Judges 2:21-23
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God is declaring He will no longer actively remove the remaining nations because Israel's own disobedience has broken the covenant terms. This isn't God abandoning His people, but rather a consequence of their choices, leaving them to face the challenges they themselves allowed to persist.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Joshua and the generation who knew him passed away, Israel began to turn away from God and worship local deities. Because they broke their covenant promises, God declared He would no longer drive out the Canaanite nations for them, leaving these enemies in the land as a test and a consequence. This sets the stage for the cycles of oppression and deliverance seen throughout the book of Judges.
Why would God, who fought so powerfully for Israel, suddenly stop intervening? The answer lies in a broken promise.
This verse marks a turning point in Israel's relationship with God. For generations, God had actively driven out their enemies, clearing the land for them. This divine intervention was directly tied to Israel's obedience and faithfulness to their covenant agreement.
Joshua and his generation knew God's power firsthand. But what happens when that direct experience fades?
This verse speaks to a crucial moment after Joshua's death. A new generation is rising, and with them, a shift in spiritual reality.
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Understand the original words
yarash · Hebrew Verb
The act of forcing an enemy or group to leave their territory; in a biblical context, it often refers to God removing the idolatrous inhabitants of Canaan to maintain the holiness of the land for His people.
goy · Hebrew Noun
Foreign groups living within or bordering the land promised to Israel; in the Pentateuch and historical books, they often represent idolatry, spiritual opposition, and the surrounding pagan cultures that posed a snare to Israel's covenant faithfulness.
nasah · Hebrew Verb
A process or event designed by God to evaluate the quality of one's faith, obedience, or character. Biblically, God uses such circumstances not to gain new knowledge about a person, but to reveal the state of their heart and to refine their commitment to Him.
derek · Hebrew Noun
The moral, ethical, and spiritual lifestyle commanded by God; it implies a path of covenant obedience, righteousness, and reliance upon Him rather than on pagan influence or human autonomy.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God (Yahweh), the God of Israel who revealed Himself to Moses and established His relationship with His people through specific promises and moral requirements.
ab · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the collective ancestors of Israel, particularly the patriarchs and the generation of the exodus, who were the recipients of God's covenant promises and were expected to maintain fidelity to His law.
yad · Hebrew Noun
A biblical metaphor representing power, authority, agency, or victory in battle. To be given into someone's hand signifies God's sovereign deliverance and the granting of control or victory over an enemy.
This verse marks a critical turning point where God's direct intervention lessens because Israel failed to complete the task He gave them. The continued presence of Canaanite nations served as a constant temptation, leading to the recurring cycle of disobedience and judgment throughout the era of the Judges.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan under Joshua
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites successfully invaded and began conquering the land of Canaan, driving out many of its inhabitants.
c. 1390 BC— this verse
Death of Joshua
Joshua, the long-time leader of Israel, dies after facilitating the initial conquest and allotting land to the tribes. This marks the end of a unifying, divinely appointed leadership.
c. 1390-1350 BC
First Generation of Judges
The generation that knew Joshua's leadership remained faithful to God. However, they did not fully complete the eradication of the Canaanites, leaving some nations in the land.
c. 1350 BC onwards
Rise of Idolatry and Disobedience
Subsequent generations, who did not experience the Exodus or the leadership of Joshua, began to intermarry with and worship the gods of the remaining Canaanite nations.
During the Period of the Judges
Cycle of Oppression and Deliverance
Israel's disobedience led to oppression by surrounding nations. God, in His mercy, would raise up judges to deliver them, but the cycle of sin and consequence would repeat.
This passage directly warns Joshua and Israel that if they do not drive out the remaining nations, they will become thorns in their sides and gods to them, a direct precursor to the situation in Judges 2:21.
Exodus 23:31-33God promised Israel a border and that He would drive out the inhabitants if they were obedient, establishing the conditionality of their inheritance and peace.
Deuteronomy 7:1-4This passage explicitly instructs Israel not to intermarry with the surrounding nations and to drive them out, highlighting the spiritual danger of coexistence that becomes evident in Judges.
Judges 3:5-7This verse immediately follows the introductory section and explains the direct consequence of Israel's disobedience: they intermarried with the nations, served their gods, and were thus not driven out by God, reinforcing the theme of Judges 2:21.
gillJudges 2:21: "I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:"
I also henceforth will not drive out and from before them,.... At least not as yet, not very soon nor hastily, as in Judges 2:23 , of the nations which Joshua left when he died; that is, unsubdued; which was owing either to the infirmities of old age coming upon him, which made him incapable of engaging further in war with the Canaanites; or to the sloth and indolence of the p…
clarkeJudges 2:21: "I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:"
I will not henceforth drive out - As a people, they never had personal courage, discipline, or hardihood, sufficient to stand before their enemies: the advantages they gained were by the peculiar interference of God. This they had while obedient; when they ceased to obey, his strong arm was no longer stretched out in their behalf; therefore their enemies continued to possess t…
God is declaring He will no longer actively remove the remaining nations because Israel's own disobedience has broken the covenant terms. This isn't God abandoning His people, but rather a consequence of their choices, leaving them to face the challenges they themselves allowed to persist.
After Joshua and the generation who knew him passed away, Israel began to turn away from God and worship local deities. Because they broke their covenant promises, God declared He would no longer drive out the Canaanite nations for them, leaving these enemies in the land as a test and a consequence. This sets the stage for the cycles of oppression and deliverance seen throughout the book of Judges.
After Joshua and the generation who knew him passed away, Israel began to turn away from God and worship local deities. Because they broke their covenant promises, God declared He would no longer drive out the Canaanite nations for them, leaving these enemies in the land as a test and a consequence. This sets the stage for the cycles of oppression and deliverance seen throughout the book of Judges.
"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 nati…" — God is declaring He will no longer actively remove the remaining nations because Israel's own disobedience has broken the covenant terms. This isn't God abandoning His people, but rather a consequenc…
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Last reviewed October 2026
