Judges 2:3

3 Wherefore I would not do them away from your face (And so I shall not take them away from you), (so) that ye have them (as) enemies, and that their gods be to you into falling.

Judges 2:3 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 2:3

Wherefore I also said
Supposing, or on condition of their being guilty of the above things, which was foreseen they would:

I will not drive them out from before you;
the seven nations of the Canaanites entirely, and which accounts for the various instances related in the preceding chapter; where it is observed, that they could not, or did not, drive the old inhabitants out of such and such places, because they sinned against the Lord, and he forsook them, and would not assist them in their enterprises, or them to their sloth and indolence:

but they shall be [as thorns] in your sides:
very troublesome and afflicting, see ( Numbers 33:55 ) ; or for straits, as the Septuagint, or be such as would bring them into tribulation, and distress them, as the Targum; so they often did:

and their gods shall be a snare unto you;
which they suffered to continue, and did not destroy them, as they ought to have done; they would be, as they proved, ensnaring to them, and whereby they were drawn to forsake the worship of the true God, and bow down to them, as we read in some following verses.

Judges 2:3 In-Context

1 And the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to the place of Weepers (And the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim), and said, I led you out of Egypt, and I brought you into the land, for which I swore to your fathers, and promised, that I should not make void my covenant with you into without end;

2 so only that ye should not smite (a) bond of peace with the dwellers of this land, and that ye destroy their altars; and you would not hear my voice. Why did ye (do) these things? (so only that ye should not make a covenant with the people of this land, and that ye destroy their altars; but you would not listen to me. Why did ye do this?)

3 Wherefore I would not do them away from your face (And so I shall not take them away from you), (so) that ye have them (as) enemies, and that their gods be to you into falling.

4 And when the angel of the Lord spake these words to all the sons of Israel, they raised [up] their voice, and wept; (And when the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the Israelites, they raised up their voice, and wept;)

5 and the name of the place was called, the place of Weepers, either of tears; and they offered there sacrifices to the Lord. (and so the name of that place was called Bochim, or Tears; and they made sacrifices, or offerings, there to the Lord.)