As the end of this introduction section to the book approaches, numerous keywords come again to the forefront: “test,” “know,” “obey,” “commandments,” “fathers,” and “hand” (compare verse 2.17, 22; verse 3.1). The expression the testing of Israel binds 3.1-4 together and emphasizes the LORD’s purpose in leaving these peoples in the land. The non-Israelites remained there, not only because they were militarily stronger, but also because the LORD had a reason for allowing this to happen.
They were for the testing of Israel: The pronoun They refers to the nations just mentioned. In some languages it will be better to specify “these peoples” or “these nations.” For the testing of Israel renders the same Hebrew infinitive phrase that is translated “to test Israel by them” in verse 3.1 (see comments there). New Jerusalem Bible says these peoples “were used to put Israel to the test.” New American Bible is similar: “They served to put Israel to the test.” It is possible to be even more explicit by saying “The LORD allowed these peoples to remain in the land in order to test the Israelites.”
To know whether Israel would obey …: Once again two very important words occur: know and obey (see verse 2.10, verse 17, verse 20). The purpose of this testing is to know or discover something about Israel. The question is whether Israel would listen to or obey the LORD’s commandments. For to know whether, we might also say “to see whether,” “to find out if,” or “to determine if.” Obey translates the Hebrew verb shamaʿ, which means “listen,” “hear,” or “obey” (see verse 2.2).
The commandments of the LORD which he commanded their fathers: This is an emphatic expression in Hebrew, with the words for commandments and commanded coming from the same root ts-w-h, which means “order” or “instruct.” In noun form it refers to orders or precepts given to a community by a higher authority. In some languages we might say “what the LORD had told their fathers to do” or “what the LORD had commanded their ancestors to do.” Their fathers refers to the generation of Israelite leaders who came out of Egypt with Moses and who died in the wilderness (see verse 2.1, verse 12).
By Moses explains how these commandments were communicated to the people of Israel. The Hebrew text says “by the hand of Moses,” which is another use of the keyword “hand,” here meaning “through Moses.” This is a reference to the handing down of the Law, especially the Ten Commandments, on Mount Sinai. God communicated his laws to Moses and Moses communicated them to the people of Israel (Exo 19.1-9). Certainly the commandments that are in focus here are the ones saying the Israelites should serve only one God and never worship any other gods (Exo 20.2-6).
Translation models for this verse are:
• These peoples were left there in order to test Israel, so the LORD could know whether they would obey the commandments he had given to their ancestors through Moses.
• The LORD used these foreign people to put the Israelites to the test, to see whether they would keep the commands the LORD gave to Moses to give to their fathers.
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .