Exodus 23:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Why did God, upon promising the Israelites the territory extending to the Euphrates River, not fulfill this commitment? The prophet Jeremiah clarifies this matter. He states, “I will make a river for the tongue and the kingdom, that I may rebuild and plant it. And it shall come to pass, if that people, when they turn back, do evil, I will not bring upon them all the good things which I have spoken” (Jeremiah 18:9-10), and so forth. Thus, God initially brought them into the promised land; however, due to their failure to adhere to His divine law, He did not grant them the entire territory. Instead, He permitted others to continually attack them, so that in their distress they might call upon Him for aid. This theme is prominently illustrated throughout the history of the Judges.

The Philistine Sea is a section of the Mediterranean Sea that borders the territory of Judah. The wilderness that extends to the Euphrates River represents the area beyond the Jordan, allocated to the tribes of Reuben and Gad upon their arrival in the Promised Land (Numbers 32:33-42). During Solomon's reign, Israel held control over the Red Sea through the Gulf of Aqabah, including the notable port of Ezion-Geber, while he also ruled over the hills of Edom, reaching down to the gulf. This geographical detail has been cited in arguments both supporting and challenging the notion that Moses authored the Pentateuch.