They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
-From the fathers in the wilderness the Psalmist turns to the sons in Canaan. In the former half of the decade their sins are mentioned; in the second half the judgments of God upon them for their sins.
Verse 34. They did not destroy the nations - from want of faith, holy zeal, and whole-hearted energy; not from want of inclination because of compassion (Judges 1:21; Judges 1:27-36).
Concerning whom the Lord commanded them - (Exodus 23:32-33; Exodus 34:11-15; Judges 2:1-5).
Verse 35. But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works - notwithstanding Joshua's warning (Joshua 23:12-13). Intermarriages with the pagan, as God forewarned them (Deuteronomy 7:3-4), and as afterward happened in Solomon's case, occasioned their being seduced to idolatry (Judges 3:5-7).
Verse 36. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them - (Exodus 23:33; Judges 8:27.) The image is from birds caught in "a snare" to their destruction. Idolatry was Israel's snare or cause of destruction. So the term is used, Exodus 10:7.
Verse 37. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils. Deuteronomy 32:17 is the only other place where the Hebrew term for "devils" occurs, or rather 'demons' (as there is but one devil; and the bad spirits under him are demons, plural). 'They sacrificed unto sheediym (H7700), (which were) no gods, gods which they knew not.' The sheediym answers by contrast to 'Elohiym (H430), the true God. Gesenius considers it as equivalent to Baalim, 'lords,' from the Arabic shud, 'to rule.' Compare Judges 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 8:5, "god's many and lords many." However, the sense, "devils," or rather 'demons' (Septuagint) is sustained by Leviticus 17:7; 2 Chronicles 11:15; 1 Corinthians 10:20; Revelation 9:20. The root then is [shaadad], or shuwd (H7736), to destroy, appropriate to the idol Moloch, whose cruel worship consisted in human sacrifices. Destroying demons, fatal to the worshippers (cf. Psalms 106:38).
Verse 38. And shed innocent blood - in defiance of Deuteronomy 19:10.
Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters - the very abomination which showed the desperate corruption of the Canaanite, and which caused God to cast them out before Israel (Deuteronomy 12:31; Deuteronomy 18:10).
And the land was polluted with blood - forbidden in Numbers 35:33. Every precaution was taken in God's law to impress the conscience with a horror of bloodshed: so utterly alien is Yahweh's worship to that of Moloch.
Verse 39. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a-whoring with their own inventions. Spiritual fornication alienates the heart from God, and joins it to any idol (Leviticus 17:7; Numbers 15:39).
Verse 40. Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance - i:e., Israel; as the parallel, "His people," shows, Deuteronomy 9:29 (cf. Psalms 78:59; Psalms 78:62).
Verse 41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen (J dg 2:14) Verse 41. And he gave them into the hand of the heathen - (Judges 2:14.)
And they that hated them ruled over them - according to God's prophetic threat, Leviticus 26:17.
Verse 42. And they were brought into subjection under their hand. On the phrase, cf. Judges 3:30. Their existing captivity in Babylon was the sad consummation.
Verse 43. Many times did he deliver them - during the period of the Judges and Kings (Judges 2:16; Nehemiah 9:26-37).
But they provoked him with their counsel - with their corrupt and perverse plans.
And were brought low for their iniquity - the crowning of their punishment, their being led away into captivity. So Leviticus 26:39 had foretold, "They that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' land" (cf. Ezekiel 33:10), which was written in the Babylonian land of their captivity.