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

1Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of Canaan; only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof; 3namely, the five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Zidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath. 4And they were for to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

Judges 3:2 word by word

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

• onlyרַקraq · exceptH7535
• generationsדּוֹרdôr dôr · generationH1755
• childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• teachלָמַדlâmad · to learn: teachH3925
• warמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• suchאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• nothingלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808

Cross-references for Judges 3:2

• Genesis 2:17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
• Genesis 3:5for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
• 2 Chronicles 12:8Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
• Matthew 10:34Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
• John 16:33These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
• 1 Corinthians 9:26I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:
• Ephesians 6:11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
• 1 Timothy 6:12Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
• 2 Timothy 2:3Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, 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