שופטים, פרק ב׳, פסוק כ״א

God's decision to halt the conquest of the land comes as a direct response to the behavior of the Israelites. It is a clear case of measure for measure. Because the people chose not to follow God's ways, He responds in kind by withdrawing His support [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Although the Israelites possessed the strength and momentum to completely drive out the surrounding nations, they actively chose not to do so. Consequently, God declares that He, too, will stop expelling the remaining nations [מצודת ציון]. As a result, these foreign groups will stay within the land, serving as a constant obstacle and source of trouble for the people [מלבי״ם].

These remaining inhabitants are the very ones that Joshua allowed to stay before his death [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. There are two distinct ways to understand why Joshua left them behind. One approach suggests that Joshua acted intentionally based on his own judgment, recognizing that the local populations needed to be removed gradually rather than all at once [מצודת דוד]. Another perspective views this as part of a larger, deliberate design by God. According to this view, the fact that Joshua did not finish driving out the nations during his lifetime was no accident, but rather a direct result of God's plan from the very beginning [מלבי״ם].