Yes — God commanded Israel to show no mercy because the Canaanites' iniquity was full.
God waited over 400 years for the Canaanites to turn from their wickedness, but they only sank deeper. By Joshua's time, their abominations were complete, so God's judgment was just. Les Feldick emphasizes that sparing any Canaanite would corrupt Israel like a rotten apple.
Genesis 15:16 — God explicitly states that the Amorites' iniquity is not yet full, explaining why Israel had to wait.
Deuteronomy 20:17-18 — Directly commands utter destruction and gives the reason: to prevent learning abominations.
In Genesis 15:16, God tells Abraham that his descendants will return to Canaan in the fourth generation, "for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." This means the Canaanites' sin was accumulating and had not reached the point where judgment was due. When Israel entered the land, God commanded: "Thou shalt utterly destroy them" (Deuteronomy 20:17). The next verse explains why: "That they teach you not to do after all their abominations" (Deuteronomy 20:18). Similarly, Deuteronomy 7:2 says, "Thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them." The Bible presents the destruction as both a judgment on their wickedness and a protective measure for Israel.
Les Feldick explains that God gave the Canaanites roughly 400–490 years to repent, but they went "deeper and deeper into their wickedness, into their immorality, into their abominations." By the time of Joshua, God was "perfectly fair" in commanding total destruction — sparing none, not even infants, because any remnant would be "like a rotten apple in the barrel." He also stresses that God's character is "holy, righteous, just, and fair," and that the delay in judgment proves the Canaanites had ample opportunity. Tragically, Israel failed to carry out the command, and as God warned, they soon fell into Canaanite idolatry.
God waited because the Canaanites' iniquity was not yet full. In Genesis 15:16, God tells Abraham that the delay is because the Amorites' sin hasn't reached its full measure. Les Feldick says God gave them 400–490 years to "straighten up their act," but they didn't turn — they descended further.
No. Les Feldick says we shouldn't "get shook up at God as being cruel and unkind." God is holy, righteous, just, and fair. He waited centuries for the Canaanites to repent, and only when their wickedness was full did He command their destruction.
Les teaches that if any Canaanite was spared, they would be "like a rotten apple in the barrel" and corrupt the whole nation. Even an infant would grow up to lead Israel into abominations, so God's command was total.
Israel didn't carry out the destruction. Les says they became soft-hearted, made the Canaanites servants, and brought them into their society. Within a couple generations, Israel turned to Baal and other Canaanite gods, exactly as God warned.
The Iniquity of the Amorites
Les explains Genesis 15:16 — God couldn't let Israel occupy Canaan until the Amorites' (Canaanites') iniquity was full, hence the 400-year wait.
The Canaanites' Deeper Sinking
Les says God waited for the Canaanites to turn from their iniquity, but they went deeper into wickedness until God commanded Israel to spare none.
A Rotten Apple in the Barrel
Les explains that even sparing one Canaanite, infant or elder, would corrupt Israel like a rotten apple ruins the whole barrel.
The Reason for the 400-Year Wait
Les ties the 'iniquity of the Amorites' to the command to utterly destroy Canaanite peoples.
Utter Destruction Command
Les reads Deuteronomy 20:17-18, showing the command to utterly destroy and its reason: to prevent learning abominations.
God's Fairness
Les says not to view God as cruel — he will explain why these instructions were given.
God Gave 400 Years to Repent
Les says God gave the Canaanite people 400 years to straighten up their act, but they didn't.
Israel's Failure
Les notes that Israel failed to carry out the destruction and consequently did go down to the Canaanites' level.
Genesis 15:16: But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
This explains why Israel had to wait 400+ years before possessing the land.
Deuteronomy 7:2: And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
This is the direct command to show no mercy.
Deuteronomy 20:17: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:
Lists the specific nations to be utterly destroyed.
Deuteronomy 20:18: That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.
Gives the protective reason for the command: to prevent Israel from learning abominations.
The Canaanites had descended into deep wickedness and abominations over hundreds of years. God had given them time to repent, but they didn't, so their iniquity became full (Genesis 15:16). Les Feldick says they went 'deeper and deeper' into immorality until God's judgment was perfectly fair.
Les Feldick explains that God is holy, righteous, just, and fair. He waited 400+ years for the Canaanites to turn, but they didn't. If even an infant was spared, they would grow up and corrupt Israel — like a rotten apple in the barrel. The command was judgment and protection combined.
Les says Israel didn't carry out the command fully. They made the Canaanites servants and let them remain. Within a couple generations, Israel adopted their gods, especially Baal, exactly as God warned. They went down to the Canaanites' level.
Watch the Teaching: Israel’s Title Deed: Understanding God's Covenant in Genesis 15