# These nations were left
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Yahweh left these nations in Canaan" or "Yahweh allowed these nations to continue to live in Canaan" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive]])
# as a means
"as a way"
# whether they would ... gave their ancestors
The words "they" and "their" refer to the people of Israel.
# the commands he gave
"the commands Yahweh gave"