That is why the LORD had left those nations in place and had not driven them out immediately by delivering them into the hand of Joshua. That is why the LORD had left those nations in placeThis phrase refers to the divine decision to allow certain Canaanite nations to remain in the land of Israel. The context is the period after Joshua's leadership, where the Israelites failed to fully obey God's command to drive out all the inhabitants of the Promised Land. This decision served as a test for Israel, to see if they would remain faithful to God amidst pagan influences. The presence of these nations was also a means to teach warfare to the new generations of Israelites who had not experienced the battles of the conquest ( Judges 3:1-2). and had not driven them out immediately
The immediate removal of these nations was not executed, highlighting a divine purpose in the delay. This delay was not due to God's inability but rather served as a consequence of Israel's disobedience and a test of their faithfulness. It also provided an opportunity for Israel to demonstrate their reliance on God rather than their own strength. The gradual process of driving out the nations is reminiscent of God's promise in Exodus 23:29-30, where He stated that He would not drive them out in a single year to prevent the land from becoming desolate. by delivering them into the hand of Joshua
Joshua, as the leader of Israel, was initially tasked with the conquest of Canaan. His leadership was marked by significant victories, yet the complete conquest was not achieved during his lifetime. This phrase underscores the transition from Joshua's leadership to the period of the Judges, where the responsibility of driving out the remaining nations fell to the tribes of Israel. The mention of Joshua serves as a reminder of the initial divine mandate and the partial fulfillment of God's promises through him. Joshua is often seen as a type of Christ, leading God's people into the Promised Land, just as Jesus leads believers into spiritual rest and victory. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is sovereign over all nations and peoples. 2. NationsRefers to the Canaanite nations that were left in the land of Israel. These nations were a test for Israel's faithfulness to God. 3. JoshuaThe leader of Israel who succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land. His leadership was marked by military conquests and the initial distribution of the land among the tribes of Israel. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and Human ResponsibilityGod allowed the nations to remain as a test for Israel, demonstrating His sovereignty. However, Israel's failure to fully obey God's command shows the importance of human responsibility in following God's will. The Consequences of Partial ObedienceIsrael's incomplete obedience led to ongoing struggles with idolatry and sin. This serves as a warning to believers about the dangers of not fully committing to God's commands. Testing and Spiritual GrowthThe presence of the Canaanite nations was a test for Israel's faithfulness. Similarly, God may allow challenges in our lives to test and strengthen our faith. The Importance of LeadershipJoshua's leadership was crucial in the initial conquest of the land. The absence of strong, godly leadership in Judges led to Israel's spiritual decline, emphasizing the need for godly leaders in the church and community. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Judges 2:23 illustrate the balance between God's sovereignty and human responsibility? Can you think of other biblical examples where this balance is evident? 2. What are some modern-day "nations" or influences that can lead believers away from full obedience to God? How can we guard against them? 3. In what ways does God use challenges or "tests" in your life to strengthen your faith? How can you respond to these tests in a way that honors God? 4. Reflect on a time when partial obedience led to negative consequences in your life. What did you learn from that experience, and how can it inform your future decisions? 5. How can you support and encourage godly leadership within your church or community? What qualities should you look for in a leader, based on biblical examples like Joshua? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 7This chapter outlines God's command to Israel to completely destroy the Canaanite nations to avoid idolatry and sin. Judges 2:23 shows the consequences of Israel's failure to fully obey this command. Joshua 23Joshua warns the Israelites about the dangers of associating with the remaining nations and the potential for idolatry, which aligns with the situation described in Judges 2:23. Judges 3The next chapter explains how the remaining nations were used by God to test Israel, highlighting the ongoing cycle of sin and redemption. People Israelites, Joshua, NunPlaces Bochim, Egypt, Gaash, Gilgal, Timnath-heresTopics Allowed, Deliver, Delivered, Dispossess, Drive, Driving, Giving, Hands, Hastily, Joshua, Leaveth, Nations, Power, Quickly, SpeedilyDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 2:6-23 8705 apostasy, in OT Judges 2:10-23 8728 enemies, of Israel and Judah Judges 2:20-23 1305 God, activity of Library A Summary of Israel's Faithlessness and God's Patience
'And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. 2. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? 3. Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureIsrael's Obstinacy and God's Patience
'And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim; 12. And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger. 13. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Whether the Female Sex is an Impediment to Receiving Orders?
Objection 1: It would seem that the female sex is no impediment to receiving Orders. For the office of prophet is greater than the office of priest, since a prophet stands midway between God and priests, just as the priest does between God and people. Now the office of prophet was sometimes granted to women, as may be gathered from 4 Kings 22:14. Therefore the office of priest also may be competent to them. Objection 2: Further, just as Order pertains to a kind of pre-eminence, so does a position …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica The Judges.
Judges 1; 1 Sam. 7. The Characteristics of the Times. This is a period of transition for Israel Nothing was quite certain, and "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (17:6). In consequence of this there was lack of organization, cooperation or leadership. While we do not have all the history covered by the period and while we do not easily understand or explain its events, it is clear that things did not run smoothly. In Judges 2:16-19 the author gives a vivid picture of the conditions …
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period The Unmistakable Honesty of the Writers of the Bible Attests to Its Heavenly Origin
The title of this chapter suggests a wide field of study the limits of which we can now only skirt here and there. To begin with the writers of the Old Testament. Had the historical parts of the Old Testament been a forgery, or the production of uninspired men, their contents would have been very different to what they are. Each of its Books was written by a descendant of Abraham, yet nowhere do we find the bravery of the Israelites extolled and never once are their victories regarded as the outcome …
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible The Death of Abraham
'Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.'--GENESIS xxv. 8. 'Full of years' does not seem to me to be a mere synonym for longevity. That would be an intolerable tautology, for we should then have the same thing said three times over--'an old man,' 'in a good old age,' 'full of years.' There must be some other idea than that in the words. If you notice that the expression is by no means a usual one, that it is only …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
1. The Greek word canon (originally a straight rod or pole, measuring-rod, then rule) denotes that collection of books which the churches receive as given by inspiration of God, and therefore as constituting for them a divine rule of faith and practice. To the books included in it the term canonical is applied. The Canon of the Old Testament, considered in reference to its constituent parts, was formed gradually; formed under divine superintendence by a process of growth extending through …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible The Doctrine of Angels.
I. THEIR EXISTENCE. 1. THE TEACHING OF JESUS. 2. THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES. II. THEIR NATURE. 1. CREATED BEINGS. 2. SPIRITUAL BEINGS. 3. GREAT POWER AND MIGHT. 4. VARIOUS GRADES. 5. THE NUMBER OF ANGELS. III. THE FALL OF ANGELS. 1. TIME AND CAUSE. 2. THE WORK OF FALLEN ANGELS. 3. THE JUDGMENT OF FALLEN ANGELS. IV. THE WORK OF ANGELS. 1. THEIR HEAVENLY MINISTRY. 2. THEIR EARTHLY MINISTRY. a) In Relation to the Believer. b) In Relation to Christ's Second Coming. THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS. We are not …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible A Case of Conscience Resolved
WHETHER, WHERE A CHURCH OF CHRIST IS SITUATE, IT IS THE DUTY OF THE WOMEN OF THAT CONGREGATION, ORDINARILY, AND BY APPOINTMENT, TO SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR BRETHREN, AND SO TO ASSEMBLE TOGETHER, TO PERFORM SOME PARTS OF DIVINE WORSHIP, AS PRAYER, ETC., WITHOUT THEIR MEN? AND THE ARGUMENTS MADE USE OF FOR THAT PRACTICE, EXAMINED. BY JOHN BUNYAN. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. This exceedingly rare tract was first published in 1683, and was not reprinted, either separately, or in any edition of Bunyan's …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 2:23 NIVJudges 2:23 NLTJudges 2:23 ESVJudges 2:23 NASBJudges 2:23 KJV
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