Judges 2:22

22 I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the LORD as their ancestors did.”

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 So the LORD burned with anger against Israel. He said, “Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands,

21 I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died.

22 I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the LORD as their ancestors did.”

23 That is why the LORD left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.