The Israelites lived in the company of the Canaanities, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites and they married their daughters and their own daughters they gave to their sons; and they worshiped their gods (NRSV, p.169). God left those nations behind after the death of Joshua in order to test the Israelites (NRSV, p. 169). The LORD wanted to know if the Israelites “care to walk in the way of the LORD” (NRSV, p. 169). The act of intermarrying and worshiping other gods was a breach of covenant to the Law of Moses. Every time a Judge that God raised up would die Israel would return to their old practices. In this case the Israelites were worshiping the Baals and the Aserahs (NRSV, p. 169). The LORD was angry
