Judges 3:5

KJV

And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:

KJV (with Strong's)

And the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} dwelt {H3427} among {H7130} the Canaanites {H3669}, Hittites {H2850}, and Amorites {H567}, and Perizzites {H6522}, and Hivites {H2340}, and Jebusites {H2983}:

Complete Jewish Bible

So the people of Isra'el lived among the Kena'ani, Hitti, Emori, P'rizi, Hivi and Y'vusi;

Berean Standard Bible

Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

American Standard Version

And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 3:5 serves as a pivotal and somber declaration in the Book of Judges, succinctly articulating Israel's profound and systemic failure to fully obey God's explicit command to dispossess the indigenous inhabitants of Canaan. This verse establishes the foundational premise for the cyclical pattern of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance that defines the book, highlighting Israel's deliberate choice to compromise with the very cultures God had warned would lead them astray, thereby setting the stage for their spiritual decline and subsequent suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 3:5 immediately follows a crucial divine explanation for the ongoing presence of the Canaanite nations in the land. [Judges 2:20-23](/judges/2-20-23 "Judges 2:20-23 - God's Judgment and Testing of Israel") reveals that God left these nations to test Israel's faithfulness, specifically whether they would obey the commands given through Moses. This verse, then, serves as the direct answer to that divine test, demonstrating Israel's immediate and comprehensive failure. It precedes the account of Israel's descent into idolatry and the rise of the first oppressor, Cushan-Rishathaim, establishing the cause-and-effect relationship between disobedience and judgment that permeates the entire book, as seen in [Judges 3:7-8](/judges/3-7-8 "Judges 3:7-8 - Israel's Idolatry and Oppression by Cushan-Rishathaim"). The detailed list of nations here reinforces the scope of the incomplete conquest, which was partially detailed in the preceding narrative of [Judges 1](/judges/1 "Judges 1 - Incomplete Conquest of Canaan").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Following the unified, divinely-led conquest under Joshua, Israel entered a period of tribal confederacy, lacking a centralized monarchy. The command to utterly dispossess the Canaanite nations was not merely for territorial acquisition but primarily for spiritual purity, as their idolatrous practices—including Baal worship, child sacrifice, and cultic prostitution—posed an existential threat to Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. The Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites represented diverse ethnic and cultural groups, each with their own deities and social structures, deeply entrenched in the land. "Dwelling among" them implied adopting their agricultural practices, trading relationships, and, most dangerously, their religious customs, which were often intertwined with daily life. This period saw a gradual syncretism, where Israel began to integrate Canaanite religious elements into their worship, directly violating the exclusivity of the Mosaic covenant.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully underscores several core themes within the Book of Judges. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Disobedience and Covenant Failure**, as Israel directly violates the foundational commands given in texts like [Deuteronomy 7:1-5](/deuteronomy/7-1-5 "Deuteronomy 7:1-5 - Command to Destroy Nations and Idols") and [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15-16 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Warning Against Covenant with Inhabitants"). Secondly, it introduces the theme of **Compromise and Spiritual Syncretism**, showing how physical coexistence inevitably led to spiritual contamination. The failure to drive out the nations meant Israel was constantly exposed to and eventually assimilated the idolatrous practices of their neighbors, leading to the spiritual decline described in [Judges 2:11-13](/judges/2-11-13 "Judges 2:11-13 - Israel's Idolatry and Abandonment of God"). Finally, it foreshadows the **Consequences of Unfaithfulness**, establishing the premise for the recurring cycle of apostasy, divine judgment (oppression by foreign nations), Israel's cry for help, and God's raising of a deliverer (judge), a pattern explicitly laid out in [Judges 2:14-19](/judges/2-14-19 "Judges 2:14-19 - The Cycle of Apostasy and Deliverance").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Children (Hebrew, _bên'_):** From H1121 (בֵּן, _bên_), meaning "a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc.)." In this context, "children of Israel" refers to the entire nation, the descendants of Jacob (Israel), emphasizing their identity as God's covenant people. The use of "children" highlights their foundational relationship with God and their collective responsibility to uphold the covenant, a responsibility they failed to meet.
* **Dwelt (Hebrew, _yâshab'_):** From H3427 (יָשַׁב, _yâshab_), a primitive root meaning "to sit down (specifically as judge, in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry." The verb "dwelt" signifies a settled, permanent residence, implying a cessation of the conquest mandate and an adoption of a policy of coexistence. This was not a temporary encampment but an established living arrangement, indicating a deliberate integration rather than a continued effort to dispossess, directly contradicting God's command.
* **Among (Hebrew, _qereb'_):** From H7130 (קֶרֶב, _qereb_), meaning "properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition); [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] heart, [idiom] in, inward, midst." The preposition "among" (often translated from _b'kerev_, "in the midst of") emphasizes not merely physical proximity but a deep integration and establishment within the communities of the indigenous peoples. It suggests an intimate, internal relationship, signifying that the Israelites allowed these foreign cultures to become part of their inner social and spiritual fabric, rather than maintaining a distinct separation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites,"**: This opening clause immediately highlights the central problem. "The children of Israel" refers to the covenant people, the descendants of Jacob, who were called to be distinct and holy, set apart for Yahweh. Their action of "dwelling among" the Canaanites signifies a direct and deliberate deviation from God's command to dispossess them. This was not a passive outcome but an active choice to integrate, rather than separate, setting the stage for the spiritual compromise that would plague them throughout the period of the Judges.
* **"Hittites, and Amorites,"**: These two nations are listed as prominent groups alongside the Canaanites. The Hittites were known for their powerful empire and military prowess, while the Amorites were a widespread Semitic people often associated with idolatry and wickedness in biblical texts. Their inclusion underscores the breadth of Israel's failure to complete the conquest and the diverse array of pagan influences they allowed to remain within their midst, each bringing its own set of gods, rituals, and moral deviations.
* **"and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:"**: This continuation of the list further emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Israel's disobedience. The Perizzites were rural inhabitants, the Hivites often associated with specific cities like Gibeon (who deceived Israel in Joshua), and the Jebusites were the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Jebus) itself, a stronghold not fully conquered until David's time. The cumulative effect of this detailed enumeration of nations highlights the widespread and systemic nature of Israel's failure across the land, indicating that this was not an isolated incident but a pervasive pattern of non-compliance with God's clear directives for the purification of the Promised Land.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Listing** and **Foreshadowing**. The extensive **Listing** of six distinct Canaanite nations (Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites) serves to emphasize the comprehensive nature of Israel's failure to dispossess the inhabitants of the land. This detailed enumeration is not merely descriptive; it underscores the vast scope of the compromise and the pervasive presence of pagan influences that Israel allowed to remain. This literary technique visually reinforces the magnitude of their disobedience and the sheer scale of the spiritual danger they embraced. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as powerful **Foreshadowing**. By stating that Israel "dwelt among" these nations, the author subtly but clearly signals the inevitable spiritual and moral decline that will follow, setting the stage for the recurring cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance that characterizes the rest of the Book of Judges. It is the direct cause that will lead to the effects detailed in subsequent chapters.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 3:5 stands as a stark testament to the critical importance of obedience to divine commands and the perilous nature of spiritual compromise. God's directive to dispossess the nations of Canaan was not arbitrary; it was a safeguard for Israel's covenant purity and their exclusive relationship with Yahweh. By choosing to "dwell among" these nations, Israel violated the very terms of their covenant, opening the door to idolatry, syncretism, and moral decay. This act of disobedience highlights the recurring biblical theme that proximity to ungodliness, when coupled with a lack of spiritual vigilance, inevitably leads to assimilation and spiritual bondage. The verse thus serves as a foundational explanation for the subsequent cycles of judgment and deliverance that define the Book of Judges, demonstrating that human failure to uphold God's standards directly invites divine discipline.

* [Deuteronomy 7:1-5](/deuteronomy/7-1-5 "Deuteronomy 7:1-5 - God's Command to Destroy Nations and Idols")
* [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15-16 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Warning Against Idolatrous Covenants")
* [Psalm 106:34-36](/psalm/106-34-36 "Psalm 106:34-36 - Israel's Failure to Destroy Nations and Their Idolatry")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 3:5 offers a profound and timeless lesson for believers today: the danger of spiritual compromise. Just as ancient Israel was commanded to maintain a distinct identity, separate from the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations, so too are followers of Christ called to be "in the world but not of the world." Our spiritual landscape is filled with "nations"—worldly values, ungodly philosophies, and sinful temptations—that seek to infiltrate and corrupt our faith. When we allow these influences to "dwell among" us, rather than actively resisting and dispossessing them from our hearts and minds, we risk spiritual syncretism, where the purity of our devotion to God becomes diluted by worldly pursuits. This verse challenges us to examine areas of our lives where we might be compromising, settling for coexistence with sin rather than pursuing radical obedience and holiness. It reminds us that true spiritual flourishing comes not from blending in, but from standing apart, consecrated to God's purposes, and actively pursuing transformation by the renewing of our minds, as encouraged in [Romans 12:2](/romans/12-2 "Romans 12:2 - Do Not Be Conformed to This World").

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be "dwelling among" worldly influences rather than actively dispossessing them?**
* **What specific "nations" (habits, attitudes, media, relationships) might be compromising my spiritual purity and devotion to Christ?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater sense of spiritual distinctiveness and radical obedience in my daily walk, learning from Israel's failure?**

### FAQ

**Why did God command Israel to drive out the nations in the first place?**

Answer: God's command to dispossess the Canaanite nations was primarily for the spiritual preservation and purity of Israel. These nations practiced extreme forms of idolatry, including child sacrifice, cultic prostitution, and various forms of divination, which were an abomination to the Lord (e.g., [Deuteronomy 18:9-12](/deuteronomy/18-9-12 "Deuteronomy 18:9-12 - Abominations of the Nations")). Their presence and influence would inevitably lead Israel into idolatry and moral corruption, thereby breaking their covenant relationship with Yahweh. The land itself was considered holy, and its purification was essential for Israel to fulfill its role as a light to the nations, demonstrating God's holiness and justice. It was a preventative measure to protect Israel from spiritual contamination and ensure their faithfulness to the one true God.

**What does "dwelt among" signify beyond simple coexistence?**

Answer: The phrase "dwelt among" (יָשַׁב בְּקֶרֶב, _yashav b'kerev_) implies more than just physical proximity; it suggests a settled, integrated, and accepted coexistence. It indicates that Israel ceased its military operations to dispossess these nations and instead adopted a policy of living alongside them, engaging in trade, social interaction, and eventually, cultural and religious syncretism. This was a deliberate choice to abandon the divine mandate for separation and purity, leading to the adoption of Canaanite customs and worship practices, as seen later in the book (e.g., [Judges 2:11-13](/judges/2-11-13 "Judges 2:11-13 - Israel's Idolatry")). It signifies a deep spiritual compromise that had profound consequences for Israel's identity and relationship with God.

**Did Israel ever fully dispossess any of these nations?**

Answer: While Israel achieved significant victories under Joshua, they never fully completed the conquest as commanded by God. [Judges 1](/judges/1 "Judges 1 - Incomplete Conquest of Canaan") details the partial successes and numerous failures of individual tribes to drive out the inhabitants. For instance, the Jebusites remained in Jerusalem until David's time ([2 Samuel 5:6-9](/2_samuel/5-6-9 "2 Samuel 5:6-9 - David Conquers Jerusalem")), and various pockets of Canaanite peoples persisted throughout the land for centuries. Judges 3:5 serves as a summary statement of this widespread and ongoing failure, which led to the recurring cycles of apostasy and oppression that characterize the period of the Judges.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 3:5, with its lamentable declaration of Israel's compromise, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Israel, as God's chosen nation, was called to be distinct and holy, dispossessing the "nations" of sin and idolatry from the Promised Land to establish a pure kingdom. Their failure to do so led to spiritual bondage and a cycle of judgment. In stark contrast, Jesus, the true Israel, perfectly fulfilled this mandate. He did not "dwell among" the spiritual enemies of humanity in compromise but decisively conquered them. Through His life of perfect obedience, His atoning death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection, Christ dispossessed the ultimate "nations" of sin, death, and the devil, triumphing over all principalities and powers ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities")). He establishes a new, spiritual kingdom where His followers are called out of the world's darkness into His marvelous light ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood")). Unlike ancient Israel, who failed to cleanse their physical land, Christ cleanses His people spiritually, enabling them to live lives of true holiness and separation unto God, not by their own power, but by the indwelling Holy Spirit ([Ephesians 2:19-22](/ephesians/2-19-22 "Ephesians 2:19-22 - Fellow Citizens with the Saints, Built on the Foundation")). He is the one who truly overcomes the world, empowering His disciples to do the same, establishing a kingdom that is not of this world and is utterly pure ([John 16:33](/john/16-33 "John 16:33 - Christ Has Overcome the World")).

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

Exodus 3:8

And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Genesis 10:15

¶ And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,

Genesis 10:18

And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.

Psalms 106:34

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

Psalms 106:38

And shed innocent blood, [even] the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Deuteronomy 7:1

¶ When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

Genesis 15:19

The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,