Vv 1-4: Marriage with unbelievers causes many problems: Gen
27:46; Deu 7:1-4; Exo 34:14-16; 1Ki 11:1-4; 1Co 7:39; 2Co 6:14-17. See Lesson,
Marriage "only in the Lord".
"Moses also warned them that there could be no allowance for
the Canaanites. They were told that there should be total war (Deu 7:2), to make
no covenant with them (v 2), nor to show mercy (v 2), nor to take them in
marriage (v 3), nor to accept any feature of their religion (v 4). Israel had to
recognise the high and holy privilege they enjoyed, and to repeat the example of
Yahweh's enmity against the seed of the serpent in Gen 3:15" (GEM).
DISEASES... IN EGYPT: Prob bubonic plague, arising from
unhealthy delta conditions (Deu 28:60n).
Deu 7:24
UNDER HEAVEN: A phrase suggesting the universality of
Yahweh's judgment: Gen 6:17; Exo 17:14; Deu 7:24; 9:14; 25:19; 29:20; 2Ki 14:27.
The two NT references (Acts 4:12; Col 1:23) expand the theme to show that the
Father is indeed concerned with salvation for all mankind.