34:12-14
The people were to be careful not to make a treaty with any of the peoples. The reason was that they absolutely had to avoid adopting any of their practices, for these practices would involve the worship of idols and would drag the people away from the Lord. Instead they were to completely destroy all vestiges of the people’s religious practice. Now this no doubt offends the sensibilities of some people, but that is tough. All religions are not the same, all practices are not of equal value. The Israelites were not to worship any other god, for God is a jealous God. God is not one god among many, rather He is the only true God.
34:15-17
The command not to make a treaty with them is repeated, with the reasons made more explicit. Note the use of the term “when they prostitute themselves to their gods”. Israel was not meant to worship any other gods, but neither were any other peoples. In worshipping false gods they were not doing what they were created for. If Israel did make a treaty it would not end with Israel being invited to take part if pagan worship, but their sons would take pagan daughters for wives and this would lead to them prostituting themselves to false gods. These injunctions on being careful who we marry exist throughout the Bible, Old and New Testament. “Do not make any idols.” Making idols is a very dangerous thing to do, it means we will start to put our trust in the idol, and this does not need to be a physical idol. John finishes his first letter with the words “Keep yourselves from idols.”
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