John Calvin Commentary Psalms 106:34

"They did not destroy the peoples, As Jehovah commanded them," — Psalms 106:34 (ASV)

They did not destroy the nations. It appears to me that those people are mistaken who think that the prophet is here simply giving an account of the punishment that was inflicted upon the Jews, as if he were imputing to them the entire blame for not exterminating the nations, because they did not deserve the honor of obtaining any more victories over them.

But he rather brings another charge against them: that they had been remiss in driving out the heathen, or more probably, that they had not obeyed the divine command to root them out of the land. Now that the cup of the iniquity of the Amorites was full, it was God’s purpose that they should be exterminated, lest their society prove harmful to the holy people.

For God, having chosen that land as a dwelling place for Himself, intended that it should be holy and purified from all defilement. In refusing, therefore, to execute the vengeance commanded of them, the people showed their willingness to associate with the uncircumcised inhabitants of Canaan. By manifesting such indifference about God’s command concerning the driving out of these nations, they gave just cause for His anger to burn hotly against them. Behold, He says, I have commanded all these nations to be cut off by the sword; and now, because you have not obeyed My voice,

they shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land where you dwell (Numbers 33:55).

Not destroying all these nations, but permitting some of them to remain, might appear to be an act of mercy. However, in doing so, the people were guilty of neglecting to execute God’s righteous vengeance upon them and of leaving the land liable to be polluted with their abominations.

From these things, it should be noted that there are two extremes people are prone to indulge in: either being unnecessarily overly rigorous or defeating the ends of justice by too great leniency. We must, therefore, adhere strictly to God’s command if we wish to shun both extremes.

For if the Israelites are condemned for sparing some of these nations entirely, what are we to think of those judges who, from a timid and apathetic attention to the responsible duties of their office, exercise too much leniency toward a few persons, thus weakening the restraints on the openings for vice, to the great harm of the public good?