Hakim-hakim 3:2

3:2 He left those nations simply because he wanted to teach the subsequent generations of Israelites, who had not experienced the earlier battles, how to conduct holy war. ¹ 

Hakim-hakim 9:55

9:55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home. ² 

Hakim-hakim 11:15

11:15 and said to him, “This is what Jephthah says, ‘Israel did not steal ³  the land of Moab and the land of the Ammonites.

Hakim-hakim 20:41

20:41 When the Israelites turned around, the Benjaminites panicked ⁴  because they could see that disaster was on their doorstep. ⁵ 

[3:2]  ¹ tn The Hebrew syntax of v. 2 is difficult. The Hebrew text reads literally, “only in order that the generations of the Israelites might know, to teach them war – only those who formerly did not know them.”

[3:2]  sn The stated purpose for leaving the nations (to teach the subsequent generations…how to conduct holy war) seems to contradict 2:22 and 3:4, which indicate the nations were left to test Israel’s loyalty to the Lord. However, the two stated purposes can be harmonized. The willingness of later generations to learn and engage in holy war would measure their allegiance to the Lord (see B. G. Webb, Judges [JSOTSup], 114-15).

[9:55]  ² tn Heb “each to his own place.”

[11:15]  ³ tn Or “take”; or “seize.”

[20:41]  ⁴ tn Or “were terrified.”

[20:41]  ⁵ tn Heb “disaster touched against them.”