The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations before you, and to this day no one can stand against you.
9. For the Lord has driven out from before you, etc He intimates that so long as they do not themselves change, there will certainly be no change on the part of God. Therefore he asserts that, provided they conciliate the favor of God, they shall have an uninterrupted course of victory.
For the Lord hath driven out before you great nations and strong,.... Especially as they were reckoned in those times, before any great monarchies had existed, as did afterwards; and indeed these were, considering the land they inhabited, very numerous and populous, and were very stout and able bodied men, and some of a gigantic stature; and all dwelt in strong fortified cities, and were...
God pledges what He has already given as proof of what remains to be fulfilled. But His promise depends entirely on their keeping themselves clear of the Canaanites and their idolatry. Steadfast adherence to God's law will bring brilliant victories; any other path breaks the condition.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 23:5-11