Judges 3:5-7

And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, &c.— We learn from these verses, that the children of Israel offended in three particulars: First, In suffering to remain among them that people whom they ought to have destroyed. Secondly, In contracting alliances with them, contrary to the express prohibition of the Lord, Deuteronomy 7:3; Deuteronomy 7:26. And thirdly, In worshipping their idols. The words Baalim, and the groves, undoubtedly mean the same, as Baal and Astaroth, in the 13th verse of the former chapter. We have frequently had occasion to remark, that the ancient idolaters worshipped their Baalim in groves: but it seems very probable, that the word rendered groves should be differently rendered; for the groves were not worshipped, but the gods to whom the groves were consecrated. By the addition of a single letter, the Hebrew word will be Ashtaroth, as Houbigant very ingeniously remarks; and accordingly the greatest part of the versions render it so.

REFLECTIONS.—We have here the sad account of Israel's apostasy from God, by means of the Canaanites, who were left to prove them, whether they would continue faithful, and to keep the rising generation from that effeminacy which ease and affluence might produce. The five lords of the Philistines stood firm, and again recovered those three cities which had been taken. The northern Canaanites, Zidonians, and Hivites, in mount Lebanon, kept their possessions; whilst, in every part of the country, there continued multitudes of the devoted nations, whom Israel, through sloth and covetousness, had spared, and suffered still to dwell among them. With these they soon mixed, joined in marriages, and, as the consequence thereof, followed after their idols, worshipped Baalim, and the groves, i.e. the idols which were placed there, and forgat God. Note; (1.) A wife of the daughters of Canaan is the most dangerous snare that the devil can put in the way of God's Israel. (2.) Forgetfulness of God is a besetting sin; and when he is forgotten, the reins are let loose upon the neck of every lust.