Judges 2:22

22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk in it, as their fathers kept [it], or not.

Judges 2:22 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 2:22

That through them I may prove Israel
Afflict them by them, and so prove or try them, their faith and patience, which are tried by afflictions; and such were the Canaanites to them, as afflictions and temptations are to the spiritual Israel of God; or rather, whether they would keep in the ways of God, or walk in those the Canaanites did, as follows:

whether they will keep the way of the Lord, as their fathers did keep
[it], or not;
whether they would worship the true God their fathers did, or the gods of the Canaanites; not that the Lord was ignorant of what they would do, and so made the experiment; but that the sincerity and faithfulness, or insincerity and unfaithfulness of their hearts, might appear to themselves and others.

Judges 2:22 In-Context

20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened to my voice;

21 I also will not henceforth drive out from before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died:

22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk in it, as their fathers kept [it], or not.

23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out speedily, neither did he deliver them into the hand of Joshua.