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Israel in Its Surroundings

JEHOVAH told Abraham: ‘Go from Ur in Mesopotamia to the country that I shall show you.’ That country was inhabited and surrounded by other nations.​—Ge 12:1-3; 15:17-21.

As God’s people moved away from Egypt, they knew that they might face resistance from enemies, such as “the despots of Moab.” (Ex 15:14, 15) The Amalekites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Amorites were on Israel’s route to the Promised Land. (Nu 21:11-13; De 2:17-33; 23:3, 4) And the Israelites would encounter other enemy nations in the land that God had promised them.

God said that Israel was to “clear away” seven “populous nations”​—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—​that merited destruction. They were morally degraded and religiously corrupt. Their gods included Baal (noted for phallic stone pillars), Molech (object of child sacrifice), and the fertility goddess Ashtoreth (Astarte).​—De 7:1-4; 12:31; Ex 23:23; Le 18:21-25; 20:2-5; Jg 2:11-14; Ps 106:37, 38.

Sometimes the whole area that God was giving to Israel was called “Canaan,” from north of Sidon to “the torrent valley of Egypt.” (Nu 13:2, 21; 34:2-12; Ge 10:19) At other times the Bible names various nations, city-states, or peoples in that land. Some had distinct locales, such as the Philistines on the coast and the Jebusites in the mountains near Jerusalem. (Nu 13:29; Jos 13:3) Others changed locations or territory over time.​—Ge 34:1, 2; 49:30; Jos 1:4; 11:3; Jg 1:16, 23-26.

At the time of the Exodus, the Amorites were likely the dominant tribe.a (De 1:19-21; Jos 24:15) They had seized Moabite land down to the torrent valley of Arnon, though the area across from Jericho was still called “the desert plains of Moab.” Amorite kings also ruled Bashan and Gilead.​—Nu 21:21-23, 33-35; 22:1; 33:46-51.

Even though they had God’s backing, the Israelites did not eliminate all those condemned nations, who over time ensnared Israel. (Nu 33:55; Jos 23:13; Jg 2:3; 3:5, 6; 2Ki 21:11) Yes, the Israelites fell victim despite the warning: “You must not walk after other gods, any gods of the peoples who are all around you.”​—De 6:14; 13:7.

[Footnote]

[Map on page 11]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

Nations to Be Displaced From the Promised Land

PHILISTIA (D8)

C8 Ashkelon

C9 Gaza

D8 Ashdod

D8 Gath

D9 Gerar

CANAAN (D8)

B10 AMALEKITES

C12 Hazar-addar (Addar?)

C12 Kadesh (Kadesh-barnea)

D8 Lachish

D9 Beer-sheba

D10 AMORITES

D11 NEGEB

E4 Dor

E5 Megiddo

E5 Taanach

E6 Aphek

E6 HIVITES

E7 JEBUSITES

E8 Beth-shemesh

E8 Hebron (Kiriath-arba)

E9 HITTITES

E9 Debir

E10 Arad (Canaanite)

E10 KENITES

E11 Akrabbim

F4 GIRGASHITES

F6 Shechem

F7 PERIZZITES

F7 Gilgal

F7 Jericho

F8 Jerusalem

G2 HIVITES

G2 Dan (Laish)

G3 Hazor

PHOENICIA (F2)

E2 Tyre

F1 Sidon

EDOM (F12)

F11 SEIR

G11 Bozrah

AMORITES (SIHON) (G8)

G6 GILEAD

G7 Shittim

G7 Heshbon

G9 Aroer

SYRIA (H1)

G1 Baal-gad

G2 HIVITES

I1 Damascus

MOAB (H10)

AMORITES (OG) (I5)

G6 GILEAD

H3 BASHAN

H4 Ashtaroth

H4 Edrei

AMMON (I7)

H7 Rabbah

[Deserts]

H12 ARABIAN DESERT

[Mountains]

E4 Mt. Carmel

E11 Mt. Hor

G1 Mt. Hermon

G8 Mt. Nebo

[Bodies of water]

C6 Mediterranean Sea (Great Sea)

F9 Salt Sea

G4 Sea of Galilee

[Rivers and streams]

B11 T.V. of Egypt

F6 Jordan River

G6 T.V. of Jabbok

G9 T.V. of Arnon

G11 T.V. of Zered

[Pictures on page 10]

Right: Amorite King Og ruled Bashan, noted for its bulls and sheep

Below: Moab, looking across the Salt Sea to the wilderness of Judah

[Picture on page 11]

Jehovah directed Israel to displace nations worshiping false gods, such as Baal, Molech, and the fertility goddess Ashtoreth (shown)