Judges 1:31 - Asher didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob;

Generated Verse: Judges 1:31

What does "Judges 1:31" mean?


Judges 1:31 is a part of a larger section (Judges 1:27-36) that describes the failure of several Israelite tribes to completely conquer the land allotted to them after the death of Joshua. This specific verse focuses on the tribe of Asher.

Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:

"Asher didn't drive out the inhabitants of...": This is the core statement. The tribe of Asher was unable to expel the Canaanite populations from several key cities and their surrounding areas within the territory assigned to them.

"...Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob;": This lists the specific Canaanite cities or regions that Asher failed to conquer. These were important centers, some of which were strategically located along the Mediterranean coast.

Overall Meaning and Significance:

1. Incomplete Conquest: The verse highlights the incomplete nature of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. God commanded them to drive out all the Canaanites, but Asher failed to do so.

2. Disobedience to God: This failure represents a disobedience to God's command. This disobedience had consequences, as these remaining Canaanite populations later became a source of temptation and syncretism (mixing of religious beliefs and practices) for the Israelites.

3. Compromise and Coexistence: Instead of driving out the Canaanites, Asher allowed them to live among them. This led to a compromise of their faith and culture, as the Israelites were influenced by the Canaanite religious practices and way of life.

4. Foreshadowing Future Problems: This verse is an example of a pattern that repeats throughout the book of Judges. The Israelites' failure to fully obey God's commands leads to cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. These failures lay the groundwork for future problems and eventually the need for a king.

In essence, Judges 1:31 is not just a historical statement about military failures. It's a theological statement about the consequences of disobedience and the dangers of compromise with pagan cultures. It sets the stage for the tumultuous and often tragic history of the Israelites as described in the rest of the book of Judges.

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