Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

17:12-17 GENESIS
has dug up thousands of clay tables from the archives of
an Amorite king, In the Oracle of Gen. 17:16, we are
told that the occupancy of the Promised Land by the
Israelites was to be delayed four hundred years because
the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full, that is, had
not reached such a state that there was no one righteous
among them-no, not one! As a matter of fact, that the
Canaanites were not yet vessels fit only for destruction is
proved by the courtesy of Abimelech toward Abraham,
and of one of his successors toward Isaac later (chs. 20,
26). Jamieson (CECG, 146), concerning v. 16: “The
statement implies that there is a progress in the course of
sin and vice among nations as well as with individuals, and
that, although it be long permitted, by the tolerant spirit
of the Divine government, to go on with impunity, it will
at length reach a culminating point, where, in the retribu-
tions of a righteous Providence, the punishment of the
sinner, even in this world, is inevitable,” “Iniquity is full,
when it is arrived at such a number of acts, such a degree
of aggravation, and time of continuance, that God, in
consistence with,his purpose or honour, can no longer for-
bear to punish it” (SIBG, 238). (Cf. Gen. 6:3, Jer. 5:13,
Dan. 8:23, Joel 3:12, Matt, 12:32, 1 Thess. 2:16, 2 Thess.
1:7-10, Rev. 19:15-16).
Murphy (MG, 299) : “For the iniquity of the Amorite
is not yet full. From this simple sentence we have much
to learn. 1. The Lord foreknows the moral character of
men. 2. In his providence he administers the affairs of
nations on the principle of moral rectitude. 3. Nations are
spared until their iniquity is full. 4. They are then cut
off in retributive justice. 1. The Amorite was to be the
chief nation exitrpated for its iniquity on the return of
the seed of Abram. Accordingly we find the Amorites
occupying, by conquest the country east of the Jordan,
from the Arnon to Mount Hermon, under their two kings
Sihon and Og (Nurn. 2 1 :2 1-3 r ) . On the west of Jordan
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