Judges 1 34

Judges 1:34 kjv

And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:

Judges 1:34 nkjv

And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountains, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley;

Judges 1:34 niv

The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain.

Judges 1:34 esv

The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain.

Judges 1:34 nlt

As for the tribe of Dan, the Amorites forced them back into the hill country and would not let them come down into the plains.

Judges 1 verses

Judges 1 34 Meaning

Judges 1:34 describes the failure of the tribe of Dan to fully possess their allotted territory in the land of Canaan. Instead of dispossessing the Amorites, the tribe of Dan was actually overcome by them and forced to retreat into the mountainous regions. The Amorites, through their superior strength or strategic positioning, actively prevented the Danites from descending and settling in the fertile, strategically important lowlands or valleys which were part of their original inheritance. This illustrates Israel's incomplete obedience and the enduring power of the Canaanite inhabitants.

Judges 1 34 Context

Judges chapter 1 sets the historical stage for the book by chronicling the Israelites' partial and often failed attempts to complete the conquest of Canaan after Joshua's death. Unlike the decisive victories recorded in Joshua, Judges 1 repeatedly emphasizes how various tribes "did not drive out" the native inhabitants or "allowed" them to dwell among them. This verse regarding the tribe of Dan stands out because it's not merely a failure to expel, but an active reversal: the Amorites "forced" the Danites back. This reveals a significant power imbalance where the Canaanites held the upper hand, specifically in the valuable lowland areas. Historically, this period reflects a decentralized Israelite society lacking a unified military effort, allowing well-entrenched, often iron-chariot-equipped Canaanite city-states (like those of the Amorites and Philistines) to maintain control over strategic plains and fertile valleys. These lowlands were crucial for agriculture, trade routes, and military maneuverability, making their loss particularly detrimental to Dan's prosperity and security.

Judges 1 34 Word analysis

• And the Amorites: (Hebrew: וְהָאֱמֹרִי wəhāʼĔmōrî)
  • Amorites: One of the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan, a powerful and warlike group, often associated with highlands but also present in valleys. They were a significant obstacle to Israel's full occupation of the land. The term can be used broadly for various Canaanite groups. Their continued presence signifies Israel's disobedience to the command to utterly dispossess them (Deut 7:1-2).
• forced: (Hebrew: לָחַץ lāḥats)
  • Means "to press," "to squeeze," "to oppress," "to distress," or "to restrict." This is a strong verb indicating more than just resistance; it signifies active military pressure or constraint applied by the Amorites. It implies a condition of distress and subjugation. It highlights the Amorites' dominance over the Danites, contrasting with other verses in Judges 1 where Israel "did not drive out" (implying a passive failure) or allowed the inhabitants to dwell among them. Here, the Amorites acted upon Dan.
• the children of Dan: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי דָן bənê Dān)
  • Dan: One of the twelve tribes of Israel. This tribe received territory west of Benjamin and Judah, extending towards the Mediterranean coast (Josh 19:40-48), an area including significant plains and valleys. Historically, Dan was a smaller, weaker tribe, which might explain their inability to hold their ground against a strong adversary. Their subsequent migration northward (Jdg 18) directly stems from this initial failure to secure their inheritance.
• into the mountains: (Hebrew: הָהָרָה hāhārāh)
  • Refers to the hill country. Being pushed into the mountains signifies a strategic defeat. The mountains were often seen as defensible but less fertile or less prosperous compared to the valleys. This act indicates being driven away from their allotted, more desirable territory and confined to a less advantageous region. It was a forced retreat, signifying loss of control.
• for they would not suffer them: (Hebrew: כִּי לֹא נְתָנוֹ kî lōʼ nətānō)
  • For: Introduces the reason for the forcing.
  • They would not suffer them: Meaning "they did not allow them" or "they did not permit them." This reiterates the Amorite's control and initiative. It's a clear statement of their deliberate and successful effort to block the Danites. It directly shows that the Amorites, not the Danites, were dictating the terms of residency in the valley.
• to come down to the valley: (Hebrew: לָרֶדֶת לָעֵמֶק lārēdeṯ lāʻēmeq)
  • To come down: Indicates a movement from the highlands (where they were pushed) to the lowlands.
  • To the valley: (Hebrew: הָעֵמֶק hāʻēmeq) Refers to the lowland plains. These were typically more fertile for agriculture and contained key trade routes. Control of the valleys, especially given the prevalence of iron chariots among the Canaanites, implied military superiority and economic prosperity. The Danites' exclusion from the valley represented a significant loss of their inherited resources and a crippling blow to their establishment in the land.

Judges 1 34 Bonus section

• The military superiority of the Amorites, particularly in the plains, can be attributed to their use of chariots, though not explicitly mentioned for the Amorites in this verse, the broader context of Judges 1 (v.19) highlights this formidable weapon system in lowland warfare.
• This verse represents a reversal of God's promise (e.g., Deut 7:1-2) and the Joshua narratives, where the Lord "drove out" the nations before Israel. Here, a foreign nation "forced" an Israelite tribe back.
• The incident illustrates the profound spiritual and practical implications of incomplete obedience to God's commands. Not driving out the inhabitants led not just to shared land but to a loss of the very land God had granted as an inheritance, highlighting the active dangers posed by remaining enemies.

Judges 1 34 Commentary

Judges 1:34 offers a stark contrast to previous verses detailing Israel's partial conquest. While other tribes merely "did not drive out" their inhabitants, implying either tolerance or a lack of persistent effort, the tribe of Dan was actively "forced" back by the Amorites. This highlights not just a passive failure but an outright defeat, revealing a weakened Israel that was unable to contend with formidable Canaanite military power, often aided by superior technology like iron chariots, prevalent in the valleys. The Danites' confinement to the mountains meant loss of vital economic resources and strategic control found in the fertile lowlands. This direct reversal foreshadows the greater failures and cyclical oppression seen throughout the Book of Judges, serving as a grave consequence of Israel's covenant disobedience and their failure to trust fully in God to dispossess their enemies. It explains why Dan eventually abandoned its inheritance and migrated north (Judges 18), becoming a poignant example of incomplete obedience leading to territorial displacement and societal instability.