The land, signifying Christ (see note Deut. 8:7¹), is the supply for the existence and living of God’s people and is also for their enjoyment. The good land vomiting out the defiled and unholy people (vv. 25, 28; 20:22) signifies that the all-inclusive Christ as our dwelling place and everything we need for our enjoyment will vomit us out of Himself and not allow us to enjoy Him any longer (cf. Rev. 3:16) if we are not proper in relation to Him.

Or, punished it for its iniquity.

Lit., flesh of his flesh.

Cf. Gal. 3:21 and note Gal. 3:21¹.

See note Luke 1:6⁴.

The Israelites’ not living in the manner of the Egyptians, among whom they once lived, signifies that the believers should put off, as regards their former old way of living, the old man (Eph. 4:22). The Israelites’ not living in the manner of the Canaanites, to whose land they were to be brought, signifies that, after being saved, the believers should not be conformed to the living and conduct of the worldly people (Rom. 12:2). The Israelites’ living a holy life according to God’s holiness (v. 4—20:27) signifies that the believers should put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Eph. 4:24).

Chapters 18—20 of this book, on the holy living of God’s holy people, correspond to Eph. 4:17-32; 5:1-14, which charges the holy people of God to put off the old man and put on the new man, living a life that is holy, as God is holy.