Judges 1:35

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

But the Amorites {H567} would {H2974} dwell {H3427} in mount {H2022} Heres {H2776} in Aijalon {H357}, and in Shaalbim {H8169}: yet the hand {H3027} of the house {H1004} of Joseph {H3130} prevailed {H3513}, so that they became tributaries {H4522}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The Emori had resolved to live in the Heres Hills, in Ayalon and in Sha'alvim; but when the power of the house of Yosef grew greater, they became subject to forced labor.

Berean Standard Bible

And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, they pressed the Amorites into forced labor.

American Standard Version

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 subject to taskwork.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 1:35 offers a poignant snapshot of Israel's partial obedience in the conquest of the Promised Land, specifically detailing the continued presence of the powerful Amorites in strategically vital areas within the allotted territory of the house of Joseph. While the text acknowledges a measure of military success by the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, who "prevailed" over the Amorites, this victory was incomplete, resulting in the subjugation of the Amorites as "tributaries" rather than their complete expulsion as commanded by God. This compromise highlights a recurring theme in Judges: the dangerous consequences of pragmatic solutions that fall short of divine instruction, laying the groundwork for future spiritual and social challenges within Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 1 serves as a crucial bridge between the unified, successful conquest under Joshua and the fragmented, often disobedient tribal efforts that characterize the period of the Judges. The chapter meticulously details the various Israelite tribes' successes and, more frequently, their failures in fully dispossessing the Canaanite inhabitants from their allotted territories. Judges 1:35 fits into this litany of incomplete conquests, specifically highlighting the situation in the central highlands. It follows accounts of Judah and Simeon's partial successes and precedes the divine rebuke delivered by the Angel of the Lord in [Judges 2:1-5](/judges/2-1 "Judges 2:1-5 - The Angel of the Lord's Rebuke at Bochim"), which explicitly addresses the consequences of this widespread disobedience. The verse underscores the pervasive nature of Israel's compromise, setting the stage for the cycles of apostasy and oppression that define the rest of the book.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "Amorites" were a prominent and powerful Semitic people group, often used broadly in the Old Testament to refer to the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan, particularly those associated with the fortified hill country. Their continued presence in locations like Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim was highly significant. Aijalon, a key valley, controlled vital access routes between the coastal plain and the central highlands, making it a critical strategic point for both trade and military movements. Shaalbim was a town in the same region, and Mount Heres likely refers to a fortified highland position. The Amorites' ability to "dwell" in these areas indicates their strength and the formidable challenge they posed. The practice of making conquered peoples "tributaries" (Hebrew: *mas*) was common in the ancient Near East, involving forced labor or payment of goods. However, for Israel, this represented a direct deviation from God's command for complete expulsion of the Canaanites, a command intended to preserve Israel's spiritual purity and prevent assimilation into pagan practices, as outlined in [Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7 "Deuteronomy 7 - Warnings Against Intermarriage and Idolatry").

* **Key Themes:** Judges 1:35 powerfully illustrates several key themes central to the book of Judges and Israel's early history in Canaan. Foremost is the theme of **partial obedience and compromise**. Despite the "hand of the house of Joseph" prevailing, the Amorites were not driven out but merely subjugated, reflecting Israel's choice of pragmatic coexistence over complete divine obedience. This compromise directly violated God's command to utterly dispossess the Canaanites, a command crucial for maintaining Israel's distinct identity and spiritual purity. This leads to the theme of **lingering opposition and the consequences of disobedience**. The continued presence of the Amorites, even as "tributaries," meant a constant source of pagan influence, potential intermarriage, and future conflict, as prophesied in [Judges 2:2-3](/judges/2-2 "Judges 2:2-3 - God's Rebuke for Partial Obedience"). Finally, the verse highlights the **strength and responsibility of the House of Joseph**. Comprising the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the house of Joseph was indeed numerous and powerful, as acknowledged in [Joshua 17:17-18](/joshua/17-17 "Joshua 17:17-18 - Joseph's Strength and Challenge"). Their ability to make the Amorites tributaries underscores their military might, yet their failure to achieve complete conquest reveals a spiritual shortcoming, not a lack of physical capability.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Amorites (Hebrew, _ʾĔmōrī_):** This term refers to a prominent, indigenous people group inhabiting Canaan before the Israelite conquest. Often used broadly, their presence symbolized the entrenched pagan cultures and fortified strongholds that Israel was commanded to dispossess. Their continued "dwelling" highlights the formidable nature of the challenge and Israel's failure to fully execute God's command, leaving a powerful spiritual and physical enemy within their borders.
* **would dwell (Hebrew, _yāšaḇ_):** This verb denotes a settled, permanent habitation. It emphasizes that the Amorites were not merely temporary squatters but established residents in these strategic locations. The phrase underscores their determined resistance and Israel's inability or unwillingness to completely uproot them, signifying a fundamental failure to fully possess the land God had promised and commanded them to clear.
* **tributaries (Hebrew, _mas_):** This noun refers to forced labor, conscripted service, or tribute imposed on a subjugated population. While militarily successful in overcoming the Amorites to the point of subjugation, forcing them into *mas* was a compromise. It meant coexistence and exploitation rather than complete expulsion, directly violating the *herem* command. This act of making them "tributaries" was a pragmatic, economically driven decision that prioritized immediate gain over long-term spiritual purity, setting a dangerous precedent for future apostasy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim:"** This opening clause immediately establishes the problem: the persistent, entrenched presence of the Amorites in key strategic locations within Israel's allotted territory. "Mount Heres" likely refers to a fortified highland position, while "Aijalon" and "Shaalbim" denote vital valleys and towns that controlled critical access routes between the coastal plain and the central highlands. Their continued "dwelling" signifies a significant failure on Israel's part to fully dispossess the inhabitants, leaving powerful pockets of pagan resistance and influence within the land.
* **"yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed,"** This phrase acknowledges a measure of military success and strength on the part of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, collectively known as "the house of Joseph." Their "hand prevailed" indicates that they engaged the Amorites and were victorious in battle, asserting dominance over them. This demonstrates their military capability and their partial fulfillment of the mandate to conquer the land, suggesting that the failure was not due to a lack of power or divine assistance in battle.
* **"so that they became tributaries."** This concluding clause reveals the nature of the "prevailing" outcome: the Amorites were not driven out or destroyed, but instead subjugated and forced to provide labor or pay tribute. This compromise, while seemingly a pragmatic solution that offered economic benefits, directly contradicted God's explicit command to utterly dispossess the Canaanite inhabitants to prevent spiritual defilement. It highlights Israel's choice of partial obedience, which ultimately sowed the seeds of future idolatry, intermarriage, and the cycles of oppression that would plague them throughout the period of the Judges.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 1:35 employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is **Juxtaposition**, as the verse presents a stark contrast between the Amorites' continued "dwelling" in strategic locations and the "house of Joseph" having "prevailed," only for the outcome to be that the Amorites became "tributaries." This highlights the tension between God's command for complete conquest and Israel's pragmatic, yet disobedient, compromise. There is also a strong element of **Irony** in the "house of Joseph," a powerful and divinely blessed tribal confederation, achieving a military victory that ultimately falls short of God's full command. Their "prevailing" leads not to the purification and full possession of the land, but to a compromise that introduces the very spiritual dangers God sought to prevent. Finally, the phrase "the hand of the house of Joseph" utilizes **Metonymy**, where "hand" stands in for the power, strength, and military action of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, emphasizing their agency in this partial conquest.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 1:35 encapsulates a central and tragic theological theme of the book of Judges: the devastating consequences of partial obedience and compromise with the world. God's command to utterly dispossess the Canaanites was not arbitrary; it was a divine imperative to preserve Israel's spiritual purity, distinct identity as His covenant people, and their exclusive worship of Him. By allowing the Amorites to remain, even as subjugated "tributaries," Israel opened the floodgates to the very idolatry, intermarriage, and cultural assimilation that the Law explicitly condemned. This compromise demonstrates a profound lack of faith in God's ability to grant complete victory and His wisdom in giving the command. It foreshadows the cycles of apostasy, divine judgment, and oppression that characterize the entire period of the Judges, illustrating how seemingly minor deviations from God's will can lead to catastrophic long-term spiritual decline. The verse underscores the principle that God demands complete surrender and obedience, not pragmatic half-measures.

* [Deuteronomy 7:2](/deuteronomy/7-2 "Deuteronomy 7:2 - Command to Utterly Destroy the Nations")
* [Judges 2:2-3](/judges/2-2 "Judges 2:2-3 - The Angel of the Lord's Rebuke")
* [Joshua 17:17-18](/joshua/17-17 "Joshua 17:17-18 - Joseph's Strength and Challenge")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of Judges 1:35 serves as a potent spiritual warning for believers today, echoing through the centuries with profound relevance. Just as Israel failed to fully dispossess the "Amorites" from their promised land, we often allow "spiritual Amorites"—persistent sins, ungodly habits, worldly influences, or unaddressed areas of compromise—to remain as "tributaries" in our own lives. We might rationalize that we can "control" them, extract some perceived benefit, or simply manage their presence without succumbing to their full influence. However, God calls for complete surrender and the radical expulsion of anything that hinders our walk with Him and compromises our devotion. Partial obedience, even when it appears to yield temporary peace, pragmatic advantage, or a sense of control, inevitably leads to long-term spiritual bondage, a diminished experience of God's full blessing, and a compromised witness to the world. True freedom, spiritual flourishing, and the full inheritance of God's promises come only through unwavering obedience and a resolute commitment to God's complete will, trusting that His commands are always for our ultimate good and His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Amorites" (areas of compromise, unaddressed sin, or worldly influences) might I be allowing to remain as "tributaries" in my own life, rather than fully dispossessing them through radical obedience?**
* **In what ways might I be prioritizing pragmatic solutions, perceived benefits, or personal comfort over complete and uncompromising obedience to God's clear commands?**
* **How does partial obedience, even if it appears to achieve some short-term success or avoid immediate conflict, ultimately hinder my spiritual growth, relationship with God, and effectiveness in His kingdom?**

### FAQ
**Question?** Why was it so important for Israel to completely drive out the Canaanites, rather than just making them tributaries?

Answer: The divine command for complete dispossess (often referred to as *herem*, meaning "devotion to destruction" or "utterly destroy") was primarily for Israel's spiritual purity and to prevent idolatry. God knew that allowing the Canaanites to remain, even as subjugated peoples, would inevitably lead to cultural assimilation, intermarriage, and the adoption of their pagan religious practices, including child sacrifice and fertility cults. This is explicitly stated in [Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7 "Deuteronomy 7 - Warnings Against Intermarriage and Idolatry") and reiterated throughout the Law. Making them "tributaries" was a pragmatic compromise that prioritized economic gain or ease over spiritual integrity, ultimately leading to the cycles of apostasy and oppression detailed in the book of [Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges").

**Question?** What does "the house of Joseph" refer to, and why are they mentioned specifically in this context?

Answer: "The house of Joseph" refers collectively to the powerful and numerous tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, who were descendants of Joseph. These tribes were allotted significant territory in the central highlands and were expected to be leaders in the conquest of Canaan. They are mentioned specifically here because, despite their considerable strength and the blessing they received from Joshua (see [Joshua 17:17-18](/joshua/17-17 "Joshua 17:17-18 - Joseph's Strength and Challenge")), even they fell short of God's command for complete expulsion, opting for subjugation instead. This highlights that the widespread failure to fully dispossess the Canaanites was not due to a lack of power or resources, but rather a lack of complete obedience and faith in God's perfect plan.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Judges 1:35 details Israel's tragic failure to fully conquer and purify the land, leaving lingering enemies and spiritual compromise, it powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and complete victory achieved by Jesus Christ. Israel's partial obedience resulted in a compromised peace and ongoing spiritual struggle, but Christ's mission was one of total triumph over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. Unlike the "house of Joseph" who merely made the Amorites "tributaries," Jesus does not simply subjugate our spiritual enemies; He utterly disarms and defeats them through His cross, making a public spectacle of them ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). He is the true Joshua, leading His people not into a physical land with lingering enemies, but into a spiritual kingdom where every enemy—sin, death, and the devil—is ultimately put under His feet ([1 Corinthians 15:25](/1_corinthians/15-25 "1 Corinthians 15:25 - Christ's Reign Until All Enemies are Subdued")). Furthermore, where Israel struggled with the impurities of the land and the corrupting influence of the Canaanites, Christ purifies His people, enabling them to live in true holiness, free from the dominion of sin. His victory is complete, offering not a compromised peace, but a radical transformation that allows believers to truly "dwell" in Him, fully possessing the spiritual inheritance promised through faith in Him ([Ephesians 1:3-14](/ephesians/1 "Ephesians 1 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")). In Christ, the complete and decisive victory that eluded Israel is fully realized for all who believe.

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.