19. But when the judges died, the Israelites again sinned and worshiped other gods. They became worse than their ancestors. The Israelites were very stubborn and refused to change their evil ways.
20. So the Lord became angry with the Israelites. He said, “These people have broken the agreement I made with their ancestors. They have not listened to me.
21. I will no longer defeat the nations who were left when Joshua died.
22. I will use them to test Israel, to see if Israel will keep the Lord’s commands as their ancestors did.”
23. In the past the Lord had permitted those nations to stay in the land. He did not quickly force them out or help Joshua’s army defeat them.