put out: Heb. pluck off
thou mayest: As the Israelites were not yet sufficiently numerous to fill the whole land occupied by these nations; and as wild and ferocious animals might be expected to multiply where the place was but thinly peopled, therefore God informs them that their extermination from before them should be gradual. Haynes says, "The approaching to Cana, at the close of the day, as we did, is at once terrifying and dangerous. The surrounding country swarms with wild beasts, such as tigers, leopards, jackals, etc., whose cries and howling, I doubt not, would strike the boldest traveller, who had not been frequently in a like situation, with the deepest sense of horror." Exodus 23:29, Exodus 23:30, Joshua 15:63
Reciprocal: Exodus 33:2 - the Canaanite Deuteronomy 11:23 - General Deuteronomy 28:63 - plucked from Joshua 21:44 - General Judges 3:1 - the nations Psalms 59:13 - Consume Proverbs 2:22 - rooted