31 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;
31 These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan
31 Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan.
31 These are the nations that God left there, using them to test the Israelites who had no experience in the Canaanite wars.
31 Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan
31 These are the nations that the Lord left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 3:1
Commentary on Judges 3:1-7
(Read Judges 3:1-7)
As the Israelites were a type of the church on earth, they were not to be idle and slothful. The Lord was pleased to try them by the remains of the devoted nations they spared. Temptations and trials detect the wickedness of the hearts of sinners; and strengthen he graces of believers in their daily conflict with Satan, sin, and this evil world. They must live in this world, but they are not of it, and are forbidden to conform to it. This marks the difference between the followers of Christ and mere professors. The friendship of the world is more fatal than its enmity; the latter can only kill the body, but the former murders many precious souls.