Judges 3:4 They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the LORD's commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.

◄ Judges 3:4 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the LORD's commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.

English Standard Version
They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

New American Standard Bible
They were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses.

King James Bible
And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD left them to test Israel, to determine if they would keep the LORD's commands He had given their fathers through Moses.

International Standard Version
They remained there to test Israel, to reveal if they would obey the commands of the LORD that he issued to their ancestors through Moses.

American Standard Version
And they were left , to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he left them, that he might try Israel by them, whether they would hear the commandments of the Lord, which he had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses, or not.

Darby Bible Translation
They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.

Young's Literal Translation
and they are to prove Israel by them, to know whether they obey the commands of Jehovah that He commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

3:1-7 As the Israelites were a type of the church on earth, they were not to be idle and slothful. The Lord was pleased to try them by the remains of the devoted nations they spared. Temptations and trials detect the wickedness of the hearts of sinners; and strengthen he graces of believers in their daily conflict with Satan, sin, and this evil world. They must live in this world, but they are not of it, and are forbidden to conform to it. This marks the difference between the followers of Christ and mere professors. The friendship of the world is more fatal than its enmity; the latter can only kill the body, but the former murders many precious souls.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

CHAPTER 3

Jud 3:1-4. Nations Left to Prove Israel.

1. these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel—This was the special design of these nations being left, and it evinces the direct influence of the theocracy under which the Israelites were placed. These nations were left for a double purpose: in the first instance, to be instrumental, by their inroads, in promoting the moral and spiritual discipline of the Israelites; and also to subserve the design of making them acquainted with war, in order that the young, more especially, who were total strangers to it, might learn the use of weapons and the art of wielding them.