Joshua 15 63

Joshua 15:63 kjv

As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

Joshua 15:63 nkjv

As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

Joshua 15:63 niv

Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.

Joshua 15:63 esv

But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

Joshua 15:63 nlt

But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.

Joshua 15 verses

Joshua 15 63 Meaning

Joshua 15:63 states that the people of Judah, though granted the inheritance of Jerusalem as part of their tribal territory, were unable to expel the Jebusite inhabitants from the city. Consequently, the Jebusites continued to reside in Jerusalem alongside the people of Judah up until the time this historical account was penned. This verse highlights a significant incomplete conquest, a failure to fully obey God's command to dispossess the inhabitants of the land.

Joshua 15 63 Context

Joshua chapter 15 meticulously details the vast land inheritance allocated to the tribe of Judah, the largest and most influential of the Israelite tribes, as they settle in Canaan. The chapter outlines their boundaries, stretching from the Great Sea to the Dead Sea, encompassing many important cities and regions. After enumerating the numerous towns and villages within Judah's allotted territory, the verse in question, 15:63, serves as a crucial concluding note, highlighting an exception or rather, a significant failure within Judah's otherwise vast possession: their inability to fully dispossess the Jebusites from Jerusalem. This incompleteness stands in contrast to the earlier affirmations of God's faithfulness in giving them the land (Jos 21:43-45) and sets a precedent for the widespread partial conquests and subsequent spiritual struggles depicted in the Book of Judges. Historically, this failure had long-term ramifications, as Jerusalem remained an unconquered foreign stronghold within Israelite territory for centuries until King David finally captured it. The statement "until this day" signals that this condition persisted when the Book of Joshua was likely compiled or edited, possibly well into the Judges period or early monarchy, marking it as a historical reality that challenged Israel's claim to full possession and God's absolute promises.

Joshua 15 63 Word analysis

• As for the Jebusites:

  • Jebusites (יְבוּסִי - Yevusi): A Hamitic, Canaanite tribe, descendants of Canaan (Gen 10:16). They were one of the indigenous groups living in the land of Canaan promised to Israel (Gen 15:21, Ex 3:8). Their capital city was Jerusalem, often referred to as "Jebus" before David's conquest. The name itself may derive from a root meaning "to tread down" or "to trample," perhaps referencing their robust defense of the city.
  • Significance: The very mention of the Jebusites highlights a specific, formidable enemy occupying a strategic location—a city designed by God to be Israel's capital. Their presence signifies a direct challenge to the complete fulfillment of God's covenantal promises of land.

• the inhabitants of Jerusalem:

  • Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַם - Yerushalaim): Known as Jebus before David captured it (1 Chr 11:4). The city held immense strategic importance, being located on a mountainous ridge between Judah and Benjamin, possessing strong natural defenses. It would later become the capital of the united monarchy and the spiritual center of Israel.
  • Significance: Specifying Jerusalem underscores the prominence of the unconquered stronghold. The inability to take this city foreshadows a recurring theme of incomplete victory and spiritual compromise in Israel's history.

• the people of Judah:

  • People of Judah (בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה - B'nei Yehudah): The descendants of Judah, the leading tribe destined for preeminence (Gen 49:10). Given their strength and vast territory, their failure here is particularly significant and surprising, pointing to a lack of complete commitment or trust rather than sheer military weakness.
  • Significance: This highlights that the responsibility for the failure lay squarely with God's people.

• could not drive them out:

  • Could not (לֹא יָכְלוּ לְהוֹרִישָׁם - lo yak'lu l'horisham): "Were not able" or "did not prevail in dispossessing them." The Hebrew verb "horish" means to drive out, to dispossess, to conquer, which was a core command given by God for the inhabitants of Canaan (Num 33:52, Deu 9:4).
  • Significance: This "could not" might indicate a military struggle but also implies a lack of full resolve or faith, given God's repeated promises to assist them in driving out their enemies. It hints at a spiritual failure as much as a tactical one. This failure stands in stark contrast to God's promise that "no man shall be able to stand before you" (Jos 1:5).

• so the Jebusites dwell:

  • Dwell (יֵשְׁבוּ - yeshvu): To sit, to settle, to inhabit. Implies permanent residence and continued presence, not just a temporary state.
  • Significance: The consequence of Judah's inability was the sustained presence of a foreign, non-covenant people within Israel's inheritance. This presence was a constant spiritual and political danger, fostering assimilation and potential idolatry.

• with the people of Judah at Jerusalem:

  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes the cohabitation and mixture of distinct peoples. It points to a violation of the divine command for separation, creating a spiritual vulnerability for the people of God by allowing the presence of foreign cultural and religious influences.

• until this day:

  • Until this day (עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה - ad hayom hazzeh): A common editorial note in the Bible (e.g., Jos 4:9, 7:26, 9:27) indicating the enduring nature of a situation from the time of the events recorded up to the time the biblical narrative was composed or compiled.
  • Significance: This phrase anchors the historical reality of incomplete conquest firmly in the reader's present. It underscores that Judah's failure was not an isolated event but had long-lasting consequences. It sets the stage for narratives of conflict, spiritual struggle, and ultimately, David's eventual capture of Jerusalem in the Books of Samuel and Chronicles, emphasizing the protracted nature of full territorial acquisition and the long period during which a "foreign element" persisted within the promised land.

Joshua 15 63 Bonus section

The term "Jebusites" not only identifies a people group but specifically identifies Jerusalem before its Israelite conquest. The lingering presence of the Jebusites in Jerusalem provides an explanation for why this strategically vital city was not integrated into Israelite life until the time of King David. Their formidable fortifications and defensive posture, evident from later accounts (2 Sam 5:6-9), may have initially daunted the Israelite tribes. This partial conquest also prevented Judah from fully dominating their allotted territory. The persistent presence of these unconquered peoples, as detailed not only in Judah's account but across multiple tribal narratives in Judges 1, illustrates a foundational spiritual problem for Israel: a failure to fully trust God and complete His work, leading to constant temptation from foreign religious practices and eventual decline into idolatry. It serves as a stark reminder that neglecting God's commands regarding holiness and separation has long-term, detrimental consequences for God's people, often leading to ongoing internal conflict and a less than full enjoyment of their inheritance.

Joshua 15 63 Commentary

Joshua 15:63 marks a significant anomaly and a somber note at the culmination of Judah's territorial descriptions. Despite the comprehensive victories chronicled elsewhere in Joshua, and despite God's clear commands for complete disinheritance (Deu 7:1-6, 20:16-18), the tribe of Judah failed to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem. This was not a minor oversight but a crucial compromise. It signifies more than a military challenge; it highlights a spiritual deficiency—either a lack of faith to rely on God's power for complete victory, or a lack of resolve to endure the rigors of sustained conquest.

This lingering presence of the Jebusites meant that Jerusalem, divinely appointed to be part of Judah's inheritance, remained a Canaanite stronghold for centuries. This verse sets a pattern for the subsequent Book of Judges, where incomplete conquests become commonplace (Jdg 1:21-36), leading to the spiritual degradation and cyclical disobedience of Israel (Jdg 2:2-3, 2:20-23). The continued dwelling of foreign nations was precisely what God warned would become "pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides" (Num 33:55). The implication is clear: allowing compromise in one area can undermine the spiritual health and security of the entire nation. It emphasizes that while God is faithful to His promises (Jos 21:43-45), human failure to fully obey can hinder the complete realization of His blessing in their experience. It reminds believers that incomplete spiritual "conquest" against sin or worldly influences can leave vulnerabilities that persist and create ongoing struggles (Col 3:5-6, Eph 6:10-13).