They were for testingIsrael,to findout if they would obeythe commandmentsof the LORD,whichHe had commandedtheir fathersthroughMoses.
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.
For there mustalsobe factionsamongyou, sothat thosewho are approvedmay becomeevidentamongyou.
Of Levihe said,"[Let] Your Thummimand Your Urim[belong] to Your godlyman,WhomYou provedat Massah,With whom You contendedat the watersof Meribah;
"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.
in orderto testIsraelby them, whether they will keepthe wayof the LORDto walkin it as their fathersdid,ornot."
Now theseare the nationswhichthe LORDleft,to testIsraelby them ([that is], allwhohad not experiencedanyof the warsof Canaan;