Discovery BoxJudges 3:2 
Context3:2 He left those nations simply because he wanted to teach the subsequent generations of Israelites, who had not experienced the earlier battles, how to conduct holy war. 1
Judges 6:2
Context6:2 The Midianites 2 overwhelmed Israel. 3 Because of Midian the Israelites made shelters 4 for themselves in the hills, as well as caves and strongholds.
Judges 8:20
Context8:20 He ordered Jether his firstborn son, “Come on! 5 Kill them!” But Jether was too afraid to draw his sword, 6 because he was still young.
Judges 20:36
Context20:36 Then the Benjaminites saw they were defeated.
The Israelites retreated before 7 Benjamin, because they had confidence in the men they had hid in ambush outside Gibeah.
1 tn The Hebrew syntax of v. 2 is difficult. The Hebrew text reads literally, “only in order that the generations of the Israelites might know, to teach them war – only those who formerly did not know them.”
sn The stated purpose for leaving the nations (to teach the subsequent generations…how to conduct holy war) seems to contradict 2:22 and 3:4, which indicate the nations were left to test Israel’s loyalty to the
2 tn Heb “the hand of Midian.”
3 tn Heb “The hand of Midian was strong against Israel.”
4 tn Or possibly “secret storage places.” The Hebrew word occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible.
5 tn Or “Arise!”
6 tn Heb “did not draw his sword for he was afraid.”
7 tn Heb “gave place to.”
