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;
• 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),
• New Living Translation (NLT)He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle.

Context of Judges 3:2

1These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): 3the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. 4They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.

Judges 3:2 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Only thatרַקraq · exceptH7535
• the generationsדּוֹרdôr dôr · generationH1755
• of the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• might knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• to teachלָמַדlâmad · to learn: teachH3925
• them warמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• at the least such as beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · 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 when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
• Genesis 3:5“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
• 2 Chronicles 12:8They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.”
• Matthew 10:34“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
• John 16:33“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
• 1 Corinthians 9:26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
• Ephesians 6:11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take 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 your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
• 2 Timothy 2:3Join with 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
• Children of Israel
• Close
• Dirt
• Errand
• Lebanon
• Rest
• Secret
• Abdon (1)
• Judges, Book of

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