I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
I will not drive them out from before thee in one year, ... Many reasons recommended a gradual extirpation of the pagan inhabitants of Canaan. But one only is here specified-the danger lest in the unoccupied grounds wild beasts should inconveniently multiply-a clear proof that the promised land was more than sufficient to contain the actual population of the Israelites. It is observable, however, that the particular parts of the land most liable, if neglected or left waste, to be endangered by the multiplication of wild beasts are specified. These were the territories of the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites; and hence, as these deserted localities would have been pre-eminently exposed to the incursion of various predatory animals, it was distinctly intimated that the original occupiers would not be at once, but gradually, expelled (see the note at Genesis 15:19-21). In addition to the account there given of the territorial domains of the aboriginal tribes of Canaan, it may be interesting to subjoin the following remarks (Micaiah Hill, 'Christ or Cotenso,' p. 79) as to the regions respectively occupied by the three tribes mentioned in this passage: 'The Hivites lived in the north, northeast, and northwest extremity of Palestine-the region subsequently assigned to the tribes of Asher, Dan, and Naphtali. The Hittites lived in and about Hebron (Genesis 23:3-7; Genesis 23:10; Genesis 23:19), that is, south of Jerusalem. Canaanites is a name used in a wider sense, to denote the whole land of Canaan; but when, as here, in distinction with any of the other tribes, it comprehends only one of the seven Canaanite races. The territory of this tribe is vaguely defined as by "the sea, and by the coast of Jordan" (Numbers 13:29). We can make nothing out of this description, unless by sea is meant the Dead Sea, into which the Jordan empties itself.
On this view the Canaanite inhabited the southeastern extremity of Palestine west of the Jordan. Apart from this, it is but natural to suppose that the reason of the association of these three tribes is, that the part inhabited by the Canaanite was also wild and dangerous region. Now, look at the northern extremity of Palestine, with its mountains forming the southern ridges of the Lebanon range, which are even at the present day full of the haunts of the buffalo, jackal, wolf, hyena, the snow leopard, lion, bear, tiger, leopard, lynx, and serpents, vipers, scorpions, centipedes, the tarantula, the hornet, and the wasp. Look again at the southern part of Palestine, with its road from Jerusalem to Jericho-a road which travelers unite in depicting in the most gloomy hues, as a "wild and melancholy region." The aspect of the whole of it is said to be "peculiarly savage and dreary, vieing in this respect with the wilds of Sinai." The wilderness of Judea is full of extensive caverns, in which David wandered about. It is the region of which, so late as in the time of Christ, "wild beasts" are spoken of as inhabitants (Mark 1:13).
'Further to the south is Idumea, with the great Eastern desert, to name which is enough for present purposes. Now, in the historical account of the occupation of these localities there is no instance detailed of overrunning by wild beasts having really occurred; and it must be considered, therefore, that the prearrangement described in this passage, as to the gradual dispossession of the native tribes, is a beautiful illustration of the minute care Yahweh took of His chosen people.'