^2:21So I will no longer remove before them any of the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. ^2:22Joshua left those nations⁵⁷ to test⁵⁸ Israel. I wanted to see⁵⁹ whether or not the people⁶⁰ would carefully walk in the path⁶¹ marked out by⁶² the Lord, as their ancestors⁶³ were careful to do.” ^2:23This is why⁶⁴ the Lord permitted these nations to remain and did not conquer them immediately;⁶⁵ he did not hand them over to Joshua.

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Footnotes

57 The words “Joshua left those nations” are interpretive. The Hebrew text of v. 22 simply begins with “to test.” Some subordinate this phrase to “I will no longer remove” (v. 21). In this case the Lord announces that he has now decided to leave these nations as a test for Israel. Another possibility is to subordinate “to test” to “He said” (v. 20; see B. Lindars, Judges 1–5, 111). In this case the statement recorded in vv. 20b–21 is the test in that it forces Israel to respond either positively (through repentance) or negatively to the Lord’s declaration. A third possibility (the one reflected in the present translation) is to subordinate “to test” to “left unconquered” (v. 21). In this case the Lord recalls that Joshua left these nations as a test. Israel has failed the test (v. 20), so the Lord announces that the punishment threatened earlier (Josh 23:12–13; see also Judg 2:3) will now be implemented. As B. G. Webb (Judges [], ) observes, “The nations which were originally left as a test are now left as a punishment.” This view best harmonizes v. 23, which explains that the Lord did not give all the nations to Joshua, with v. 22. (For a grammatical parallel, where the infinitive construct of נָסָה [nasah] is subordinated to the perfect of עָזַב [’azav], see 2 Chr 32:31.)
58 The Hebrew text includes the phrase “by them,” but this is somewhat redundant in English and has been omitted from the translation for stylistic reasons.
59 The words “I [i.e., the Lord] wanted to see” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
60 Heb “they”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
61 Or “way [of life].”
62 “The words “marked out by” are interpretive.
63 Or “fathers.”
64 The words “this is why” are interpretive.
65 Or “quickly.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not.” So the Lord left those nations, not driving them out quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.” The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. I did this to test Israel and to see whether or not they would keep the Lord’s way by walking in it, as their ancestors had.” The Lord left these nations and did not drive them out immediately. He did not hand them over to Joshua.

NLTNew Living Translation

I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did.” That is why the Lord left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I will not again drive out anyone from before them from the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel whether or not they would observe the way of Yahweh, to walk in it just as their ancestors did.” So Yahweh left those nations; he did not drive them out at once, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua.

KJV 1900King James Version

I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

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