TRV
See on the biblical-era map
Study This Verse
Commentary on Judges 1 verses 21–36
We are here told upon what terms the rest of the tribes stood with the Canaanites that remained.
I. Benjamin neglected to drive the Jebusites out of that part of the city of Jerusalem which fell to their lot, Jdg 1:21. Judah had set them a good example, and gained them great advantages by what they did (Jdg 1:9), but they did not follow the blow for want of resolution.
II. The house of Joseph,
1.Bestirred themselves a little to get possession of Beth-el, Jdg 1:22. That city is mentioned in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:22. Yet it is spoken of there (Jdg 1:13) as a city in the borders of that tribe, and, it should seem, the line went through it, so that one half of it only belonged to Benjamin, the other half to Ephraim; and perhaps the activity of the Ephraimites at this time, to recover it from the Canaanites, secured it entirely to them henceforward, or at least the greatest part of it, for afterwards we find it so much under the power of the ten tribes (and Benjamin was none of them) that Jeroboam set up one of his calves in it. In this account of the expedition of the Ephraimites against Beth-el observe,
(1.)Their interest in the divine favour: The Lord was with them, and would have been with the other tribes if they would have exerted their strength. The Chaldee reads it here, as in many other places, The Word of the Lord was their helper, namely, Christ himself, the captain of the Lord's host, now that they acted separately, as well as when they were all in one body.
(2.)The prudent measures they took to gain the city. They sent spies to observe what part of the city was weakest, or which way they might make their attack with most advantage, Jdg 1:23. These spies got very good information from a man they providentially met with, who showed them a private way into the town, which was left unguarded because, being not generally known, no danger was suspected on that side. And here, [1.] He is not to be blamed for giving them this intelligence if he did it from a conviction that the Lord was with them, and that by his donation the land was theirs of right, any more than Rahab was for entertaining those whom she knew to be enemies of her country, but friends of God. Nor, [2.] Are those to be blamed who showed him mercy, gave him and his family not only their lives, but liberty to go wherever they pleased: for one good turn requires another. But, it seems, he would not join himself to the people of Israel, he feared them rather than loved them, and therefore he removed after a colony of the Hittites, which, it should seem, had gone into Arabia and settled there upon Joshua's invasion of the country; with them this man chose to dwell, and among them he built a city, a small one, we may suppose, such as planters commonly build, and in the name of it preserved the ancient name of his native city, Luz, an almond-tree, preferring this before its new name, which carried religion in it, Bethel - the house of God.
(3.)Their success. The spies brought or sent notice of the intelligence they had gained to the army, which improved their advantages, surprised the city, and put them all to the sword, v. 25. But,
2.Besides this achievement, it seems, the children of Joseph did nothing remarkable (1.) Manasseh failed to drive out the Canaanites from several very considerable cities in their lot, and did not make any attempt upon them, Jdg 1:27. But the Canaanites, being in possession, were resolved not to quit it; they would dwell in that land, and Manasseh had not resolution enough to offer to dispossess them; as if there was no meddling with them unless they were willing to resign, which it was not to be expected they ever would be. Only as Israel got strength they got ground, and served themselves, both by their contributions and by their personal services, Jdg 1:28, Jdg 1:35. (2.) Ephraim likewise, though a powerful tribe, neglected Gezer a considerable city, and suffered the Canaanites to dwell among them (Jdg 1:29), which, some think, intimates their allowing them a quiet settlement, and indulging them with the privileges of an unconquered people, not so much as making them tributaries.
III. Zebulun, perhaps inclining to the sea-trade, for it was foretold that it should be a haven for ships, neglected to reduce Kitron and Nahalol (Jdg 1:30), and only made the inhabitants of those places tributaries to them.
IV. Asher quitted itself worse than any of the tribes (Jdg 1:31, Jdg 1:32), not only in leaving more towns than any of them in the hands of the Canaanites, but in submitting to the Canaanites instead of making them tributaries; for so the manner of expression intimates, that the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, as if the Canaanites were the more numerous and the more powerful, would still be lords of the country, and the Israelites must be only upon sufferance among them.
V. Naphtali also permitted the Canaanites to live among them (Jdg 1:33), only by degrees they got them so far under as to exact contributions from them.
VI. Dan was so far from extending his conquests where his lot lay that, wanting spirit to make head against the Amorites, he was forced by them to retire into the mountains and inhabit the cities there, but durst not venture into the valley, where, it is probable, the chariots of iron were, Jdg 1:34. Nay, and some of the cities in the mountains were kept against them, Jdg 1:35. Thus were they straitened in their possessions, and forced to seek for more room at Laish, a great way off, Jdg 18:1, etc. In Jacob's blessing Judah is compared to a lion, Dan to a serpent; now observe how Judah with his lion-like courage prospered and prevailed, but Dan with all his serpenting subtlety could get no ground; craft and artful management do not always effect the wonders they pretend to. What Dan came short of doing, it seems, his neighbours the Ephraimites in part did for him; they put the Amorites under tribute, Jdg 1:35.
Upon the whole matter it appears that the people of Israel were generally very careless both of their duty and interest in this thing; they did not what they might have done to expel the Canaanites and make room for themselves. And, 1. It was owing to their slothfulness and cowardice. They would not be at the pains to complete their conquests; like the sluggard, that dreamed of a lion in the way, a lion in the streets, they fancied insuperable difficulties, and frightened themselves with winds and clouds from sowing and reaping. 2. It was owing to their covetousness; the Canaanites' labour and money would do them more good (they thought) than their blood, and therefore they were willing to let them live among them, that they might make a hand of them. 3. They had not that dread and detestation of idolatry which they ought to have had; they thought it a pity to put these Canaanites to the sword, though the measure of their iniquity was full, thought it would be no harm to let them live among them, and that they should be in no danger from them. 4. The same thing that kept their fathers forty years out of Canaan kept them now out of the full possession of it, and that was unbelief. Distrust of the power and promise of God lost them their advantages, and ran them into a thousand mischiefs.
Continue studying Judges 1:32 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Judges 1:32 provides a stark and lamentable account of the Asherite tribe's failure to fully obey God's explicit command to dispossess the Canaanite inhabitants from their divinely allotted territory. This verse, situated within the broader narrative of Israel's incomplete conquests in Judges 1, serves as a poignant illustration of compromise and partial obedience, establishing a troubling precedent that would profoundly shape the spiritual and social landscape of the entire period of the Judges. It powerfully underscores the severe consequences of tolerating influences that God explicitly commanded to be removed for the nation's spiritual purity, covenant fidelity, and full inheritance.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Judges 1:32, though concise, employs several significant literary devices that amplify its message. Repetition is a key structural feature throughout Judges 1, with the phrase "did not drive them out" (or similar expressions) 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, albeit limited, 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 cyclical pattern 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 ultimate good, and disobedience, even partial or seemingly minor, carries severe and far-reaching consequences. The Asherites' failure to drive out the Canaanites was not merely a military oversight; it was a deep 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, syncretism, and eventual oppression that plagued Israel throughout the Judges period. It underscores the vital principle that true possession of God's promises requires radical and uncompromising obedience, coupled with a willingness to purge anything that would defile, distract, or diminish devotion to Him. The continued presence of the Canaanites became a constant temptation to idolatry, demonstrating that compromise with the world inevitably leads to spiritual bondage and a diminished experience of God's full blessing.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 1:32 serves as a timeless and sobering warning for believers today about the insidious dangers of spiritual compromise. Just as the Canaanites represented a contaminating and corrupting 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 engage in honest self-examination, identifying areas where we might be tolerating sin or worldly values, perhaps out of convenience, fear of man, or a desire for acceptance, rather than actively pursuing holiness and complete devotion to God. True spiritual flourishing and the full experience of our inheritance in Christ require a decisive commitment to sanctification, actively dispossessing anything that hinders our walk with the Lord. When we allow spiritual "Canaanites" to remain entrenched in our hearts and lives, they subtly draw us away from the Lord, diminish our spiritual vitality, and hinder the manifestation of God's power and presence.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was it so important for Israel to drive out the Canaanites?
Answer: It was crucial for several interconnected reasons, all rooted in God's holiness and covenant with Israel. 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. 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. This meant they lived in a state of ongoing tension and compromise. 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), 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 of Israel, to fully dispossess the Canaanites highlights humanity's persistent inability to perfectly obey God's commands and fully claim the promised inheritance through their own strength. 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 and perfect Son, 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). 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," thereby experiencing true freedom and progressive sanctification (Romans 8:13 and Galatians 5:16). The Old Testament call to "drive out" in Judges 1:32 is thus spiritually fulfilled in the New Covenant as a call to radical sanctification, to "cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). Ultimately, Christ reigns until all His enemies are under His feet, securing the complete and final inheritance for His people in His eternal kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:25).