Treasury of Scripture
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 then 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 23:29,30 I will not drive them out from before you in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against you...
Joshua 15:63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out...