Bethsan, &c. See Josue xvii. 11. --- Began. Hebrew, "would dwell." (Haydock) ---The Israelites sinfully acquiesced, partly through slothfulness and the dislike of war, and partly that they might receive tribute from the Chanaanites. (Menochius) read more
Them. We shall see the punishment of their prevarication during the greatest part of this book. (Calmet) read more
21-36 The people of Israel were very careless of their duty and interest. Owing to slothfulness and cowardice, they would not be at the pains to complete their conquests. It was also owing to their covetousness: they were willing to let the Canaanites live among them, that they might make advantage of them. They had not the dread and detestation of idolatry they ought to have had. The same unbelief that kept their fathers forty years out of Canaan, kept them now out of the full possession of... read more
Various Heathen Left in Canaan v. 21. And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem, who returned to the city as soon as the armies of Judah and Simeon marched southward; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. This notice is here inserted partly to show that the conquered city did not remain in the hands of Israel, partly to indicate that Judah had no intention of permanently occupying a city allotted to... read more
A list of places in the central and northern tribes from which the Canaanites were not driven out. The tribes when strong, make the Canaanites tributary; when weak, are content to dwell in the midst of themJudges 1:27-3627Neither did [And]87 Manasseh [did not] drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and her towns [daughter-cities], nor Taanach and her towns [daughter-cities], nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns [daughter-cities], nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns... read more
Flagging in Their Great Task Judges 1:16-36 ; Judges 2:1-5 The conquest of Canaan was very partial. Israel dwelled among the ancient inhabitants of the land, much as the Normans did among the Anglo-Saxons, whom they found in England; and the mixture of the two peoples was the beginning of moral degeneracy and decline in the chosen race. Wherever there was the old-time faith in God, as in the case of Caleb, the land was cleared of the Canaanite; but where God was out , the Canaanite was ... read more
The Book of Judges covers historically a period from the death of Joshua to the judgeship of Samuel and the introduction of the monarchy. It opens with a description of the general condition of affairs at the close of the period of Joshua's leadership. He had led the people into possession of the land but had left them with much to be done ere its final subjugation. Their fist act was to seek to know the will of God as to who should commence this final work of conquest. Judah, the kingly... read more
‘ And Manasseh, did not drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns. But the Canaanites would dwell in the land.’ The tribe of Manasseh was divided in two, one section being Beyond Jordan, and the other in the section of Canaan north of Ephraim and south of Zebulun and Issachar. Their territory included the powerful Canaanite... read more
‘ And it happened that when Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to taskwork and did not utterly drive them out.’ At one stage or another Israel obtained control of these cities and their surrounding villages, but when they did so they did not drive the Canaanites out, but allowed them to remain, and subjected them to slavery in direct disobedience to God’s commands. Their desire for ease and mastery overcame their willingness to obey God. Thus they began to fraternise with them,... read more
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Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Judges 1:27-36
I include all these verses within one view, because one general observation suits the whole. We see in them the sad picture of Israel's want of faith, and consequently want of courage. Had those tribes trusted to the arm of God, they would not have feared the power of man. Had they called to mind that it was their rock which had sold them, and that their Lord had shut them up, their chariots of iron would have been considered by them but as the reeds of Egypt; but one of them would have chased... read more