Judges 2:21

21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left^[a] when he died.^[b]

Judges 2:21 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 2:21

I also henceforth will not drive out and from before them,
&c.] At least not as yet, not very soon nor hastily, as in ( Judges 2:23 ) ;

of the nations which Joshua left when he died;
that is, unsubdued; which was owing either to the infirmities of old age coming upon him, which made him incapable of engaging further in war with the Canaanites; or to the sloth and indolence of the people, being weary of war, and not caring to prosecute it; or to want of men to cultivate any more land, and people other cities, than what they were possessed of; and chiefly this was owing to the providence of God, who had an end to answer hereby, as follows.

Judges 2:21 In-Context

19 Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly than their fathers, going after other gods to worship and bow down to them. They did not turn from their [evil] practices or their obstinate ways.

20 The Lord's anger burned against Israel, and He declared, "Because this nation has violated My covenant that I made with their fathers and disobeyed Me,

21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died.

22 [I did this] to test Israel and to see whether they would keep the Lord's way by walking in it, as their fathers had."

23 The Lord left these nations and did not drive them out immediately. He did not hand them over to Joshua.

Footnotes

• [a]. Jos 13:1-7; 23:1-16
• [b]. Jos 24:29-30