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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 3:1 These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/3-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/07_Jdg_03_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 3:1 - Nations Left to Test Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan," /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/judges/2-23.htm" title="Judges 2:23">◄</a> Judges 3:1 <a href="/judges/3-2.htm" title="Judges 3:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/judges/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/judges/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />These are the nations that the LORD left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Now these are the nations that the LORD left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Now these <i>are</i> the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, <i>even</i> as many <i>of Israel</i> as had not known all the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now these <i>are</i> the nations which the LORD left, that He might test Israel by them, <i>that is,</i> all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now these are the nations that the LORD left, to test Israel by them (<i>that is,</i> all <i>the Israelites</i> who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them (<i>that is,</i> all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now these are the nations which Yahweh <i>allowed to</i> remain, to test Israel by them (<i>that is</i>, all who had not known any of the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now these are the nations which the LORD left [in order] to test Israel by them (<i>that is,</i> all [the people of Israel] who had not [previously] experienced any of the wars in Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are the nations the LORD left in order to test all those in Israel who had experienced none of the wars in Canaan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are the nations the LORD left in order to test Israel, since the Israelites had fought none of these in any of the wars with Canaan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now these are the nations which Jehovah left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />These are the nations the LORD left behind to test all the Israelites who had not experienced any war in Canaan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />So then, the LORD left some nations in the land to test the Israelites who had not been through the wars in Canaan. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Here's a list of nations that the LORD caused to remain in order to test Israel (that is, everyone who had not gained any battle experience in Canaan) <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />These were the nations the LORD permitted to remain so he could use them to test Israel--he wanted to test all those who had not experienced battle against the Canaanites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, (even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now these are the nations which Yahweh left, to test Israel by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of Canaan; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And these [are] the nations which YHWH left, to try Israel by them, all who have not known all the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And these are the nations which Jehovah left, to try Israel by them, all who have not known all the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />These the nations which Jehovah left to try Israel by them, (all which knew not the wars of Canaan;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />These are the nations which the Lord left, that by them he might instruct Israel, and all that had not known the wars of the Chanaanites: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />These are the nations which the Lord left, so that by them he might instruct Israel and all who had not known the wars of the Canaanites,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />These are the nations the LORD allowed to remain, so that through them he might test Israel, all those who had not experienced any of the Canaanite wars—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Now these are the nations that the LORD left to test all those in Israel who had no experience of any war in Canaan<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />NOW these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them, even the Israelites who had not experienced all the wars of Canaan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And these are nations that LORD JEHOVAH left behind to tempt Israel by them, all who had not known all the wars of the Canaanites<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of Canaan;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And these <i>are</i> the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel with them, all that had not known the wars of Chanaan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/3-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=602" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/3.htm">Nations Left to Test Israel</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/428.htm" title="428: wə·’êl·leh (Conj-w:: Pro-cp) -- These. Prolonged from 'el; these or those.">These</a> <a href="/hebrew/1471.htm" title="1471: hag·gō·w·yim (Art:: N-mp) -- Rarely goy; apparently from the same root as gevah; a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.">are the nations</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/5117.htm" title="5117: hin·nî·aḥ (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- To rest, i.e. settle down">left</a> <a href="/hebrew/5254.htm" title="5254: lə·nas·sō·wṯ (Prep-l:: V-Piel-Inf) -- To test, try. A primitive root; to test; by implication, to attempt.">to test</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">all</a> <a href="/hebrew/bām (Prep:: 3mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">the Israelites</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’êṯ (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">who</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">had not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: yā·ḏə·‘ū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">known</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’êṯ (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">any</a> <a href="/hebrew/4421.htm" title="4421: mil·ḥă·mō·wṯ (N-fpc) -- A battle, war. From lacham; a battle; generally, war.">of the wars</a> <a href="/hebrew/3667.htm" title="3667: kə·nā·‘an (N-proper-ms) -- From kana'; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him.">in Canaan,</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly:…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-22.htm">Deuteronomy 7:22</a></span><br />The LORD your God will drive out these nations before you little by little. You will not be enabled to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals would multiply around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/23-29.htm">Exodus 23:29-30</a></span><br />I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you. / Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12-13</a></span><br />For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, / know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/2-21.htm">Judges 2:21-23</a></span><br />I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. / In this way I will test whether Israel will keep the way of the LORD by walking in it as their fathers did.” / That is why the LORD had left those nations in place and had not driven them out immediately by delivering them into the hand of Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/8-2.htm">Deuteronomy 8:2</a></span><br />Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/13-1.htm">Joshua 13:1-6</a></span><br />Now Joshua was old and well along in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and well along in years, but very much of the land remains to be possessed. / This is the land that remains: All the territory of the Philistines and the Geshurites, / from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites; ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/13-17.htm">Exodus 13:17</a></span><br />When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-25.htm">2 Kings 17:25-26</a></span><br />Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them. / So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-17.htm">Deuteronomy 20:17-18</a></span><br />For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, / so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-9.htm">1 Samuel 12:9</a></span><br />But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-27.htm">Nehemiah 9:27</a></span><br />So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-34.htm">Psalm 106:34-36</a></span><br />They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, / but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. / They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/5-3.htm">Romans 5:3-4</a></span><br />Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; / perseverance, character; and character, hope.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/1-2.htm">James 1:2-4</a></span><br />Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, / because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. / Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/1-6.htm">1 Peter 1:6-7</a></span><br />In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials / so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/2-21.htm">Judges 2:21,22</a></b></br> I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/7-22.htm">Deuteronomy 7:22</a></b></br> And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.</p><p class="hdg">prove</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/8-2.htm">Deuteronomy 8:2,16</a></b></br> And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, <i>and</i> to prove thee, to know what <i>was</i> in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/32-31.htm">2 Chronicles 32:31</a></b></br> Howbeit in <i>the business of</i> the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was <i>done</i> in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all <i>that was</i> in his heart.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/23-10.htm">Job 23:10</a></b></br> But he knoweth the way that I take: <i>when</i> he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.</p><p class="hdg">as had not</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/2-10.htm">Judges 2:10</a></b></br> And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/24-3.htm">Canaan</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/11-2.htm">Experience</a> <a href="/joshua/24-31.htm">Experienced</a> <a href="/judges/2-22.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/2-11.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/judges/2-22.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/judges/2-23.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/judges/2-22.htm">Prove</a> <a href="/joshua/9-2.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/judges/2-22.htm">Test</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/13-3.htm">Testing</a> <a href="/judges/2-22.htm">Try</a> <a href="/judges/1-9.htm">War</a> <a href="/joshua/23-1.htm">Wars</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/4-2.htm">Canaan</a> <a href="/job/21-29.htm">Experience</a> <a href="/judges/3-2.htm">Experienced</a> <a href="/judges/3-2.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/3-2.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/judges/5-6.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/judges/3-3.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/judges/3-4.htm">Prove</a> <a href="/judges/3-2.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/judges/3-4.htm">Test</a> <a href="/judges/3-4.htm">Testing</a> <a href="/judges/7-4.htm">Try</a> <a href="/judges/3-2.htm">War</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-20.htm">Wars</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/3-1.htm">The nations which were left to prove Israel</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/3-5.htm">By communion with them they commit idolatry</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/3-8.htm">Othniel delivered them from Chushan-Rishathaim</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/3-12.htm">Ehud from Eglon</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/3-31.htm">and Shamgar from the Philistines</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>These are the nations that the LORD left</b><br>The phrase indicates a deliberate action by God, suggesting divine sovereignty and purpose. The nations left in Canaan were the Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, and Hivites, among others. This action aligns with God's earlier warnings in <a href="/exodus/23-29.htm">Exodus 23:29-33</a> and <a href="/deuteronomy/7-22.htm">Deuteronomy 7:22-24</a>, where He stated that He would not drive out all the nations at once. Theologically, this reflects God's intention to use these nations as instruments for Israel's discipline and spiritual growth. It also serves as a reminder of the consequences of Israel's disobedience in failing to fully conquer the land as commanded.<p><b>to test all the Israelites</b><br>The concept of testing is a recurring theme in Scripture, often used to refine and strengthen faith (<a href="/james/1-2.htm">James 1:2-4</a>). Here, the testing serves to reveal the Israelites' faithfulness and obedience to God's covenant. It is a divine strategy to ensure that the Israelites remain dependent on God and adhere to His laws. This testing is not merely punitive but is intended for their spiritual development, similar to the testing of Abraham in <a href="/genesis/22.htm">Genesis 22</a>.<p><b>who had not known any of the wars in Canaan</b><br>This phrase highlights a generational shift. The new generation of Israelites had not experienced the miraculous victories and divine interventions that their forefathers witnessed during the conquest of Canaan under Joshua. This lack of firsthand experience with God's deliverance in battle could lead to spiritual complacency or ignorance of God's power. The historical context underscores the importance of passing down faith and knowledge of God's works to subsequent generations, as emphasized in <a href="/deuteronomy/6-6.htm">Deuteronomy 6:6-9</a>. The absence of war experience also serves as a backdrop for the need for new leaders and judges, like Othniel, Ehud, and Deborah, who would rise to deliver Israel from oppression.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>The sovereign God of Israel, who orchestrates events for His purposes, including testing His people.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The descendants of Jacob, God's chosen people, who are being tested in their faithfulness and obedience.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The Promised Land, which the Israelites were commanded to conquer and inhabit, but where they faced ongoing challenges from remaining nations.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/n/nations_left_by_the_lord.htm">Nations Left by the LORD</a></b><br>These are the groups that God allowed to remain in Canaan to test Israel's faith and obedience.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/testing.htm">Testing</a></b><br>A divine purpose to reveal the Israelites' faithfulness and to teach them warfare, as they had not experienced the previous battles.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/p/purpose_of_testing.htm">Purpose of Testing</a></b><br>God uses tests to reveal the true nature of our faith and to strengthen our reliance on Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/learning_from_history.htm">Learning from History</a></b><br>The Israelites' experiences remind us to learn from past mistakes and to trust in God's guidance and provision.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites were to learn warfare, Christians are called to be prepared for spiritual battles through prayer and the Word of God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_and_faithfulness.htm">Obedience and Faithfulness</a></b><br>The presence of challenges in our lives can be opportunities to demonstrate our obedience and faithfulness to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Recognize that God is in control, even when He allows difficulties, and trust that His purposes are for our ultimate good.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_is_ehud_in_history_or_the_bible.htm">Who is Ehud in historical or biblical context?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_an_asherah_pole_represent.htm">What does an Asherah pole represent?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/main_themes_of_bible's_books.htm">What are the main themes of the Bible's books?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_canaanites_appear_after_joshua_10.htm">How can the subsequent presence of these Canaanite peoples in later passages be explained if they were thoroughly defeated as stated in Joshua 10?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(1) <span class= "bld">To prove Israel.</span>--The verb here used is the same as in <a href="/judges/2-22.htm" title="That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.">Judges 2:22</a> and <a href="/judges/3-4.htm" title="And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would listen to the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.">Judges 3:4</a>, but, as R. Tanchum observes, it is used in a slightly different sense, meaning "to train them." Symmachus renders it <span class= "ital">ask?sai.</span><p><span class= "bld">As many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan.</span>--This expression clearly implies the generation after that of Joshua. "The wars of Canaan" are equivalent to "the wars of the Lord," and refer to the struggles of the actual conquest.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Now these are the nations</span>, etc. We are now told in detail what was stated in general in <a href="/judges/2-22.htm">Judges 2:22, 23</a>, after the common method of Hebrew narrative. <span class="cmt_word">To prove Israel</span>. This word <span class="accented">to prove</span> is used here in a somewhat different sense from that which it bears in ver. 4 and in <a href="/judges/2-22.htm">Judges 2:22</a>. In those passages it is used of their moral probation, of proving or testing their faith and obedience; but here it is rather in the sense of "to exercise" or "to accustom them," to train them to war. A considerable period of <span class="accented">rest</span> had followed Joshua's conquest, during which the younger Israelites had no experience of war; but if they were to keep their hold of Canaan, it was needful that the warlike spirit should be kept up in their breasts. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/3-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">These</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאֵ֤לֶּה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’êl·leh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_428.htm">Strong's 428: </a> </span><span class="str2">These, those</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are the nations</span><br /><span class="heb">הַגּוֹיִם֙</span> <span class="translit">(hag·gō·w·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1471.htm">Strong's 1471: </a> </span><span class="str2">A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">left</span><br /><span class="heb">הִנִּ֣יחַ</span> <span class="translit">(hin·nî·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3240.htm">Strong's 3240: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place, </span><br /><br /><span class="word">to test</span><br /><span class="heb">לְנַסּ֥וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(lə·nas·sō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5254.htm">Strong's 5254: </a> </span><span class="str2">To test, to attempt</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the Israelites</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹֽא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">known</span><br /><span class="heb">יָדְע֔וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḏə·‘ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3045.htm">Strong's 3045: </a> </span><span class="str2">To know</span><br /><br /><span class="word">any</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the wars</span><br /><span class="heb">מִלְחֲמ֥וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(mil·ḥă·mō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4421.htm">Strong's 4421: </a> </span><span class="str2">A battle, war</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in Canaan,</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּנָֽעַן׃</span> <span class="translit">(kə·nā·‘an)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3667.htm">Strong's 3667: </a> </span><span class="str2">Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordan</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/3-1.htm">Judges 3:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/3-1.htm">Judges 3:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/3-1.htm">Judges 3:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/3-1.htm">Judges 3:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/3-1.htm">Judges 3:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/3-1.htm">Judges 3:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/3-1.htm">Judges 3:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/3-1.htm">Judges 3:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/3-1.htm">Judges 3:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/3-1.htm">Judges 3:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/3-1.htm">OT History: Judges 3:1 Now these are the nations which Yahweh (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/2-23.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 2:23"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 2:23" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/3-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 3:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 3:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>