Judges 3:2

Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;

Only that {H7535} the generations {H1755} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} might know {H3045}, to teach {H3925} them war {H4421}, at the least such as before {H6440} knew {H3045} nothing thereof;

This was only so that the generations of Isra'el who had previously known nothing of war might learn about it.

if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly:

only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof:

Commentary

Judges 3:2 explains one of God's specific reasons for allowing remnant nations to remain in the land after the initial conquest of Canaan. This verse clarifies that the presence of these unconquered peoples served a divine purpose: to educate the younger generations of Israel in the art of warfare.

Context

Following the death of Joshua, the book of Judges chronicles a period where Israel repeatedly failed to completely drive out the inhabitants of the land, as commanded by God. Judges 3:1 sets the stage, stating that the Lord "left these nations, to prove Israel by them." Verse 2 elaborates on this, revealing that a primary reason was for practical instruction. This generation, having not experienced the miraculous battles of the Exodus or the initial, swift conquest under Joshua, needed to learn the realities of conflict and reliance on God in battle.

Key Themes

  • Divine Purpose and Sovereignty: God's intention behind leaving these nations was not random but part of His overarching plan for Israel. He uses circumstances, even challenging ones, to achieve His purposes.
  • Generational Education and Preparedness: The verse highlights the necessity of passing down vital skills and knowledge from one generation to the next. For Israel, this included military training, crucial for their survival and maintaining their inheritance in the land. This wasn't merely about physical combat but also about learning to trust God in the face of adversaries.
  • Experiential Learning: The phrase "to teach them war" implies practical, hands-on experience. Those who "knew nothing thereof" would gain understanding not just theoretically, but through engagement.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "teach them war" is lamad milchamah. Lamad means "to learn, to teach," often implying an active process of acquiring knowledge or skill. Milchamah refers to "war, battle, fight." This combination emphasizes that the younger Israelites were to be instructed in the practicalities and strategies of combat, something they had not personally experienced during the initial conquest.

Practical Application

While modern believers are not called to physical warfare in the same way, Judges 3:2 offers timeless principles. It reminds us that challenges and adversaries, even those God permits, can be instruments of growth and instruction. We are called to be spiritually prepared, learning to stand firm against spiritual opposition. Just as Israel needed to learn to fight and rely on God, Christians must learn to put on the full armor of God and engage in spiritual warfare, relying on His strength. It also underscores the importance of intergenerational discipleship, passing down wisdom and faith to those who are coming after us.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 3:7

    And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

  • Genesis 2:17

    But 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.

  • 2 Timothy 2:3

    Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

  • 2 Chronicles 12:8

    Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:26

    I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

  • 1 Corinthians 9:27

    But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

  • 2 Timothy 4:7

    I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:
← Back