Judges 1:28

Verse

When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.

American Standard Version (1901)

And it came to pass, when Israel was waxed strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, and did not utterly drive them out.

Bible in Basic English

And whenever Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced work, without driving them out completely.

Free Bible Version

When the Israelites grew stronger, they made the Canaanites do forced labor, but they never completely drove them out.

Geneva Bible 1599

Neuerthelesse when Israel was strong, they put the Canaanites to tribute, and expelled them not wholly.

King James (Authorized) Version

And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.

Translation for Translators

Later, the Israelis became ◄stronger/more numerous►, and they forced the people of the Canaan people-group to work for them as their slaves, but they did not force all the people of the Canaan people-group to leave their land.

Unlocked Literal Bible

When Israel became strong, they forced the Canaanites to serve them with hard labor, but they never drove them out completely.

Noah Webster Bible

And it came to pass when Israel was strong, that they subjected the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly expel them.

World English Bible

When Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out.

Young's Literal Translation

and it cometh to pass, when Israel hath been strong, that he setteth the Canaanite to tribute, and hath not utterly dispossessed it.

Context

The Failure to Complete the Conquest

²⁷At that time Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.²⁸When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.

Summary

This verse describes how the tribe of Judah captured Jerusalem but was unable to drive out the Jebusites who lived there. Despite their initial success, the tribe of Judah did not fully obey God's command to completely conquer the land, allowing the Jebusites to remain in Jerusalem. This failure to fully follow God's instructions would later have negative consequences for the Israelites, as the Jebusites became a constant threat and influence in the region. Judges 1:28 serves as a reminder of the importance of wholehearted obedience to God's commands and the consequences of compromise in fulfilling His will.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And it came to pass, when Israel was strong,.... All the tribes of Israel were become numerous, and able to drive the Canaanites out of the land everywhere, and particularly were able to assist Manasseh in expelling the Canaanites out of the above places, yet they did not; but all they did was: that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out; which flowed from covetousness, and a love of ease; they did not care to be at the trouble of expelling them, as they found it turned more to their account and present advantage to make them tributaries; and this was true of the Israelites in general, and of the half tribe of Manasseh in particular; which, as Abarbinel thinks, is here respected.