In this way I will test whether Israel will keep the way of the LORD by walking in it as their fathers did.”
Parallel translations
- WEB that by them I may test Israel, to see if they will keep the Yahweh’s way to walk therein, as their fathers kept it, or not.”
- KJV That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
- NKJV so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not.”
- NASB in order to test Israel by them, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk in it as their fathers did, or not.”
- NLT I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God leaves the nations to test whether Israel will keep his way as their fathers did. It matters as revealing a redemptive purpose in the trial.
Overview
The remaining nations serve as a test of Israel's obedience and faith. God's discipline carries a purpose, to prove and refine his people's commitment to his way. This shows that even judgment is aimed at restoration, as God uses trials to expose hearts and call his people back to faithfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Deut 8:2Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.
- Deut 8:16He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers had not known, in order to humble you and test you, so that in the end He might cause you to prosper.
- Deut 13:3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
- Prov 17:3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
- Gen 22:1Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered.
- Ps 66:10For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.
- 2 Chr 32:31And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.
- Mal 3:2–3But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
- Judg 3:1–4These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan,
- Job 23:10Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.
How Judges 2:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.