Judges 1:32

KJV

But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.

KJV (with Strong's)

But the Asherites {H843} dwelt {H3427} among {H7130} the Canaanites {H3669}, the inhabitants {H3427} of the land {H776}: for they did not drive them out {H3423}.

Complete Jewish Bible

so the Asheri lived among the Kena'ani who were living in the land, because they didn't drive them out.

Berean Standard Bible

So the Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, because they did not drive them out.

American Standard Version

but the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 1:32 provides a stark illustration of the Asherite tribe's failure to fully obey God's command to dispossess the Canaanite inhabitants of their allotted territory. This verse, nestled within the broader narrative of incomplete conquests in Judges 1, highlights a critical moment of compromise and partial obedience that would have profound and lasting spiritual and social consequences for Israel, setting a troubling precedent for the entire period of the Judges. It underscores the danger of tolerating influences that God explicitly commanded to be removed for the nation's spiritual purity and faithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 1:32 is part of a crucial introductory chapter in the Book of Judges, which serves as a lamentable prologue to the subsequent cycles of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance. Following the death of Joshua, this chapter details the fragmented and largely unsuccessful efforts of individual Israelite tribes to conquer their divinely appointed inheritances. Unlike the unified, decisive campaigns under Joshua, these tribal endeavors are marked by compromise and failure to fully dispossess the indigenous Canaanite populations. The repeated phrase "did not drive them out" (or similar expressions) functions as a somber refrain throughout [Judges 1](/judges/1 "Judges 1 - Incomplete Conquests"), highlighting a pervasive pattern of disobedience that directly contrasts with the earlier successes of Judah and Simeon, and aligns with the failures of other tribes like Benjamin in [Judges 1:21](/judges/1-21 "Judges 1:21 - Benjamin's Failure in Jerusalem") and Manasseh in [Judges 1:27](/judges/1-27 "Judges 1:27 - Manasseh's Failure"). This sets the stage for the divine rebuke and the subsequent cycle of judgment described in [Judges 2:1-5](/judges/2-1 "Judges 2:1-5 - The Angel's Rebuke and Israel's Weeping").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The command to utterly dispossess the Canaanites was not arbitrary; it was a foundational covenantal instruction given by God through Moses, reiterated in passages like [Deuteronomy 7:1-5](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-5 - Command to Drive Out Nations"). The Canaanites practiced abhorrent religious rituals, including child sacrifice, temple prostitution, and various forms of idolatry (e.g., Baal and Asherah worship), which were anathema to Yahweh's holiness. God's directive for their expulsion was a protective measure to safeguard Israel's spiritual purity and prevent syncretism. The Asherites, whose territory lay along the fertile northern coast, likely faced significant economic temptations to coexist with the technologically advanced and agriculturally skilled Canaanites. Their failure to drive out these inhabitants reflects a prioritizing of convenience or economic gain over covenantal faithfulness, leading to the very spiritual contamination God sought to prevent.
* **Key Themes:** The verse encapsulates several pivotal themes central to the Book of Judges and the broader Old Testament narrative. First, it powerfully illustrates **Disobedience and Compromise**, as the Asherites directly violated God's explicit command to completely dispossess the land's inhabitants. This act of "dwelling among" rather than "driving out" represents a profound failure of will and a yielding to convenience over covenantal faithfulness. Second, it highlights the **Consequences of Partial Obedience**, demonstrating that incomplete obedience is, in God's eyes, disobedience. This partiality inevitably led to the Canaanites becoming "thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you," as prophesied in [Judges 2:3](/judges/2-3 "Judges 2:3 - Consequences of Disobedience"). This sets the tragic pattern for the entire book, where Israel's compromises lead to oppression. Finally, it speaks to the **Loss of Full Inheritance**, as the Asherites, by failing to drive out the Canaanites, did not fully possess the land God had promised them, leaving pockets of resistance and pagan influence within their borders, thereby diminishing their spiritual and physical well-being.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Dwelt among (Hebrew, _vayyeshev_):** This verb, יָשַׁב (*yashav*), means "to sit, remain, dwell, inhabit." In this context, it denotes a settled, co-existent relationship. The Asherites chose to "sit down" among the Canaanites, implying a passive acceptance and integration rather than the active dispossessing God commanded. This choice signifies a comfort with the status quo and a reluctance to engage in the difficult, but necessary, work of spiritual and territorial purification.
* **Did not drive them out (Hebrew, _lo horishum_):** The verb for "drive out" is יָרַשׁ (*yarash*), meaning "to take possession, inherit, dispossess." The negative particle "lo" (לֹא) emphatically negates this action. This phrase highlights the Asherites' failure to perform the decisive, forceful action required to fulfill God's command and fully claim their inheritance. It implies a lack of resolve, courage, or faith, leading to a state of incomplete conquest and ongoing spiritual vulnerability.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites":** This clause immediately establishes the Asherites' deviation from God's command. The conjunction "But" signals a contrast with the expected outcome of full conquest. The Asherites, rather than fulfilling their divine mandate to dispossess, chose to settle and coexist with the very people God had commanded them to remove. This decision reflects a profound spiritual compromise and a direct act of disobedience.
* **"the inhabitants of the land":** This descriptive phrase clarifies the identity of the "Canaanites," emphasizing their indigenous status and, by implication, their idolatrous practices and moral corruption. It subtly reminds the reader that these were the very people God had ordained for removal due to their wickedness, and whose continued presence posed a direct threat to Israel's covenant fidelity and purity.
* **"for they did not drive them out":** This final clause provides the explicit reason for the Asherites' dwelling among the Canaanites, functioning as a direct indictment. It clearly states their failure to execute God's command to dispossess. This active omission is presented as the root cause of their compromised state, underscoring the gravity of their disobedience and foreshadowing the negative consequences that would plague Israel throughout the period of the Judges.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 1:32, though concise, employs several significant literary devices. **Repetition** is a key feature throughout [Judges 1](/judges/1 "Judges 1 - Incomplete Conquests"), with the phrase "did not drive them out" (or similar) appearing multiple times across different tribal accounts. This repetition powerfully emphasizes the pervasive nature of Israel's disobedience and compromise, highlighting a systemic failure rather than an isolated incident. The verse also utilizes **Contrast**, setting the Asherites' failure against the divine command and the initial successes of tribes like Judah. This contrast underscores the tragic decline in faithfulness and resolve after Joshua's death. Furthermore, the verse serves as a potent example of **Foreshadowing**. The Asherites' failure to dispossess the Canaanites directly anticipates the cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance that defines the entire Book of Judges, where the unexpelled inhabitants become a "snare" to Israel, leading them into idolatry and servitude.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 1:32 is a microcosm of a profound theological truth: God's commands are given for our good, and disobedience, even partial, carries severe consequences. The Asherites' failure to drive out the Canaanites was not merely a military oversight; it was a spiritual compromise that violated their covenant with Yahweh. This act of tolerating sin and ungodly influences within their midst directly led to the spiritual decay and syncretism that plagued Israel throughout the Judges period. It underscores the principle that true possession of God's promises requires radical obedience and a willingness to purge anything that would defile or distract from Him. The presence of the Canaanites became a constant temptation to idolatry, demonstrating that compromise with the world inevitably leads to spiritual bondage.

* [Deuteronomy 7:1-5](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-5 - God's Command to Drive Out Nations")
* [Judges 2:1-5](/judges/2-1 "Judges 2:1-5 - The Angel's Rebuke and Israel's Weeping")
* [Exodus 23:31-33](/exodus/23-31 "Exodus 23:31-33 - Warning Against Covenants with Inhabitants")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 1:32 serves as a timeless warning for believers today about the insidious dangers of spiritual compromise. Just as the Canaanites represented a contaminating influence for ancient Israel, so too are there "inhabitants" in our lives—sinful habits, worldly mindsets, ungodly relationships, or unbiblical ideologies—that God calls us to "drive out" rather than "dwell among." This verse challenges us to examine areas where we might be tolerating sin or worldly values, perhaps out of convenience, fear, or a desire for acceptance, rather than actively pursuing holiness and complete devotion to God. True spiritual flourishing requires a decisive commitment to sanctification, actively dispossessing anything that hinders our walk with Christ. Our inheritance in Christ is not fully experienced when we allow spiritual "Canaanites" to remain entrenched in our hearts and lives, subtly drawing us away from the Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Canaanites" (sinful habits, worldly influences, ungodly attitudes) might I be tolerating in my life, rather than actively "driving out"?**
* **In what areas of my life am I practicing partial obedience, and what are the potential long-term consequences of such compromise?**
* **How does my daily walk reflect a commitment to radical obedience and the pursuit of holiness, rather than convenience or comfort?**
* **What practical steps can I take to "drive out" these ungodly influences and fully possess the spiritual inheritance I have in Christ?**

### FAQ
**Why was it so important for Israel to drive out the Canaanites?**

Answer: It was crucial for several interconnected reasons. Primarily, God commanded it as a means of preserving Israel's spiritual purity and covenant fidelity. The Canaanites engaged in abhorrent practices like child sacrifice, idolatry, and sexual immorality, which were utterly contrary to God's holy character and law. Allowing them to remain would inevitably lead to syncretism, where Israel would adopt these pagan practices, defiling themselves and incurring God's judgment, as warned in [Deuteronomy 7:1-5](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-5 - God's Command to Drive Out Nations"). Furthermore, driving them out was part of God's promise to give Israel the land as a full inheritance, a place where they could worship Him exclusively and live as a distinct, holy nation. Their failure to do so meant they never fully possessed their land and were constantly exposed to corrupting influences.

**What were the specific consequences of the Asherites' failure to drive out the Canaanites?**

Answer: The immediate consequence was that the Asherites did not fully possess their divinely allotted territory, leaving pockets of pagan resistance and influence within their borders. More significantly, this failure contributed to the broader spiritual decline of Israel during the period of the Judges. The unexpelled Canaanites became a constant "snare" (as described in [Judges 2:3](/judges/2-3 "Judges 2:3 - Consequences of Disobedience")), leading the Israelites into idolatry, intermarriage, and the adoption of pagan customs. This spiritual compromise weakened Israel, making them vulnerable to oppression from surrounding nations, thus initiating the tragic cycle of sin, servitude, supplication, and salvation that characterizes the Book of Judges. Their partial obedience led to a partial inheritance and continuous spiritual struggle.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The failure of the Asherites, and indeed all Israel, to fully dispossess the Canaanites highlights humanity's persistent inability to perfectly obey God's commands and fully claim the promised inheritance. This narrative of incomplete conquest points profoundly to the ultimate and complete conquest achieved by Jesus Christ. Where Israel failed to "drive out" their enemies, Jesus, the true Israel, perfectly obeyed the Father's will, utterly dispossessing the spiritual "Canaanites" of sin, death, and the devil through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection. He is the one who truly leads His people into their spiritual inheritance, not a partial one, but a full and eternal one secured by His victory ([Ephesians 1:11-14](/ephesians/1-11 "Ephesians 1:11-14 - Our Inheritance in Christ")). Through Christ, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to "put to death" the deeds of the flesh—our own spiritual "inhabitants" of sin—and to "walk by the Spirit" ([Romans 8:13](/romans/8-13 "Romans 8:13 - Life by the Spirit") and [Galatians 5:16](/galatians/5-16 "Galatians 5:16 - Walk by the Spirit")). The call to "drive out" in Judges 1:32 is thus spiritually fulfilled in the New Covenant as a call to sanctification, to "cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God" ([2 Corinthians 7:1](/2_corinthians/7-1 "2 Corinthians 7:1 - Cleanse Ourselves")). Ultimately, Christ reigns until all His enemies are under His feet, securing the complete and final inheritance for His people ([1 Corinthians 15:25](/1_corinthians/15-25 "1 Corinthians 15:25 - Christ's Reign")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 106:34

¶ They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:

Psalms 106:35

But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.