Numbers 33:55

But if you don't drive out everyone living in the land, the people you allow to remain will be like grit in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will cause you trouble where you settle in the country.

Free Bible Version

In The King James Version

But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.

In Context

54You are to divide the land and allocate it by lot to the different tribal families. Give a larger portion to a larger family, and a smaller portion to a smaller family. Each one's allocation is decided by lot, and you will all receive an allocation depending on your tribe.

56Eventually the punishment I planned for them I will inflict on you.”

Read all of Numbers 33

Cross References

Deuteronomy 7:4because they will lead your children away from following me to worship other gods. Then the Lord will be angry with you, and he will quickly come and kill you.

Joshua 23:7Don't associate with the nations that are left. Don't mention the names of their gods, and don't swear by them, worship them, or bow down to them.

Joshua 23:13you can be absolutely sure that the Lord your God will definitely not drive out these nations before you. On the contrary, they will be a trap and a snare to you, a whip on your back and thorns in your eyes until you die out completely from this good land the Lord your God has given you.

Judges 2:3I also warned you, ‘I will not drive them out before you, and they will be snares for you, and their gods will be traps for you.’”

Ezekiel 28:24The people of Israel will no longer have to put up with these people who are thorns in their side, painful brambles and sharp thorns who treat Israel with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.

Matthew Henry on Numbers 33:51-56

The Canaanites Doomed. ( b. c. 1452.) 50 And the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 51 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 52 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: 53 And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Numbers 33:55