5 The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites , the Hittites , the Amorites , the Perizzites , the Hivites , and the Jebusites ; 6 and they took their daughters for themselves as wives , and gave their own daughters to their sons , and served their gods .
7 The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord , and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 3:5-7
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.