Judges 1 21

Judges 1:21 kjv

And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.

Judges 1:21 nkjv

But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

Judges 1:21 niv

The Benjamites, however, did not drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites.

Judges 1:21 esv

But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

Judges 1:21 nlt

The tribe of Benjamin, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the people of Benjamin.

Judges 1 verses

Judges 1 21 Meaning

Judges 1:21 states that the tribe of Benjamin failed to completely dispossess the Jebusites dwelling in Jerusalem. This resulted in the Jebusites continuing to live alongside the Benjaminites in the city up until the time the Book of Judges was written. This partial obedience highlights a key theme in Judges: the Israelites' failure to fully carry out God's command to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants of the Promised Land, leading to lasting consequences of spiritual compromise and ongoing conflict.

Judges 1 21 Context

Judges 1 sets the stage for the entire book, following directly after the death of Joshua. While Joshua ended with the division of the land and some initial conquests, Judges 1 opens with Israel inquiring of the Lord which tribe should go up first against the Canaanites. It presents a grim inventory of partial successes and, more prominently, significant failures of the individual Israelite tribes to fully dispossess the inhabitants of their allotted territories. This verse about Benjamin and Jerusalem is a specific instance of this widespread failure. Historically, Jerusalem (known as Jebus at that time for its Jebusite inhabitants) was a strategically vital city, situated on the border of the tribal lands of both Judah and Benjamin. Its fortified nature made it a formidable challenge, and its continued non-Israelite presence represented a significant unfinished task in the conquest of the Promised Land, foreshadowing the spiritual and military struggles that would characterize the period of the Judges.

Judges 1 21 Word analysis

• But: "וּבְנֵי" (u-ve-nei). This conjunction (the "u-" prefix for "and/but") introduces a contrasting or qualifying statement. Here, it contrasts with earlier tribal successes or expectations of complete conquest, highlighting a specific failure.
• the children of Benjamin: "בִנְיָמִן" (Binyamin). Refers to the tribe of Benjamin. They were allocated territory including Jerusalem (Josh 18:28). This emphasizes tribal responsibility and identifies the specific party accountable for the failure.
• did not drive out: "לֹא־הוֹרִישׁוּ" (lo-horishū). The negative particle "lo" (not) combined with "horishū," meaning "they dispossessed" or "they inherited" (in the causative form, meaning "caused to inherit/dispossess"). This is the critical phrase, signifying disobedience. It implies a lack of complete commitment and faith in God's command to fully expel the Canaanites.
• the Jebusites: "הַיְבוּסִי" (ha-Yevu’si). A specific pre-Israelite ethnic group inhabiting Jerusalem. Their presence was a direct affront to God's command and a persistent spiritual danger due to their idolatrous practices.
• who inhabited Jerusalem: "יֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם" (yosh’ve Yerushalayim). "Yoshevim" means "dwellers" or "inhabitants." Jerusalem, while being part of Benjamin's inheritance, remained a stronghold for these original inhabitants, implying a failure to seize full control. While often called "Jebus" prior to David's conquest, the text uses "Jerusalem," likely reflecting the later common name known to the biblical audience at the time of writing.
• so: This inferential connector (implied by the continuous narrative) points to a direct consequence of the previous inaction.
• the Jebusites dwell: "וַיֵּשְׁבוּ הַיְבוּסִי" (vaiyesh’vu ha-Yevu’si). "Vayyesh’vu" means "and they dwelt." This reiterates their continued presence, emphasizing the persistent reality of the Israelites' failure and its enduring impact.
• with the children of Benjamin: "אֶת־בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן" (et-benei Binyamin). This indicates a shared living arrangement or coexistence. Such cohabitation led to intermarriage and idolatry, as depicted later in Judges.
• in Jerusalem: "בִּירוּשָׁלַ͏ִם" (biYerushalayim). Re-emphasizes the specific geographical location where this incomplete conquest and subsequent coexistence occurred.
• to this day: "עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה" (ʿad hayom hazzeh). A formulaic phrase used in biblical historical narratives, indicating that the described situation or phenomenon persisted at the time the text was written or compiled. It underscores the long-term, lasting consequence of Benjamin's original failure, signifying a state of affairs that continued for an extended period.

Words-group Analysis:

• "But the children of Benjamin did not drive out": This phrase introduces the central point of failure, highlighting Benjamin's particular disobedience in a broader context where many tribes failed. It implies a missed opportunity to complete God's intended work of conquest and purification of the land.
• "the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem": This precisely identifies the lingering enemy and the strategically important stronghold that remained untaken. It points to a deep-rooted obstacle that remained unaddressed.
• "so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day": This sequence of phrases encapsulates the immediate consequence of the "did not drive out" and its long-term ramifications. "Dwell with" indicates an unsettling coexistence, a compromise with elements God had commanded to be expelled. "To this day" extends the impact of this failure, setting the stage for future conflicts and demonstrating the persistent problem inherited by successive generations until much later when David eventually conquers Jerusalem.

Judges 1 21 Bonus section

• Border City: Jerusalem sat on the strategic border between Judah and Benjamin's inheritance. While Joshua 15:63 records Judah also failed to dispossess the Jebusites of Jerusalem, Judges 1:21 places the emphasis on Benjamin's specific failure regarding the same city. This highlights that the responsibility fell on both tribes due to the city's unique position, yet both failed.
• Theological Implications of "To This Day": This phrase isn't just a temporal marker; it emphasizes the long-term spiritual consequence of their disobedience. The ongoing presence of the Jebusites in a key strategic and soon-to-be-sacred city was a constant reminder of unfulfilled covenant obligations and partial conquest, illustrating how historical failures can reverberate through generations.
• Contrast with Caleb: The lack of resolve displayed by Benjamin stands in stark contrast to figures like Caleb (Judges 1:12-15) who, through faith, fully drove out the giants from Hebron despite the daunting task. This highlights that the failure was not due to divine inadequacy but human unwillingness to trust and obey completely.

Judges 1 21 Commentary

Judges 1:21 is more than a mere historical notation; it's a profound theological statement within the narrative of Israel. Benjamin's failure to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem is particularly poignant. Jerusalem, later to become the spiritual and political capital, remained unconquered by Benjamin, despite its allocation to their territory (Joshua 18:28). This specific lapse is echoed in Joshua 15:63 regarding Judah, emphasizing the difficulty and perhaps the shared responsibility, but Judges specifically points to Benjamin here, setting up a particular narrative thread for their tribe's actions.

The phrase "did not drive out" reveals a fundamental breach of covenant fidelity. God had explicitly commanded Israel to utterly dispossess the land's pagan inhabitants, not out of cruelty, but to prevent their idolatry and wickedness from corrupting Israel (Dt 7:1-5). Benjamin's inaction, shared by many other tribes as detailed in Judges 1, signals a waning of faith and zeal present in Joshua's generation. This partial obedience reflects spiritual lethargy and perhaps a preference for convenience (e.g., forcing them into forced labor, as seen in Judges 1:28) over costly, full obedience.

The immediate consequence—"so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin"—illustrates the direct outcome: cohabitation. This wasn't merely geographic; it portended cultural and religious contamination. These lingering "thorns in their sides" (Num 33:55) would become agents of temptation, leading Israel into idolatry and further disobedience, fueling the cycle of apostasy and judgment detailed throughout Judges.

The phrase "to this day" marks the chronic nature of this failure. It wasn't a temporary setback but an enduring reality that persisted until the time the book was written, setting the backdrop for Israel's recurring struggles until King David finally conquers Jerusalem centuries later (2 Samuel 5). This verse powerfully underscores the cost of incomplete obedience and spiritual compromise, serving as a cautionary tale for all who seek to fully inherit God's promises in their lives.