translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: DEU

label: NET study note

text: The reference to the priest suggests also the presence of the ark of the covenant, the visible sign of God’s presence. The whole setting is clearly that of “holy war” or “Yahweh war,” in which God himself takes initiative as the true commander of the forces of Israel (cf. Exod 14:14-18; 15:3-10 ; Deut 3:22; 7:18-24; 31:6, 8 ).


text: Hittite . The center of Hittite power was in Anatolia (central modern Turkey). In the Late Bronze Age (1550-1200 b.c. ) they were at their zenith, establishing outposts and colonies near and far. Some elements were obviously in Canaan at the time of the Conquest (1400-1350 b.c. ).


text: Amorite . Originally from the upper Euphrates region (Amurru), the Amorites appear to have migrated into Canaan beginning in 2200 b.c. or thereabouts.


text: Canaanite . These were the indigenous peoples of the land of Palestine, going back to the beginning of recorded history (ca. 3000 b.c. ). The OT identifies them as descendants of Ham ( Gen 10:6 ), the only Hamites to have settled north and east of Egypt.


text: Perizzite . This probably refers to a subgroup of Canaanites ( Gen 13:7; 34:30 ).


text: Hivite . These are usually thought to be the same as the Hurrians, a people well-known in ancient Near Eastern texts. They are likely identical to the Horites (see note on “Horites” in Deut 2:12 ).