Judges 1:28 kjv
And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
Judges 1:28 nkjv
And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not completely drive them out.
Judges 1:28 niv
When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely.
Judges 1:28 esv
When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely.
Judges 1:28 nlt
When the Israelites grew stronger, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves, but they never did drive them completely out of the land.
Judges 1 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 23:31-33 | "I will set your bounds from the Red Sea... I will drive out them before you. You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land..." | God's command for complete expulsion and no covenants to avoid spiritual compromise. |
| Num 33:55-56 | "But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land... then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides..." | Divine warning of consequences for incomplete conquest: constant trouble and affliction. |
| Deu 7:2 | "...you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them." | Explicit command for total destruction, emphasizing the need for separation. |
| Deu 20:16-18 | "But of the cities of these peoples... you shall save alive nothing that breathes, but you shall utterly destroy them... lest they teach you to do according to all their abominable practices..." | Reason for total destruction: prevention of idolatry and evil practices. |
| Jos 16:10 | "But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; so the Canaanites have dwelt among Ephraim to this day and have been made to do forced labor." | Direct parallel example from Joshua, specifically mentioning forced labor, highlighting Israel's prior disobedience. |
| Jos 17:13 | "Yet it happened, when the children of Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not utterly drive them out." | Another direct parallel, preceding Judges 1:28, showing the pattern of partial obedience by Ephraim and Manasseh. |
| Jos 23:12-13 | "For if you... make marriages with them... know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be a snare and a trap to you..." | Joshua's warning of the future spiritual consequences of mingling with remaining peoples. |
| Jdg 1:21 | "But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem..." | Similar failure of the tribe of Benjamin within the same chapter, demonstrating a pervasive problem. |
| Jdg 1:27 | "However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shan..." | Another instance of a specific tribe (Manasseh) failing to obey within Judges 1. |
| Jdg 1:30-33 | "Nor did Zebulun drive out... Asher did not drive out... Nor did Naphtali drive out..." | Multiple examples within the chapter of various tribes repeating the same disobedient pattern. |
| Jdg 2:2-3 | "...you shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land... But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? Therefore I also will not drive them out from before you..." | God's explicit rebuke and divine consequence: He would cease to drive out the remaining enemies. |
| Jdg 3:5-6 | "Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites... and they took their daughters as wives for themselves... and served their gods." | The direct fulfillment of the prophecy: incomplete obedience led to intermarriage and idolatry. |
| Psa 106:34-36 | "They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them, but mingled with the Gentiles and learned their works; they served their idols..." | A historical summary of Israel's persistent disobedience and its resulting spiritual defilement. |
| 1 Sam 15:9 | "But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep... and were unwilling to utterly destroy them..." | Parallel disobedience by King Saul regarding the Amalekites, showing a recurring pattern of partial obedience driven by self-interest. |
| 1 Sam 15:22-23 | "...to obey is better than sacrifice... For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry..." | Samuel's pronouncement on Saul's disobedience, underscoring that partial obedience is outright rebellion. |
| Deu 8:17-18 | "Then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth..." | Warning against relying on self-strength, reflecting the 'when Israel was strong' aspect without acknowledging God as the source. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-17 | "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers... Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord." | New Testament principle of spiritual separation from those who oppose God, echoing the spirit of the old covenant command. |
| Jam 4:4 | "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." | Warning against spiritual compromise and friendship with worldly values, similar to Israel's compromise with Canaanites. |
| Rom 12:2 | "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." | New Testament call to non-conformity to the world's ways, aligning with the necessity of Israel's distinction from pagan nations. |
| Eph 5:11 | "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." | The imperative for believers to not partake in or tolerate ungodly practices, drawing a parallel to not allowing Canaanite influences to remain. |
Judges 1 verses
Judges 1 28 Meaning
Judges 1:28 reveals a critical turning point in Israel's early history after Joshua. When Israel gained military and numerical strength, instead of completely dispossessing the Canaanite inhabitants as God commanded, they chose to subject them to forced labor or tribute. This act represented a significant failure of obedience and compromise with God's divine mandate, setting the stage for the spiritual and moral decline observed throughout the Book of Judges.
Judges 1 28 Context
Judges chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the chaotic period of the Judges, providing the theological explanation for the cycles of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance that characterize the book. After Joshua's death, the tribes of Israel were left to complete the conquest of the Promised Land. However, rather than finishing the work of dispossessing the inhabitants as explicitly commanded by God (e.g., Ex 23, Num 33, Deut 7), the various tribes, including Judah (who takes the lead in this chapter), repeatedly fell short. Judges 1:28 specifically highlights Judah's pragmatic decision, once it had become strong, to place the Canaanites under tribute instead of completely expelling them. This seemingly minor compromise established a precedent of disobedience that was replicated by other tribes and profoundly impacted Israel's spiritual well-being throughout this era. The historical context indicates that while Israel achieved some initial successes in conquest, the underlying failure to fully obey God's commands regarding eradication of the pagan inhabitants eventually led to the internal spiritual decay and external challenges seen throughout Judges.
Judges 1 28 Word analysis
- And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - vayehi): A common Hebrew narrative conjunction, often introducing a new event or consequence in the historical record. It signals a chronological development and, in this context, highlights a pivotal turn of events following earlier successes.
- when Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisra'el): Refers to the collective nation descended from Jacob. While Judges 1 recounts actions of individual tribes, this verse broadens the scope, implicating the collective national responsibility in the failure of obedience.
- was strong (חָזַק - chazaq): From the root meaning "to be strong, firm, mighty." It indicates a state of capability, having acquired sufficient power and military advantage. This phrase is significant as it implies Israel felt secure enough in their own strength, which may have led them to believe they could manage the Canaanites rather than depend solely on God's command. This strength, intended for conquest, was misused for pragmatism.
- that they put (וַיִּתֵּן - vayitten): From the verb "to give, place, put." Here, it signifies the act of imposing a condition upon the Canaanites.
- the Canaanites (הַכְּנַעֲנִי - hakkĕna'aniy): Refers to the indigenous peoples of the land, specifically commanded by God to be utterly removed due to their idolatrous and abominable practices (e.g., child sacrifice, immorality). Their continued presence posed a direct spiritual threat to Israel.
- to tribute (לָמַס - lammas): Derived from the noun מַס (mas), meaning "forced labor," "corvée," "tribute," or "levy." This term implies a system of subjugation where the Canaanites were compelled to perform work or provide resources. It signifies an economic gain for Israel and partial control, but critically, not complete expulsion. This contrasts with the divine command of cherem (devotion to utter destruction).
- and did not (וְלֹא - velo): A direct negative particle, emphasizing the omission of the commanded action. This tiny word carries immense theological weight, highlighting a conscious failure to obey.
- utterly drive them out (הוֹרִישׁ אוֹתוֹ - horish oto combined implication of yarash and garash): While Judges uses various terms, the underlying command was to dispossess (yarash, to take possession/drive out by occupying) and drive out (garash, to expel, divorce, cast out). The emphasis here is on total expulsion and eradication of their presence as inhabitants of the land. The failure to do so led to a polluted land and a morally compromised people.
- "when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute": This phrase reveals a pragmatic rather than faith-driven approach. Instead of completely fulfilling God's command in a position of strength, Israel leveraged its power for economic gain (forced labor/tax) rather than spiritual purity and complete obedience. This act signaled a trust in their own might and ingenuity more than in God's directive.
- "and did not utterly drive them out": This final clause is the indictment. It represents the direct disobedience that unravels the theological purpose of the conquest. It highlights Israel's unwillingness to fully commit to God's difficult, but crucial, instructions for preserving their distinctiveness and holiness. This compromise opened the door to assimilation, idolatry, and subsequent cycles of oppression.
Judges 1 28 Bonus section
The act described in Judges 1:28, while specifically noting "Israel," has a significant connection to the tribe of Judah. Earlier verses in the chapter show Judah, along with Simeon, demonstrating early zeal and military success (Jdg 1:4-8). However, this verse points to Judah's part in the collective decision that compromised God's command. This failure to dispossess when capable highlights a crucial aspect of Judges: that even the "leading" tribe failed to exemplify complete faithfulness. This set a dangerous precedent for the other tribes who also made similar compromises (Jdg 1:21, 27-33), underscoring that the issue was not isolated but pervasive throughout Israel. This historical account functions as a theological justification for the chaotic state of Israel throughout the subsequent chapters of Judges, directly linking the nation's spiritual plight to its initial, seemingly minor, acts of disobedience.
Judges 1 28 Commentary
Judges 1:28 encapsulates Israel's foundational failure in the early post-Joshua period, providing the essential backstory for the book's narrative of decline. Rather than complete adherence to God's specific command for holy war – which mandated the utter expulsion of the Canaanite inhabitants to prevent spiritual corruption – Israel opted for a path of partial obedience and economic expediency. The phrase "when Israel was strong" indicates a deliberate choice made from a position of power, not weakness, suggesting a reliance on their own might rather than continued dependence on God's directives. Imposing "tribute" (forced labor) prioritized material gain over spiritual purity, valuing practical advantage over divine mandate. This single act of compromise established a pattern of disobedience that echoed throughout other tribes and paved the way for generations of spiritual compromise, idolatry, and societal decay, proving the wisdom of God's original command: complete separation was essential for Israel's covenant fidelity and survival. The consequence was severe: the very peoples Israel spared became the snares that entangled them in idolatry and oppression.