NET Bible
"So I will no longer remove before them any of the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died,"
— Judges 2:21, NET Bible
“I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:”
“I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died; ”
“I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died;”
“I also will not destroy the nations which Josue left when he died:”
“From now on I will not go on driving out from before them any of the nations which at the death of Joshua were still living in this land;”
“I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:”
When the LORD raised up leaders for them, the LORD was with each leader and delivered the people from their enemies while the leader remained alive. The LORD felt sorry for them when they cried out in agony because of what their harsh oppressors did to them.
When a leader died, the next generation would again act more wickedly than the previous one. They would follow after other gods, worshiping them and bowing down to them. They did not give up their practices or their stubborn ways.
A Divine Decision The LORD was furious with Israel. He said,“This nation has violated the terms of the covenant I made with their ancestors by disobeying me.
So I will no longer remove before them any of the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died,
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.”
This is why the LORD permitted these nations to remain and did not conquer them immediately; he did not hand them over to Joshua.