Why did God say He would not drive the Canaanites out of the land in one year?
God would not drive the Canaanites out in one year because the land would become desolate; Israel could not keep up with it or care for it, and the beasts of the field would multiply against them. Instead, He promised to drive them out little by little until Israel increased and inherited the land.
Les teaches that God told Israel He would not drive the inhabitants out before them in one year. This was not going to happen all of a sudden, because otherwise Israel would not be able to keep up with it. If the land became desolate, they would not be able to keep on taking care of it, and the beasts of the field would multiply against them. So God promised to drive them out little by little until Israel increased and inherited the land. Les also connects this to the promise given to Abraham about the extent of the land, from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates, and from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines.
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.
By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.