Now theseare the nationswhichthe LORDleft,to testIsraelby them ([that is], allwhohad not experiencedanyof the warsof Canaan;
their descendantswhowere leftafterthem in the landwhomthe sonsof Israelwere unableto destroyutterly,from them Solomonleviedforcedlaborers,evento thisday.
Even[in the matter of] the envoysof the rulersof Babylon,who sentto him to inquireof the wonderthat had happenedin the land,Godlefthim [alone only] to testhim, that He might knowallthat was in his heart.
"But He knowsthe wayI take;[When] He has triedme, I shall comeforthas gold.
Then he criedout to the LORD,and the LORDshowedhim a tree;and he threw[it] into the waters,and the watersbecamesweet.ThereHe madefor them a statuteand regulation,and thereHe testedthem.
The refiningpotis for silverand the furnacefor gold,But the LORDtestshearts.
"I have madeyou an assayer[and] a testeramong My people,That you may knowand assaytheir way."
"And I will bringthe thirdpartthrough the fire,Refinethem as silveris refined,And testthem as goldis tested.They will callon My name,And I will answerthem; I will say,They are My people,'And they will say,'The LORDis my God.'"
But Jesus,on His part,was not entrustingHimselfto them, for He knewall men,
"The LORDyour Godwill clearawaythesenationsbeforeyou littleby little;you will not be ableto putan endto them quickly,for the wildbeastswould growtoonumerousfor you.
"In the wildernessHe fedyou mannawhichyour fathersdid not know,that He might humbleyou and that He might testyou, to dogoodfor you in the end.
"You shall rememberallthe waywhichthe LORDyour Godhas ledyou in the wildernessthesefortyyears,that He might humbleyou, testingyou, to knowwhatwas in your heart,whether you would keepHis commandmentsornot.
sothat the proofof your faith,[being] more preciousthan goldwhich is perishable,even thoughtestedby fire,may be foundto resultin praiseand gloryand honorat the revelationof JesusChrist;
Beloved,do not be surprisedat the fiery ordealamongyou, which comesupon you for your testing,as thoughsome strange thingwere happeningto you;
And I will killher childrenwith pestilence,and allthe churcheswill knowthat I amHe who searchesthe mindsand hearts;and I will giveto each oneof you accordingto your deeds.
Now it cameabout afterthe deathof Joshuathat the sonsof Israelinquiredof the LORD,saying,"Whoshall goup firstfor us againstthe Canaanites,to fightagainst them?"
Allthat generationalsowere gatheredto their fathers;and there aroseanothergenerationafterthem whodid not knowthe LORD,noryetthe workwhichHe had donefor Israel.
So the LORDallowed thosenationsto remain,not drivingthem out quickly;and He did not givethem into the handof Joshua.
onlyin orderthat the generationsof the sonsof Israelmight be taughtwar,thosewhohad not experiencedit formerly).
