Judges 3:2
in Judges 3if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly:
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof:
KJV
Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
⋯
This verse in Judges 3
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThat - 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.
This site's exposition
These are the nations that the LORD left
on Judges 3:1-4
Verse 2 adds a third purpose to the sentence and test of chapter 2, "to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel". Exodus 23:29 gives another, that the land not become desolate, and all of these purposes stand together. Verse 4 names what the test measures, "whether they would keep the commandments of the LORD", so the generation of 2:10 is examined on its fathers' commands.
This site's exposition
to teach warfare to the subsequent generations
Adam Clarke holds that war training became needful only because Israel had been unfaithful. Arms took the place of the spiritual strength they had lost. He adds that God in judgment leaves one sinful nation to harass another.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
As useful as it is to me that you [the Lord] should leave me for a little while in order to test the steadfastness of my desire, so it is harmful if you let me be abandoned for too long because of my deserts and my sins. For no human strength will be able to endure by its own steadfastness if it is too long abandoned by your help in time of trial. Nor will it be able to give way instantly before the power and wherewithal of the adversary if you yourself, who are aware of human strengths and are the arbiter of our struggles, "do not permit us to be tried beyond our capacity, but with the trial also provide a way out, so that we may be able to endure."We read something like this as it appears in mystical fashion in the book of Judges with respect to the extermination of the spiritual nations that are opposed to Israel: "These are the nations that the Lord forsook, so that by them he might instruct Israel, so that they might grow accustomed to fighting with their enemies." And again, a little further on: "The Lord left them so that he might test Israel with them, whether or not they would hear the commandments of the Lord that he had laid down for their forefathers by the hand of Moses." God did not begrudge Israel their peace or look with malice upon them, but he planned this conflict in the knowledge that it would be beneficial. Thus, constantly oppressed by the onslaught of the nations, they would never feel that they did not need the Lord's help. Hence they would always meditate on him and cry out to him, and they would neither lapse into sluggish inactivity nor lose their ability to fight and their training in virtue. For frequently security and prosperity have brought low those whom adversities cannot overcome.
The Medieval Church1 voice
God's providence, Peter, in bestowing of his gifts, is wonderful: for often it falleth out, that upon whom he vouchsafeth the greater, he giveth not the less: to the end that always they may have somewhat to mis-like in themselves: so that desiring to arrive unto perfection and yet can not: and labouring about that which they have not obtained, and can not prevail: by this means they become not proud of those gifts which they have received, but do thereby learn that they have not those greater graces of themselves, who of themselves cannot overcome small faults.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Israel was a figure of the church militant, that must fight its way to a triumphant state. The soldiers of Christ must endure hardness, 2 Tim. ii. Corruption is therefore left remaining in the hearts even of good Christians, that they may learn war, may keep on the whole armour of God, and stand continually upon their guard.
: That they might know to teach them war, that is, they shall know what it is to be left to themselves. Their fathers fought by a divine power. God taught their hands to war and their fingers to fight; but now that they have forfeited his favour let them learn what it is to fight like other men.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation
Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know and teach them war,....
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
So that Yisroel would be tested through them. This was a different generation, ignorant of the miracles of the Canaanite wars, and not having witnessed the great deeds, they rebelled, and betrayed the Omnipresent.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| רַ֗ק | rak | only | H7535 → | 109 times |
| לְמַ֙עַן֙ | lemaan | so as | H4616 → | |
| דַּ֚עַת | daat | to know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| דֹּר֣וֹת | dorot | [the] generations of | H1755 → | 167 times |
| בְּנֵֽי־ | benei- | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| לְלַמְּדָ֖ם | lelamedam | to teach them | H3925 → | |
| מִלְחָמָ֑ה | milchamah | war | H4421 → | 320 times |
| רַ֥ק | rak | only | H7535 → | 109 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| לְפָנִ֖ים | lefanim | <to> before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יְדָעֽוּם׃ | yedaum | they had known them | H3045 → | 945 times |
רַ֗קonly
rakH7535 →109 times
לְמַ֙עַן֙so as
lemaanH4616 →
דַּ֚עַתto know
daatH3045 →945 times
דֹּר֣וֹת[the] generations of
dorotH1755 →167 times
בְּנֵֽי־[the] people of
benei-H1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
לְלַמְּדָ֖םto teach them
lelamedamH3925 →
מִלְחָמָ֑הwar
milchamahH4421 →320 times
רַ֥קonly
rakH7535 →109 times
אֲשֶׁר־which
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
לְפָנִ֖ים<to> before
lefanimH6440 →2123 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יְדָעֽוּם׃they had known them
yedaumH3045 →945 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 16:33I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
it leads to
- John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
- 1 John 5:4
because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
- 1 John 4:4
You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
- Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- John 14:27
Through
1 Timothy 6:12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- 1 Timothy 1:18
Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
- 1 Corinthians 9:25–26
Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.
- 1 Peter 5:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Judges
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Gregory the Dialogist, Dialogues, Book 3, Chapter 14; John Cassian, CONFERENCE 4.6.3-4; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.