Judges 1:33

Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.

Neither did Naphtali {H5321} drive out {H3423} the inhabitants {H3427} of Bethshemesh {H1053}, nor the inhabitants {H3427} of Bethanath {H1043}; but he dwelt {H3427} among {H7130} the Canaanites {H3669}, the inhabitants {H3427} of the land {H776}: nevertheless the inhabitants {H3427} of Bethshemesh {H1053} and of Bethanath {H1043} became tributaries {H4522} unto them.

Naftali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beit-Shemesh or Beit-'Anat but lived among the Kena'ani living in the land; however, the inhabitants of Beit-Shemesh and Beit-'Anat became forced labor for them.

Naphtali failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. So the Naphtalites also lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served them as forced laborers.

Naphtali drove not out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to taskwork.

Commentary

Judges 1:33 describes the partial obedience and subsequent failure of the tribe of Naphtali to fully dispossess the Canaanite inhabitants from their allotted territory in the Promised Land. This verse is part of a grim catalog at the beginning of the book of Judges, detailing how various Israelite tribes failed to obey God's command to drive out the indigenous peoples completely.

Context

Following the death of Joshua, the book of Judges opens with an account of the individual Israelite tribes attempting to complete the conquest of Canaan. God's clear command, reiterated multiple times (e.g., Deuteronomy 7:2, Judges 2:2), was to utterly drive out or destroy the Canaanites to prevent their idolatrous practices from corrupting Israel. However, as Judges 1 reveals, many tribes, including Naphtali, fell short of this divine mandate. Instead of full obedience, they often settled for a compromise, allowing the Canaanites to remain, often as forced laborers or "tributaries." This sets the stage for the cycles of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance that characterize the entire book of Judges.

Key Themes

  • Partial Obedience and Compromise: Naphtali did not fully obey God's command. While making the Canaanites "tributaries" (forcing them into labor or taxation) provided some economic benefit and showed Israel's military superiority, it was a significant compromise. This act of partial obedience directly contradicted God's will and left a source of spiritual contamination within the land.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The phrase "he dwelt among the Canaanites" highlights the direct result of Naphtali's failure. Living alongside idol-worshipping peoples inevitably led to Israel adopting their practices, provoking God's anger and leading to future oppression, as later chapters in Judges vividly illustrate (Judges 2:11-13).
  • Failure to Dispossess: This verse underscores a recurring theme in Judges 1 – the widespread failure of the tribes to complete the conquest. This spiritual laxity and lack of faith in God's power would have long-term negative consequences for the nation of Israel.

Linguistic Insights

  • Bethshemesh: Meaning "house of the sun," this name indicates a place where sun worship was practiced, a prominent form of Canaanite idolatry.
  • Bethanath: Meaning "house of Anath," referring to the Canaanite goddess Anath, a fierce deity often associated with war and fertility. The presence of these names signifies the strong pagan influence in these areas.
  • Tributaries: The Hebrew word for "tributaries" here is mas (מַב), which often refers to forced labor or a levy. While it implies a degree of Israelite dominance, it falls short of the complete dispossessing God commanded, signifying a missed opportunity for spiritual purity.

Practical Application

Judges 1:33 serves as a powerful cautionary tale for believers today. Just as Naphtali failed to drive out the Canaanites, we can be tempted to allow "inhabitants" of sin, worldly mindsets, or ungodly influences to remain in our lives. Partial obedience, while seemingly convenient or beneficial in the short term, ultimately leads to spiritual compromise and entanglement. This verse encourages us to pursue full obedience to God's commands, recognizing that true freedom and spiritual vitality come from completely surrendering to His will and ridding our lives of anything that would draw us away from Him. Compromise with sin inevitably leads to a diluted faith and a hindered walk with God, just as the Canaanites became a snare to Israel.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 19:32

    ΒΆ The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, [even] for the children of Naphtali according to their families.

  • Joshua 19:38

    And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.

  • Psalms 18:24

    Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

  • Judges 1:35

    But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.

  • Judges 1:30

    Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
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