quickly multiply, and speedily desolate the whole land. True, indeed, God could, if it should so please him, interpose by miracle to change the ferocity of the most savage animals : but that was no part of his plan. He permitted, therefore, vast multitudes of the devoted nations yet to live, that so they might, for their own sake, prevent the increase and incursions of the wild beasts, till Israel should have multiplied so as to be able, in every part, to protect themselves.]
2. As an act of righteousness, to try them —
[All the trials with which God's people were visited in the wilderness were sent " to prove them," whether they would serve the Lord or not. Not that God needed any such information, as the result of experiment ; because " he knew what was in man," whose heart and reins were open to him from the foundation of the world : but it was desirable, for their own sakes, that they should have an insight into their own hearts, and be able to appreciate the whole of God's dealings with them. By the continuance of the devoted nations amongst them, they would see how prone they were to seek their own carnal ease and interests, by mingling them- selves among them, when they should have been labouring with all their might to effect their utter extirpation. By observing also the success or failure of their efforts against these enemies, they would be able to judge, with accuracy, how far they were in favour with God, or under his displea- sure ; and would consequently be led to approach him with suitable emotions of gratitude or contrition. This is the view which the Scripture itself gives us of this very dispensation : " These wrere the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them — the Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, and the Hivites ; it was to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken to the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses V]
3. As an act of judgment, to punish them —
[Though there were good ends to be answered, by a gradual execution of the judgments denounced against the seven nations of Canaan, it was the fault of the Israelites themselves that the extirpation of them was not more rapid and complete. They gave way to sloth, when they should have been in full activity; and yielded to fear, when they should have gone forth in assured dependence on their Lord. By this, they greatly increased their own trials, and multiplied their own afflictions. God had told them by Moses, saying, " If ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come to pass, that those whom ye let
b Judg. iii. 1 — 4.