The Seven Nations of Canaan in 10 Minutes

Join us on this episode of Everything Jewish, 10 Minutes at a Time, as we tackle one of the most morally challenging topics in the Torah: the command to conquer and destroy the seven nations of Canaan. When the Israelites finally entered the Promised Land, they were instructed to drive out — and in some cases utterly destroy — the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. In just ten minutes, we explore who these seven nations were, why the Torah gives such a harsh command, the historical and spiritual context behind it, and how Jewish thinkers throughout the ages have grappled with the ethical questions this raises. This episode examines the difficult balance between divine justice, protecting monotheism, and the moral dilemmas that still echo today.