Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:2
Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
2. might know ] The verb, instead of governing a direct object, is followed by a fresh clause to teach them war; the LXX relieves the awkwardness by omitting might know, ‘only for the sake of the generations to teach them war.’ The incompleteness of the conquest was not a punishment for Israel’s unfaithfulness to the covenant (Jdg 2:20-21), nor a test of Israel’s steadfastness (Jdg 2:23, Jdg 3:4-6), but a discipline 1 [24] designed to train Israel to hold its own and ascribe its victories to Jehovah’s help.
[24] Cf. Livy 39:1. Is hostis (the Ligures) velut natus ad continendam inter magnorum intervalla bellorum Romanis militarem disciplinam erat.
at the least such ] only such; the repetition is clumsy; the rest of the verse looks like an explanatory gloss.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. That – Israel might know, to teach them war] This was another reason why the Canaanites were left in the land, that the Israelites might not forget military discipline, but habituate themselves to the use of arms, that they might always be able to defend themselves against their foes. Had they been faithful to God, they would have had no need of learning the art of war; but now arms became a sort of necessary substitute for that spiritual strength which had departed from them. Thus Gods in his judgments leaves one iniquitous nation to harass and torment another. Were all to turn to God, men need learn war no more.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Might know, to teach them war; that by the neighbourhood of such warlike potent enemies, they might be purged from sloth and security, and obliged to inure themselves to martial exercises, and to stand continually upon their guard, and consequently to keep close to that God whose assistance they had so great and constant need of.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know and teach them war,…. That is, the following nations were left in the land, that the young generations of Israel might by their wars and conflicts with them learn the art of war, and be inured to martial discipline; which, if none had been left to engage with, they had been ignorant of: besides, their fathers in Joshua’s time, as Jarchi and Kimchi observe, had no need to learn the art of war, for God fought for them; they did not get possession of the land by their own arm, and by their sword, but by the power of God in a miraculous way; but now this was not to be expected, and the Canaanites were left among them to expel, that they might be trained up in the knowledge of warlike affairs, and so be also capable of teaching their children the military art; which they should make use of in obeying the command of God, by driving out the remains of the Canaanites, and not give themselves up to sloth and indolence; though some think that the meaning is, that God left these nations among them, that they might know what war was, and the sad effects of it; and the difference of fighting with their enemies alone, as other men, and the Lord fighting along with them, and for them, as he did for their fathers:
at least such as before knew nothing thereof; being either unborn, or at an age incapable of bearing arms, or learning the art of war.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war.The LXX. here render, Only because of the generations of the children of Israel to teach them war. The Vulgate is here a mere paraphrase, and the translations vary. The meaning seems to be, Only that He (Jehovah) might know the generations of the children of Israel, to teach them war. The expression resembles 2Ch. 32:31. The teaching them war doubtless implies the lesson that they could only learn successfully by the help of God.
As before knew nothing thereof.That is, knew nothing of those nations, or of those wars.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Only that This verse defines more fully the purpose of God in leaving the heathen nations to prove Israel. The mind of the writer reverts to the word left, in the previous verse, and the grammatical connexion is, left, only that the generations might know. That is, they were left for the further discipline of Israel, that Israel might experience and realize what could be learned in no other way.
To teach them war This clause also depends on left in the previous verse. The nations were left to teach Israel the art of war by obliging them to fight for their possessions, and thus acquire a knowledge of military tactics and skill which would be greatly needed in the times approaching. Thus, too, this younger generation might learn what it had cost to get possession of Canaan, and thereby appreciate the heroism of the fathers.
At the least such as Rather, only because, giving the reason for teaching them war. Render: Only because they did not before know them. That is, previously they did not properly understand and appreciate the wars of Canaan. The sacrifices and mighty deeds of the fathers could only be learned by passing through similar conflicts with the same old foes.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jdg 3:2. Only that the generations of the children of Israel The sacred writer having declared in the former verse the reason why certain of the Canaanites were left, namely, to prove the Israelites; and also who of the Israelites were thus to be proved, namely, that generation which was born after the taking of Palestine; proceeds in the present verse to give another reason why the Canaanites were spared. The verse would be better rendered thus, after Houbigant: and by this means it came to pass that that generation of the children of Israel might learn war, because they had before known nothing thereof. Had no enemies remained, the children of Israel would have given themselves up wholly to the arts of peace, and would have totally forgotten the art of war: but thus they were taught to neglect nothing necessary for their defence; happy had they not neglected what was of the greatest consequence, their allegiance to the Lord of Hosts.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jdg 3:2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
Ver. 2. Might know, to teach them war. ] At their own costs and to their damage, say some, that they might experiment what an evil and bitter thing war is; called therefore “evil” by an antonomasia Isa 45:7 Others sense it thus; Those nations were left, that Israel might not rust through long rest, but have occasion to train up their children in martial discipline. Marcet sine adversario virtus. Slay them not, lest my people forget. Scipio persuaded his Romans not to ruin Carthage, lest their youth should lack exercise and grow wanton with too much ease.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
children = sons.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
might know: Gen 2:17, Gen 3:5, Gen 3:7, 2Ch 12:8, Mat 10:34-39, Joh 16:33, 1Co 9:26, 1Co 9:27, Eph 6:11-18, 1Ti 6:12, 2Ti 2:3, 2Ti 4:7
to teach: Their fathers fought by a divine power. God taught their hands to war and their fingers to fight, that they might be the instruments of destruction to the wicked nations on whom the curse rested; but now that they had forfeited His favour, they must learn what it is to fight like other men.
Reciprocal: 1Ch 5:22 – the war was of God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 3:2. Only that the generations, &c. Le Clerc and some other versions, instead of only put and, this seeming to be a new and additional reason alleged why God left some of the Canaanitish nations in the land, namely, that the Israelites might be inured to war and hardship, and thereby be preserved from sinking into sloth and luxury; and that by the neighbourhood of such warlike enemies, and a knowledge of the danger they were in from them, they might never be carnally secure, but stand continually on their guard, and keep close to that God of whose protection and aid they had such great and constant need.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3:2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew {b} nothing thereof;
(b) For they trusted in God and he fought for them.