Thematic Bible: What is a snare
Thematic Bible
Snares » What is a snare
A fool's lips want to argue. His mouth calls for blows. A fool's mouth is his ruin. His lips are the snares of his life.
An angel of Jehovah came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: I led you out of Egypt and brought you to the land about which I swore to your fathers that I would never break my covenant with you. You will make no covenant with people of this land. You will throw down their altars. You have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this? I also said: 'I will not drive them out from before you. They will be thorns in your sides. Their gods will snare (trap) you.'
Instead, they intermarried with other nations. They learned to do what other nations did. They worshiped their idols, which became a trap for them.
Destroy all the peoples whom Jehovah your God gives you. Do not look at them with pity. Do not serve their gods. For that would be a snare to you.
I will make the borders of your land extend from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Mediterranean Sea and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give you power over the inhabitants of the land. You will drive them out as you advance. Do not make any agreement with them or with their gods. Do not allow them to live in your land for they will make you sin against me. If you serve their gods it will be a snare to you.
I will force out the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. You must do what I command you today. Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going. It will become a snare in your midst.
Take heed of yourselves to love Jehovah your God. If you are disloyal and join with the nations that are still left among you and intermarry with them, Jehovah your God will no longer drive these nations out as you advance. Rather, they will be as dangerous for you as a trap or a pit and as painful as a whip on your back or thorns in your eyes. This will last until none of you are left in this good land that Jehovah your God gave you.
It is dangerous to make a vow to God before counting the cost.