgashites
are very analytical people who base their life's decisions on the pros and cons
that their minds are able to perceive
AMORITES.
They were people who were arrogant and boastful in their speech, who were
always challenging. They had high self-esteem and this pride led to finding
fault in others. This is our enemy too because God is the only judge. So, if we
judge others then we will also be arrogant before God. Proverbs 8:13 (NIV) says
"To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil
behaviour and perverse speech."
• The Amorites (“the talkers”)
descended from Emer, Canaan’s fourth son. They settled west of the Jordan River
in the Hill Country, and also east of the Dead Sea. The Amorites were very powerful, many of them were said to be giants (Amos 2:9). Joshua famously chose to serve the
Lord (Joshua 24:15) in the Amorites conquered land (Numbers 21).
AMORITES Meaning of name >> Mountain people
Characteristics and effects
*Renowned, Obsession with earthly fame and glory,
domineering
*Amorite spirit is a spirit of self-exaltation.
*The word for Amorite in Hebrew comes from another Hebrew
word, amar, which means, "to utter, to say"; this implies that people
with Amorite spirits are people who want their name uttered or mentioned
fame-seekers.
CANAANITES.
This name means merchants who humiliate. They were financial giants. The
Canaanites were motivated by greed and lust for the accumulation of earthly and
material wealth. This is our enemy too as we can't serve two masters and this
world's possessions are temporary. James 4.4 (NIV) says "You adulterous
people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?
Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of
God."
• The Canaanites were the
dominant faction, and why the land is named for them. They lived in the
lowlands, the coastal plain from Tyre in the north to Gaza in the south, and
the Jordan Valley. Canaan was the father of the Canaanites, but also other
nations (Genesis 10:15-19). The Hebrew word (Kna’an)
means “humiliated” or “disgraced,” and since they were traders, the two
are combined to mean shameful merchants.
CANAANITES Meaning
of name >> Lowlands people
Characteristics and effects
*Addictions, perversions, exaggerated people-pleasing
*Canaanite spirits are the spirits behind addictions and
sexual perversions. Alcoholism,
homosexuality and lesbianism, Pornography, pedophile
*This is why Sodom and Gomorrah are portrayed in Scriptures
as Canaanite cities:
* (Genesis 10:19) 19And the border of the Canaanites was
from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto *Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and
Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto
Lasha"12Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the
cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom
were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly" (Genesis 13:12-13)
PERIZZITES.
They were people who had separated themselves and lived in unprotected,
unwalled villages. They had no discipline and restrictions. This is our enemy
because we have to completely surrender ourselves to God's commandments.
Proverbs 25:28 (NIV) says "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a
person who lacks self-control."
• The Perizzites were with
Abraham (Genesis 13:7) and Jacob (Genesis 34:30), but they are even more of a
mystery than the Girgashites. They lived in villages
in the southern lands, in the hill country of Judah and Ephraim (Joshua 11:3
17:14-15), and remained until Ezra’s time (Ezra 9:1-2). Their name is thought
to mean “dwellers in open country,” and they may
have been nomadic shepherds without a walled village.
Perizzites Meaning
of Name >> Belonging to a village
Characteristics and effects
*Limited vision, laziness, low self-esteem- Anger
*People who grow up in villages are exposed to very limited
opportunities for growth; educational, cultural, and entertainment
opportunities are scarce.
* in villages can develop a very limited vision of life-
likely not to dream of great things See themselves as having limited potential
*Perizzites not only believe in their own smallness, but
also believe in the smallness of the “villagers” around them, including their
children
*Resulting
in generations of spiritual
stagnation. Since stagnation always
leads to poverty (the Perizzite spirits tend to produce many generations of
spiritual (and even literal) poverty.
HIVITES.
They claimed to offer a good lifestyle, living by phrases such as "if it
feels good do it", "don't worry what other people think" and
"look out for number one". They lived a very luxurious life. This is
our enemy because our spiritual life is a sacrificial one. 1 Tim.6.10 (NIV)
says "for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people,
eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many
griefs."
• The Hivites came from
Canaan’s fourth son, and in Hebrew (chivim) their name
means “wicked.” They lived in the north by Mount Hermon and Shechem,
during the time of Jacob. They were the same Gibeonites who made the peace
treaty with Joshua. They were later Solomon’s slaves in the building of the
Temple (1 Kings 9:20-21), and one married Esau (Genesis 36:2).
Under Joshua, the Israelites controlled most of Canaan, but
they did not obey God’s command to eradicate the seven nations. It would prove
their undoing for centuries to come as Baal worship seeped into their history,
which led to more problems with other enemies.
HIVITES Meaning of
name >> Villagers
Characteristics and effects
*Vision limited to enjoying an earthly inheritance, hedonism
limited vision of life.
*What makes them different from the Perizzites, however, is
the way
*Hivites love to "live it up acquired some type of
inheritance that allows them the "freedom" to live "la vida
loca". This is why the Hivite spirit is so prevalent in the sons and
daughters of wealthy millionaires.
*Obviously, this does not mean that all descendants of
millionaires are Hivites, but, it does mean that, if they are not careful, they
can easily fall under the influence of Hivite spirits- the must walk in order with God to avoid
this ( SIN TENDINSY )
JEBUSITES.
They were people who exploited and polluted others through immoral activities.
This is our enemy because our body is a temple of our lord. Matthew 5:27-28
(NIV) says "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit
adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has
already committed adultery with her in his heart."
• The Jebusites descended
from Canaan’s third son, Jebus. In Hebrew their name means “trodden” (yebusi). They were a mountain tribe, living in and around Jerusalem. The
tribe of Judah captured their “Jerusalem” and burned it (Judges 1:8, 21), but
David would later take it and hold it as his city (2 Samuel 5:6-10). David
bought the threshing floor from Araunah the Jebusite (2 Samuel 24:18-25), and
his son Solomon built the Temple there.
JEBUSITES Meaning
of the name >> Threshers
Characteristics and effects
*Suppression of spiritual authority in fellow believers
*legalism, Racism are spirits that tread or
"stomp" on other people.
*People whose hearts are "infected" by Jebusite
spirits tend to be people who do not hesitate to put down and humiliate others.
*They deliberately put them down any time they see these
"small" people trying to establish their authority, they love to make
people feel small.
*Jebusites believe that certain people are inherently
inferior, without a right to manifest any kind of authority---
*Jebusites are
enforcers of SOCIAL CASTES AND RACISM
These are The Sort Of Enemies That Were There In Caanan. And
they are very similar to the enemies of spiritual Israel faces too.
But the question is, when we are born again by God, why does
he let the sinful desires in our flesh remain? The answer is in Judges
3:1-4(NIV) "These are the nations the LORD left to test all those
Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars...(he did this only to teach
warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle
experience)…They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would
obey the LORD's commands, which he had given their ancestors through
Moses." Through these nations He is teaching the Israelites how to attack
their enemies, stay healthy and remain obedient.
So He left sinful desire in us to perfect us. In God's commandment
there is no compromise but to attack and kill these sinful desires completely.
From Colossians 3:5 (NIV) we can see that we are to "put to death,
therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality,
impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry".
There are many examples in the Bible but one of the best
living examples is that of the soldier in the army; after they take a pledge
they then keep their body and mind fit and continue to train hard and master
the use of their weapons so they can be ready for the battle at any time. They
must always be alert to make sure no enemies enter their border and if enemies
try to occupy their homeland then they must attack. Even after that they must
continue to watch and protect the border until their period of service is over.
This is the duty of a soldier in the army. They follow and obey completely
their commander in training and in the battlefield.
This is the reason apostle Paul compared us with a good
soldier. In 2 Timothy 2.3-4 (NIV) he says "Join with me in suffering, like
a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in
civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer." So
we have to show the same dedication. We should know to apply all our spiritual
weapons to kill our enemies.
James tells us to "Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (Jam.4.7 KJV). So the
complete unconditional surrender to God is our weapon and strength.
The apostle Peter advises in 1 Pet.1:14-16 (NIV) "As
obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in
ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for
it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'." We have to be holy because
we are born again not by the perishable seed but by the word of our living holy
God.
The Israelites were encouraged in Deuteronomy 20:1-4 (ESV)
"When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots
and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the LORD
your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when you
draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people
and shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle
against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in
dread of them, for the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you
against your enemies, to give you the victory."
In our spiritual race towards God's kingdom, let's remember
the words of the apostle Paul who at the end of his life was able to say,
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also
to all who have longed for his appearing"(2 Timothy 4.7-8 NIV
