Verse 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.

Referenced Verses

  • Judg 2:21-22 : 21 So I will no longer remove before them any of the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died, 22 in order to test Israel. I want to see whether or not the people will carefully walk in the path marked out by the LORD, as their ancestors were careful to do.”
  • 2 Chr 32:31 : 31 So when the envoys arrived from the Babylonian officials to visit him and inquire about the sign that occurred in the land, God left him alone to test him, in order to know his true motives.
  • Job 23:10 : 10 But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold.
  • Prov 17:3 : 3 The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts.
  • Jer 6:27 : 27 The LORD said to me,“I have made you like a metal assayer to test my people like ore. You are to observe them and evaluate how they behave.”
  • Jer 17:9-9 : 9 The human mind is more deceitful than anything else. It is incurably bad. Who can understand it? 10 I, the LORD, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.
  • Zech 13:9 : 9 Then I will bring the remaining third into the fire; I will refine them like silver is refined and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer; I will say,‘These are my people,’ and they will say,‘The LORD is my God.’”
  • John 2:24 : 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people.
  • 1 Pet 1:7 : 7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold– gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away– and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
  • 1 Pet 4:12 : 12 Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.
  • Rev 2:23 : 23 Furthermore, I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve.
  • Deut 7:22 : 22 He, the God who leads you, will expel the nations little by little. You will not be allowed to destroy them all at once lest the wild animals overrun you.
  • Deut 8:2 : 2 Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these forty years through the wilderness so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not.
  • Deut 8:16 : 16 fed you in the wilderness with manna(which your ancestors had never before known) so that he might by humbling you test you and eventually bring good to you.
  • Judg 2:10 : 10 That entire generation passed away; a new generation grew up that had not personally experienced the LORD’s presence or seen what he had done for Israel.