18 When the Lord raised up judges for them, then the Lord was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for it grieved the Lord because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and troubled them.
19 But when the judge was dead, they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them. They didn’t cease what they were doing, or give up their stubborn ways.
20 the Lord’s anger burnt against Israel; and he said, “Because this nation transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not listened to my voice,
21 I also will no longer drive out any of the nations that Joshua left when he died from before them;
22 that by them I may test Israel, to see if they will keep the Lord’s way to walk therein, as their fathers kept it, or not.”
23 So the Lord left those nations, without driving them out hastily. He didn’t deliver them into Joshua’s hand.