1
These are the nations the LORD left behind to test all the Israelites who had not experienced any war in Canaan.
2
The LORD left them to teach Israel's descendants about war, at least those who had known nothing about it in the past.
3
He left the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal Hermon to the border of Hamath.
4
These nations were left to test the Israelites, to find out if they would obey the commands the LORD had given their ancestors through Moses.
5
So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
6
The Israelites allowed their sons and daughters to marry these people. Israel also served their gods.
7
The people of Israel did what the LORD considered evil. They forgot the LORD their God and served other gods and goddesses--the Baals and the Asherahs.
8
The LORD became angry with the people of Israel. He used King Cushan Rishathaim of Aram Naharaim to defeat them. So Israel served Cushan Rishathaim for eight years.