Judges 2 23

Judges 2:23 kjv

Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

Judges 2:23 nkjv

Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out immediately; nor did He deliver them into the hand of Joshua.

Judges 2:23 niv

The LORD had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.

Judges 2:23 esv

So the LORD left those nations, not driving them out quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua.

Judges 2:23 nlt

That is why the LORD left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.

Judges 2 verses

Judges 2 23 Meaning

Judges 2:23 explains that the Lord stopped His previous action of driving out the indigenous nations before the Israelites. Instead, because of Israel's persistent disobedience, He intentionally left these nations dwelling in the land, a decision that served as a divine means to test Israel's faithfulness and obedience to His covenant.

Judges 2 23 Context

Judges 2:23 concludes a pivotal narrative (Judges 2:6-23) describing Israel's rapid apostasy following the death of Joshua. While the generation that witnessed God's mighty acts during the Exodus and conquest remained faithful, a succeeding generation emerged that "did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel" (Jdg 2:10). This ignorance led directly to their turning away from God to serve the Canaanite gods, specifically Baal and Ashtoreth. Provoked by their rebellion and covenant unfaithfulness, the Lord decided to cease His active role in dispossessing the remaining nations. This verse explains God's deliberate policy shift as a judicial consequence of Israel's disobedience, serving as a divine means to test their fidelity. Historically, this period between the unified conquest under Joshua and the establishment of the monarchy was marked by Israel's struggle to fully inhabit the land and maintain exclusive allegiance to God amidst the surrounding pagan cultures, setting the stage for the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance depicted throughout the book of Judges.

Judges 2 23 Word analysis

• So the LORD: (Hebrew: וְלֹא הוֹסִיף יְהוָה - və-lo hōsīp Yahweh). Yahweh (YHWH) refers to God's personal covenant name, underscoring that this action originates from the specific relationship between God and Israel. Hōsīp means "to add," "to continue," or "to do again." Thus, "He did not continue," marking a definitive end to a previous course of divine action.

• would no longer drive them out: (Hebrew: לְהוֹרִישָׁם - ləhōrîshām). Derived from yārash, meaning "to take possession" or "to dispossess." In the causative hiphil stem, it signifies God actively causing the nations to be removed, emphasizing His powerful hand in the conquest under Joshua. The phrase indicates the cessation of this active divine assistance.

• from before the people of Israel: (Hebrew: מִפְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - mippəne Yiśrā’ēl). Literally "from the face of Israel" or "before Israel." This imagery denotes God clearing the way and fighting ahead of Israel, ensuring their victorious entry and settlement in the Promised Land.

• but He left them, (Hebrew: אָז בָּעָזְבֵם - ’āz baʿozbēm). The root עזב (azav) means "to abandon," "to forsake," or "to leave behind." The construct suggests "in His leaving them." This is not a passive omission but a deliberate, active decision by God to cease expelling and instead permit these nations to remain, with specific purpose and consequences.

• allowing them to remain: (Interpretive rendering of azav based on context). While not a direct word-for-word translation, it captures the essence that God's act of "leaving them" resulted in their continued presence within the land. This continued presence then became the vehicle for the "testing" mentioned in Judges 2:22 and 3:1-4.

• Words-group analysis: "He would no longer drive them out" vs. "He left them"This stark contrast highlights a critical shift in God's interaction with Israel. Previously, God's active dispossessing demonstrated His faithfulness and power on behalf of Israel, enabling them to fulfill His command. Now, He deliberately ceases this intervention and permits the presence of what was once an obstacle. This transition reflects God's judgment manifested not only by active punishment but also by the removal of His protective hand and the calculated allowing of consequences for Israel's unfaithfulness to unfold. God's cessation of a blessing becomes an active act of judgment, a strategic part of His sovereign purpose to test and discipline His people.

Judges 2 23 Bonus section

The Hebrew word azav ("left") used in this verse is potent. When God is the subject and His people or their circumstances are the object, it often implies a purposeful withdrawal or cessation of direct support, frequently as a disciplinary measure or as part of a larger plan. This deliberate "leaving" explains the subsequent cyclical pattern in Judges where Israel repeatedly falls into idolatry, is oppressed by these very nations, cries out to God, and is then delivered by a judge. Thus, Jdg 2:23 provides the theological framework for the entire turbulent period that follows, explaining why Israel continued to face such struggles and remained intertwined with the very cultures God had commanded them to utterly remove. The incomplete conquest was therefore not a failure on God's part but a judgment upon Israel's rebellion.

Judges 2 23 Commentary

Judges 2:23 functions as a theological pivot in the book of Judges. It explains why the Canaanite nations persisted in the land despite God's previous promises to fully dispossess them. God's action was a direct, judicial consequence of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness, particularly their idolatry. Instead of fully delivering the land into Israel's hands, God withheld His power to expel the remaining inhabitants. These left-over nations then became instruments in God's hand: sources of affliction to punish Israel's sin, and constant tests of Israel's fidelity to their covenant. This verse establishes that God's judgment can come not merely through active destruction, but also through the withdrawal of divine protection and the allowing of natural and spiritual consequences to run their course, all for His purposes of refining, discipline, and teaching.

• Practical Examples:
  • Continual disregard for God's clear commands can lead God to withdraw His blessing or protection, allowing challenging circumstances to persist as a result.
  • God sometimes permits difficult situations or negative influences in our lives, not to destroy us, but to expose the depth of our faith and refine our walk with Him.
  • The unaddressed areas of sin or compromise in our lives can become the very "thorns" that God uses to test our commitment and lead us to repentance.