Judges 3:1

“Now these [are] the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them, etc.] Which are later mentioned, (<070303>Judges 3:3,5); [even] as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan; those that Joshua, and the people of Israel under him, had with the Canaanites, when they first entered the land and subdued it; being then not born, or so young as not to have knowledge of them, at least not able to bear arms at that time.”

“NATIONS LEFT TO PROVE ISRAEL. (Jdg 3:1-4) these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel--This was the special design of these nations being left, and it evinces the direct influence of the theocracy under which the Israelites were placed. These nations were left for a double purpose: in the first instance, to be instrumental, by their inroads, in promoting the moral and spiritual discipline of the Israelites; and also to subserve the design of making them acquainted with war, in order that the young, more especially, who were total strangers to it, might learn the use of weapons and the art of wielding them.”

“Even as many of Israel ... - These words show that the writer has especially in view the generation which came to man’s estate immediately after the close of the wars with the Canaanites Joshua 23:1. Compare Judges 2:10. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Had not known - That is, such as had no experience of those wars, nor of God's extraordinary power and providence manifested in them. Judges 3:2”

“am 2561, bc 1443, An, Ex, Is, 48 the nations: Jdg 2:21, Jdg 2:22; Deu 7:22 prove: Deu 8:2, Deu 8:16; Ch2 32:31; Job 23:10; Pro 17:3; Jer 6:27, Jer 17:9, Jer 17:10; Zac 13:9; Joh 2:24; Pe1 1:7, Pe1 4:12; Rev 2:23 as had not: Jdg 2:10 Judges 3:2”

“Nations which the Lord left in Canaan: with a repetition of the reason why this was done. Jdg 3:1-2 The reason, which has already been stated in Jdg 2:22, viz., "to prove Israel by them," is still further elucidated here. In the first place ( Jdg 3:1), את־ישׂראל is more precisely defined as signifying "all those who had not known all the wars of Canaan," sc., from their own observation and experience, that is to say, the generation of the Israelites which rose up after the death of Joshua. For "the wars of Canaan" were the wars which were carried on by Joshua with the almighty help of the Lord for the conquest of Canaan. The whole thought is then still further expanded in Jdg 3:2 as follows:…”