Hakim-hakim 2:23--3:1

2:23 This is why ¹  the Lord permitted these nations to remain and did not conquer them immediately; ²  he did not hand them over to Joshua.

3:1 These were the nations the Lord permitted to remain so he could use them to test Israel – he wanted to test all those who had not experienced battle against the Canaanites. ³ 

[2:23]  ¹ tn The words “this is why” are interpretive.

[2:23]  ² tn Or “quickly.”

[3:1]  ³ tn Heb “did not know the wars of Canaan.”