Judges 3:2

Judges 3:2 in other versions

• King James Version (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;
• New International Version (NIV)(he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience):
• English Standard Version (ESV)It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before.
• New King James Version (NKJV)(this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it),

Context of Judges 3:2

1These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan, if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly: 3the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath. 4These nations were left to test the Israelites, to find out whether they would keep the commandments of the LORD, which He had given their fathers through Moses.

Judges 3:2 word by word

רַ֗ק לְמַ֙עַן֙ דַּ֚עַת דֹּר֣וֹת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְלַמְּדָ֖ם מִלְחָמָ֑ה רַ֥ק אֲשֶׁר־לְפָנִ֖ים לֹ֥א יְדָעֽוּם׃Read the interlinear

• if onlyרַקraq · exceptH7535
• ·מַ֫עַןma‛an · becauseH4616
• ·יָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• to teachלָמַדlâmad · to learn: teachH3925
• warfareמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• to the subsequent generationsדּוֹרdôr dôr · generationH1755
• of Israelבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• to those whoאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• had notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• formerlyפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440

Cross-references for Judges 3:2

• Genesis 2:17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”
• Genesis 3:5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
• 2 Chronicles 12:8Nevertheless, they will become his servants, so that they may learn the difference between serving Me and serving the kings of other lands.”
• Matthew 10:34Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
• 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!”
• 1 Corinthians 9:26Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.
• Ephesians 6:11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
• 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.
• 2 Timothy 2:3Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Commentaries on Judges 3:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2That - 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-4The Philistines and Canaanites stayed in the land to teach important lessons. People needed warfare skills to survive in ancient times. God let these enemies stay to train and help Israel.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-41. these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel--This was the special design of these nations being left, and it evinces the direct influence of the theocracy under which the Israelites were placed. These nations were left for a double purpose: in the first instance, to be instrumental, by their inroads, in promoting the moral and spiritual discipline of the Israelites; and also to subserve the design of making them acquainted with war, in…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 3:2

• Amorites
• Canaanites
• Israel

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Close
• Dirt
• Errand
• Lebanon
• Rest
• Secret

Commentaries on Judges 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary