Judges 1:31

Context

Judges 1:31 is part of the opening chapter of the book of Judges, which serves as a crucial bridge between the successful conquest under Joshua and the subsequent period of Israel's decline. This chapter details the varying degrees of success and, more often, failure of the individual Israelite tribes in dispossessing the Canaanite inhabitants from their allotted territories in the promised land. While Judah and Simeon achieved significant victories, many other tribes, including Asher, demonstrate incomplete obedience to God's command to "drive out" the indigenous peoples. This verse specifically highlights Asher's failure to expel the inhabitants from key coastal and northern cities, setting the stage for the chronic problems that plague Israel throughout the era of the judges.

Key Themes

• Incomplete Obedience: The most prominent theme is Asher's failure to fully obey God's clear command to dispossess the Canaanites. This partial obedience directly contradicts the divine mandate given in Numbers 33:55 and Deuteronomy 7:2.
• Consequences of Compromise: By allowing these inhabitants to remain, Asher, like other tribes mentioned in Judges 1, sowed the seeds for future spiritual and social compromise. This failure to cleanse the land led to intermarriage, idolatry, and oppression, as explicitly warned in Judges 2:2-3.
• Loss of Full Inheritance: Though the land was allotted, Asher did not fully possess its inheritance due to their lack of faith and resolve. The cities listed—Accho (modern Acre), Zidon (Sidon), Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob—were strategically important, some being major Phoenician centers, indicating the tribe's inability or unwillingness to conquer formidable strongholds.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "drive out" comes from the Hebrew verb yarash (יָרַשׁ), which means "to inherit," "to possess," or "to dispossess." In this context, it carries the strong sense of taking complete possession by expelling those already occupying the land. The repeated use of "neither did [Tribe] drive out" across Judges 1 underscores the pervasive nature of this failure among the tribes. The names of the cities themselves, such as Accho and Zidon, point to significant, well-established urban centers, often with strong maritime and trade connections, suggesting the formidable challenge the Israelites faced but ultimately failed to overcome with God's help.

Practical Application

Judges 1:31 serves as a timeless reminder of the dangers of incomplete obedience in our own lives. Spiritually, this verse encourages us to consider:

• Complete Obedience to God: Just as Asher was commanded to drive out the inhabitants, believers are called to drive out sinful habits and worldly influences from their lives and hearts. Partial obedience often leads to spiritual compromise.
• The Peril of Compromise: Leaving "pockets" of sin or unaddressed issues can lead to ongoing struggles, temptations, and a diminished spiritual inheritance. What we tolerate today can become a major stumbling block tomorrow.
• Trusting God for Victory: The task of dispossessing the Canaanites was daunting, but God had promised His help (Exodus 23:30). Similarly, overcoming personal strongholds requires reliance on God's power, not just human effort.

Reflection

The account of Asher's failure to drive out the inhabitants of these cities highlights a critical lesson: God's commands are not suggestions, and incomplete obedience has lasting, detrimental consequences. This initial compromise sets the stage for the recurring cycles of sin, servitude, and salvation that define the book of Judges. It serves as a powerful cautionary tale for all who seek to walk faithfully with God, emphasizing the importance of a wholehearted commitment to His will.