Judges 3:1-6

Judges 3:1

Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;

 

The Lord now gives a list of the heathen groups that He allowed to remain in the land. It was not for the purpose of punishing Israel but for the sole purpose of proving them.  The word “prove” in the Hebrew carries with it the meaning of “test or try.”  These groups remained in Canaan for the purpose of seeing how faithful they would remain to God in light of all the pagan temptations associated with these groups or how quickly they would fall into the temptation traps of these groups.  This testing program was even for those who were too young to know the groups which Joshua had left behind and that also included those who were not even born yet during the time of Joshua and could have no knowledge of who they were.  Here is where the elders of the people should have instructed the young ones concerning the snares which these groups were to present to Israel.

 

Judges 3:2

Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;

 

Since many had not been born yet or were too young at the time of Joshua, they would not have known the art of war.   Here they are to be taught the art of war so they could defend themselves against the pagan nations with their false religions and idolatry.  They needed to know the art of war because it is impossible for the people of God to remain at peace in the midst of a land where the people practice idolatry and false religion.  Eventually conflict would arise and the people of God need to know how to defend themselves and then take the offensive in defeating these nations.  This principle is also true for the Christian of today.  They need to know the art of spiritual warfare since we too are surrounded by a world with false religions and much idolatry which could cause a Christian to be pulled away from the truth.  2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)   (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  In the time of the Judges, the weapons were made of metal but for the Christian, our weapon is a spiritual one.  It is our time of prayer and remaining strong in the Lord Jesus Christ and holding on to our testimony.

 

Judges 3:3

Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath.

 

Joshua 13:3 (KJV)   From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:  Joshua 13:3 gives us the locations and the names of the five people groups these lords were in charge of.  Each group or city had its own lord in charge.  The name Canaanites was a general name for about seven nations which lived by the coast of Jordan which was on the Dead Sea and there were also Canaanites on the west of the land which dwelt on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.  Numbers 13:29 (KJV)   The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.  The Sidonians were descendants of Noah who dwelled in the city of Sidon which was northwest of the area allotted to the tribe of Dan.  Genesis 10:15 (KJV)   And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,  The Hivites dwelt in Mt. Lebanon which was due north of the area allotted to the tribe of Dan.  The entering in of Hamath was located north of Dan between Mt. Hermon and Mt. Lebanon.

 

Judges 3:4

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.

 

These nations were left behind for the purpose of a testing program for Israel to see if they would be faithful to the commandments of the Lord which was given to them by the hand of Moses.  By this time the law was written down for them so they would have access to those warnings given to them through Moses.  They could have read the Law to see these warnings and saved themselves many a heartache.  It is like the Christian of today.  If they studied the Scriptures, it would warn them and prevent them from getting involved in situations which could cause them to sin.  Christians need to hearken unto the Scriptures as those who just had the law where they were given enough light concerning the pagan nations.

 

Judges 3:5

And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:

 

The Caananites were descendants of Canaan by his eleven sons and was the general name for the following people groups.  Genesis 10:15 (KJV)   And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,  The Hittites were the descendants of Heth.  The Amorites were also descendants of one of the children of Canaan.  The Perizzites were descendants of Ham.  The Hivites and Jebusites were also descended from Ham through Canaan.

 

Judges 3:6

And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

 

Here was the great snare which was done among ancient people.  Sometimes marriages were performed between people of different nations for political purposes to form alliances or to make peace.  Here the children of Israel had given their daughters to the sons of these pagan nations and the pagan women were married into Israel and as a result Israel worshipped the false gods and began their spiritual decline.  This is also a warning to Christians who want to marry an unbeliever.  The problem is that the Christian will not win them but the reality is that the Christian will begin to decline in their spiritual life until it gets to the point that they are living totally opposite of the Lord.  This would also be considered a mixed marriage.  The spiritually dead marrying the spiritually living only leads to heartache and is against Scripture.  2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (KJV) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  {15} And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

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