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The Iniquity of the Amorites in Genesis 15:16 Explained

The Iniquity of the Amorites in Genesis 15:16

Genesis 15:16 states, "and the fourth generation doth turn back hither, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete" [1]. This verse is part of God's covenant with Abraham, where He promises to give Abraham's descendants the land of Canaan. The verse raises questions about the nature of the Amorites' iniquity and why it is a condition for the Israelites' return to Canaan.

The Amorites were one of the seven nations inhabiting Canaan before the Israelite conquest [2]. They were known for their idolatry and wickedness, practices that were considered abominable by the Israelites [3]. The term "Amorite" often refers to the inhabitants of the mountainous regions of Canaan, contrasting with the Canaanites who lived in the lowlands [4, 5].

The phrase "the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete" suggests that the Amorites' sin had not yet reached a point where God's judgment was warranted. The Hebrew word "avon" (iniquity) can refer to both the sin itself and its punishment [6]. Abraham Ibn Ezra interprets "iniquity" in this context as punishment, suggesting that God had not yet finished punishing the Amorites [6]. This interpretation is supported by the understanding that God's judgment is not arbitrary but is based on the fullness of a people's sin.

The Amorites were known for their powerful kingdoms and their idolatry. They were considered one of the most powerful of the Canaanite peoples [6]. The biblical account highlights their wickedness as a reason for their eventual displacement by the Israelites. The conquest of Canaan was not merely a territorial expansion but a judgment on the existing inhabitants for their sins [7].

The timing of the Israelites' return to Canaan is tied to the completion of the Amorites' iniquity. According to Genesis 15:16, it would be in the fourth generation that they would return. This timing is linked to the 400-year period mentioned in the preceding verse, suggesting a correlation between the generations and the fulfillment of God's promise [8].

The concept of the "fourth generation" has been interpreted in various ways. Some see it as referring to the time when Eleazar, the son of Aaron, came out of Egypt and divided the land of Canaan to Israel [8]. Others understand it as a literal count of generations from Abraham or from the time of the promise.

The iniquity of the Amorites serves as a theological justification for the Israelite conquest of Canaan. It underscores God's justice in dispossessing the existing inhabitants and giving the land to the Israelites. The New Testament echoes this theme, suggesting that the accumulation of iniquity over generations ultimately leads to judgment, as seen in the case of Israel itself [9].

The Amorites' practices, including idolatry, were considered detestable by the Israelites. Manasseh's adoption of Amorite practices is cited as an example of Judah's deep-seated idolatry, highlighting the ongoing struggle against the religious practices of the pre-Israelite inhabitants [10].

The biblical narrative presents the conquest of Canaan as a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, conditioned on the iniquity of the Amorites reaching its full measure. This narrative underscores the themes of God's justice, the consequences of sin, and the fulfillment of divine promises.

The Amorites' story serves as a backdrop to understanding God's dealings with nations and the principle that sin, when it reaches a certain threshold, provokes divine judgment. This principle is not limited to the ancient context but is part of a broader theological narrative that speaks to the nature of God's justice and mercy [11].

Sources

  1. Genesis “Genesis 15:16 (YLT) — and the fourth generation doth turn back hither, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.'”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Amorites, The — Descent of -- Ge 10:15,16; 1Ch 1:13,14. One of the seven nations of Canaan -- Ge 15:21; Ex 3:8,17. Governed by many independent kings -- Jos 5:1; 9:10. Kings of, great and powerful -- Ps 136:18,20. Originally inhabited a mountain district in the south -- Nu 13:29; De 1:7,20; Jdj 1:36. Acquired an extensive territory from Moab east of Jordan -- Nu 21:26,30. Had many and strong cities -- Nu 32:17,33. Of gigantic strength and stature -- Am 2:9. Character of Profane and wicked. -- Ge 15:16. Idolatrous. -- Jos 24:15. Defeated by Chedorlaomer, &c -- Ge 14:7”
  3. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 8, section 30: these Midianite women, who came to entice the Israelites to lewdness and idolatry, viz. that their worship of the God of Israel, in opposition to their idol gods, implied their living according to the holy laws which the true God had given them by Moses, in opposition to those impure laws which were observed under their false gods, well deserves our consideration; and gives us a substantial reason for the great concern that was ever shown under the law of Moses to preserve the Israelites from idolatry, and in the worship of the ”
  4. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Amorite, The Amorites — (dwellers on the summits, mountaineers), one of the chief nations who possessed the land of Canaan before its conquest by the Israelites. As dwelling on the elevated portions of the country, they are contrasted with the Canaanites, who were the dwellers in the lowlands; and the two thus formed the main broad divisions of the Holy Land, (Numbers 13:29) and see (14:7; 1:7,20) "Mountain of the Amorites;" (1:44; Joshua 5:1; 10:6; 11:3) They first occupied the barren heights west of the Dead Sea, at the place called afterwards Engedi. From this poin”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Amorites — Highlanders, or hillmen, the name given to the descendants of one of the sons of Canaan (Gen. 14:7), called Amurra or Amurri in the Assyrian and Egyptian inscriptions. On the early Babylonian monuments all Syria, including Palestine, is known as "the land of the Amorites." The southern slopes of the mountains of Judea are called the "mount of the Amorites" (Deut. 1:7, 19, 20). They seem to have originally occupied the land stretching from the heights west of the Dead Sea (Gen. 14:7) to Hebron (13. Comp. 13:8; Deut. 3:8; 4:46-48), embracing "all Gilead and ”
  6. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 15:16: FOR THE INIQUITY OF THE AMORITE IS NOT YET FULL. I have explained the meaning of iniquity in my comments on My punishment is greater than I can bear (Gen. 4:13). 39 Iniquity at times means punishment. That is its meaning in this verse; i.e., I have not yet finished punishing them (Cherez). The Amorites are singled out because they were the most powerful of the Canaanite peoples. 40 Actually this verse refers to all the inhabitants of Canaan. Behold, the great kings whom Moses slew were Amorites. 41 Deut. 2:24-36; 4:47. The Bible singles out these kings as bei”
  7. Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 15:16: 15:16 The reasons for Israel’s bondage included God’s justice. God would tolerate the sins of the Amorites until they fully deserved judgment. • do not yet warrant their destruction (literally are not yet full): To give the Promised Land to Israel, the Lord would dispossess the land’s inhabitants in a way that satisfied his justice. The fulfillment of promises to Israel also brought retributive judgment on people of the land (though individuals were saved by faith; see Josh 2:1-15; 6:23-25; Heb 11:31; Jas 2:25). Until then, God would send the family to Egypt whe”
  8. Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 15:16: In the fourth generation - In former times most people counted by generations, to each of which was assigned a term of years amounting to 20, 25, 30, 33, 100, 108, or 110; for the generation was of various lengths among various people, at different times. It is probable that the fourth generation here means the same as the four hundred years in the preceding verse. Some think it refers to the time when Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the son of Amram, the son of Kohath, came out of Egypt, and divided the land of Canaan to Israel, Jos 14:1. Others think the fourth gener”
  9. Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 11:50: all . . . required of this generation--As it was only in the last generation of them that "the iniquity of the Amorites was full" (Gen 15:16), and then the abominations of ages were at once completely and awfully avenged, so the iniquity of Israel was allowed to accumulate from age to age till in that generation it came to the full, and the whole collected vengeance of Heaven broke at once over its devoted head. In the first French Revolution the same awful principle was exemplified, and Christendom has not done with it yet. prophets--in the New Testa”
  10. 2 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Kings 21:11: 21:11 The Amorites were the pre-Israelite inhabitants of the land, known for their wickedness. • Manasseh practiced the idolatry of the Amorites as Ahab had done (1 Kgs 21:26).”
  11. Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 23:31: 23:31 from the eastern wilderness to the Euphrates River: See Gen 15:18; Num 34:2-12; Deut 11:24; 2 Chr 9:26. • I will hand over to you the people: God had promised the land to Abraham (Gen 15:16). At that time, “the sins of the Amorites” had not yet run their course. Now they had. God was not arbitrarily dispossessing the Amorites (i.e., the Canaanites) but was using his people, the Israelites, to judge their wickedness.”
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