Judges 1:27-36 · Bible study
Judges 1:27-36 Commentary: The Failure to Drive Out
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
An exploration of Israel's incomplete conquest, why the tribes failed to dispossess the Canaanites and what it meant for their future.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The passage records the tribes’ failure to fully dispossess the Canaanites, resulting in ongoing cohabitation and forced labor arrangements.
- Key words: horish (dispossess, Hiphil of H3423), mas (forced labor, H4522), ya'al (to be determined/willing, H2974), yashav (to dwell, H3427).
- Main debate: Whether the failure was primarily due to military insufficiency or willful disobedience. Commentators such as Cambridge note weakness, while Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and others stress disobedience.
- Theological theme: The danger of partial obedience, leaving “enemies” in place leads to spiritual decline and lost inheritance.
- Best use: Preaching or teaching on obedience, compromise, and the cost of incomplete surrender to God’s commands.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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.
29Ephraim also failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer; so the Canaanites continued to dwell among them in Gezer.
30Zebulun failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kitron and Nahalol; so the Canaanites lived among them and served as forced laborers.
31Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.
32So the Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, because they did not drive them out.
33Naphtali failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. So the Naphtalites also lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served them as forced laborers.
34The Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to come down into the plain.
35And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, they pressed the Amorites into forced labor.
36And the border of the Amorites extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim to Sela and beyond.
WEB World English Bible 2000
27Manasseh didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its towns, nor Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
28When Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out.
29Ephraim didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, but the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.
30Zebulun didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.
31Asher 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;
32but the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they didn’t drive them out.
33Naphtali didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but he lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and of Beth Anath became subject to forced labor.
34The Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill country, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley;
35but the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim. Yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to forced labor.
36The border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
KJV King James Version 1769
27Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Beth–shean 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 that land.
28And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
29Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
30Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
31Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:
32But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.
33Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth–shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth–anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth–shemesh and of Beth–anath became tributaries unto them.
34And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
35But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.
36And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
27And Manasseh did not drive outthe inhabitants of Beth-shean and its towns, norof Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
28And it came to pass, when Israel was waxed strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, and did not utterly drive them out.
29And Ephraim drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
30Zebulun drove not out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became subject to taskwork.
31Asher drove not 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;
32but the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.
33Naphtali drove not out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to taskwork.
34And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill-country; for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley;
35but the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to taskwork.
36And the border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
27And Manasseh hath not occupied Beth-Shean and its towns, and Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Iblaim and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, and the Canaanite is desirous to dwell in that land;
28and it cometh to pass, when Israel hath been strong, that he setteth the Canaanite to tribute, and hath not utterly dispossessed it.
29And Ephraim hath not dispossessed the Canaanite who is dwelling in Gezer, and the Canaanite dwelleth in its midst, in Gezer.
30Zebulun hath not dispossessed the inhabitants of Kitron, and the inhabitants of Nahalol, and the Canaanite dwelleth in its midst, and they become tributary.
31Asher hath not dispossessed the inhabitants of Accho, and the inhabitants of Zidon, and Ahlab, and Achzib, and Helbah, and Aphik, and Rehob;
32and the Asherite dwelleth in the midst of the Canaanite, the inhabitants of the land, for it hath not dispossessed them.
33Naphtali hath not dispossessed the inhabitants of Beth-Shemesh, and the inhabitants of Beth-Anath, and he dwelleth in the midst of the Canaanite, the inhabitants of the land; and the inhabitants of Beth-Shemesh and of Beth-Anath have become tributary to them.
34And the Amorites press the sons of Dan to the mountain, for they have not suffered them to go down to the valley;
35and the Amorite is desirous to dwell in mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, and the hand of the house of Joseph is heavy, and they become tributary;
36and the border of the Amorite is from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock and upward.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
27And Manasseh did not dispossess Beth-shean and its dependent villages, nor Taanach and its dependent villages, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its dependent villages, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its dependent villages, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its dependent villages; and the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
28And it came to pass when Israel became strong, that they made the Canaanites tributary; but they did not utterly dispossess them.
29And Ephraim did not dispossess the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt among them in Gezer.
30Zebulun did not dispossess the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
31Asher did not dispossess the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor Ahlab, nor Achzib, nor Helbah, nor Aphik, nor Rehob;
32and the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not dispossess them.
33Naphtali did not dispossess the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; and he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became tributaries to them.
34And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill-country, for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley.
35And the Amorites would dwell on mount Heres, in Ajalon and in Shaalbim; but the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, and they became tributaries.
36And the border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upwards.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
27Manasses also did not destroy Bethsan, and Thanac, with their villages; nor the inhabitants of Dor, and Jeblaam, and Mageddo, with their villages. And the Chanaanite began to dwell with them.
28But after Israel was grown strong, he made them tributaries, and would not destroy them.
29Ephraim also did not slay the Chanaanite that dwelt in Gazer, bnt dwelt with him.
30Zabulon destroyed not the inhabitants of Cetron, and Naalol: but the Chanaanite dwelt among them, and became their tributary.
31Aser also destroyed not the inhabitants of Accho, and of Sidon, of Ahalab, and of Achazib, and of Helba, and of Aphec, and of Rohob:
32And he dwelt in the midst of the Chanaanites, the inhabitants of that land, and did not slay them.
33Nephthali also destroyed not the inhabitants of Bethsames, and of Bethanath: and he dwelt in the midst of the Chanaanites, the inhabitants of the land, and the Bethsamites and Bethanites were tributaries to him.
34And the Amorrhite straitened the children of Dan in the mountain, and gave them not a place to go down to the plain:
35And he dwelt in the mountain Hares, that is, of potsherds, in Aialon and Salebim. And the hand of the house of Joseph was heavy upon him, and he became tributary to him.
36And the border of the Amorrhite was from the ascent of the scorpion, the rock, and the higher places.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Judges 1:27
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across the supplied sources agree that the tribes described in Judges 1:27, 36 fell short of God's command to dispossess the Canaanite inhabitants. The Hebrew verb horish (Hiphil of yarash, “to dispossess”) repeats like a negative drumbeat: Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali did not drive them out. Instead, as the Cambridge Bible notes, “the northern tribes were not strong enough,” pointing to a measure of genuine military weakness. But Joshua 17:13 and Judges 1:28 show that when Israel did grow strong, they chose forced labor over full expulsion, a direct violation of Exodus 23:32 and Deuteronomy 7:2. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown names avarice: “avarice led the Israelites to spare the idolaters, contrary to the express command of God.” So the consensus is that the failure began as inability but hardened into willful disobedience, with lasting consequences for Israel’s faithfulness.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Military Inability: The Cambridge Bible and Joshua 17:12–13 suggest the tribes simply lacked the strength; the phrase “was not able” appears in the parallel account.
- Willful Disobedience: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and Gill argue that when Israel grew strong, they deliberately chose forced labor over expulsion, contradicting God’s explicit command (Deuteronomy 7:2).
- Combined View: Most supplied commentaries acknowledge both initial weakness and later compromise, recognizing that the text itself shows Israel’s strength increasing over time (v. 28) yet still not leading to full obedience.
What is clear: Regardless of the initial cause, the pattern is undisputed: the tribes did not fully dispossess the Canaanites, and this incomplete obedience set the stage for the cycles of apostasy and oppression that follow in the Book of Judges.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Cause of the Failure | The tribes did not fully drive out the Canaanites, contrary to God's command. | Some interpreters stress military weakness (Cambridge Bible: “the northern tribes were not strong enough”), while others emphasize willful disobedience and avarice (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown: “avarice led the Israelites to spare the idolaters”). Many see both factors at work. |
| The Significance of Forced Labor | Forced labor (Hebrew mas) was a common practice in the ancient Near East for subjugated peoples. | Some see it as a pragmatic compromise that still violated God's command to destroy the Canaanites (Gill: “made a covenant with them, contrary to the express will of God”). Others view it as a limited success that still left Israel exposed to pagan influence. |
| The Fate of the Northern Tribes | The northern tribes (Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Dan) struggled more than Judah and the house of Joseph. | Barnes points out that for Asher and Naphtali the text says they “dwelt among the Canaanites”, a sign of weakness. The Cambridge Bible suggests these tribes entered the land later and independently, with less initial success. |
| The Amorites in the Territory of Dan | The Amorites confined Dan to the hill country and forced them into a subordinate position. | Some commentators (Barnes) note that this pressure led to the migration of the Danites in Judges 18. Others see the house of Joseph’s eventual victory as a partial remedy (v. 35), but the Danite tribe as a whole never recovered its full allotment. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Judges 1:27, 36 belongs to the opening chapter of the book, which describes the period after Joshua’s death when each tribe tried to secure its allotted territory. The list of unconquered cities, Beth Shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, Gezer, and others, parallels the record in Joshua 17:11, 13, suggesting the author reused that source. These were strategically important sites: Megiddo and Taanach guarded the Jezreel Valley trade route; Beth Shean (later called Scythopolis) controlled a key junction; Dor was a coastal port; Acco (later Ptolemais, modern Acre) was a Phoenician stronghold.
The Canaanites are described as “determined to dwell” in the land (Hebrew ya’al, “to be willing, to resolve,” used in vv. 27, 35). They were not passive victims but fought to hold their ground. The response of the Israelite tribes varied: some simply coexisted (“dwelt among them”), others imposed forced labor (mas, a levy of corvée workers). Only the house of Joseph managed to make the Amorites tributaries (v. 35). By contrast, Dan fared worst: the Amorites “forced the children of Dan into the hill country” and blocked access to the fertile valley (v. 34), a picture of military defeat rather than dominance.
Barnes notes that evidence from Egyptian monuments shows the Amorites held the valley in this period, explaining their strength. Adam Clarke draws an analogy to the ancient Britons pushed into Wales by the Romans, or native Indians driven back by European settlers. The passage thus functions as a realistic postscript to Joshua’s conquests, explaining why the Promised Land remained a place of ongoing conflict rather than rest.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Judges 1:27, 36 that alter the meaning. The passage closely parallels Joshua 17:11, 13, and the Cambridge Bible suggests the text may have been adapted from that earlier account. Some manuscripts of the Septuagint (codex A, Lucianic recension) show minor differences in the list of places, but the Masoretic Text is consistent. The main textual question is whether the Hebrew lo horish (“did not dispossess”) should be read as “was not able to dispossess” (as in Joshua 17:12), a nuance that only a few versions capture (e.g., Cambridge’s suggested emendation).
Reception History
Within the Protestant tradition, this passage has been read as a cautionary tale about the perils of partial obedience. Matthew Henry used it to illustrate how God’s people “mixed with the Canaanites” to their own hurt. Wesley saw in it a warning that those who fail to fully embrace God’s gift will lose it. Gill stressed that making covenants with the Canaanites was a direct violation of the divine command. Earlier Jewish commentators, such as Rashi (not supplied but widely known), also treated the text as evidence of Israel’s failure to complete the conquest, leading to future temptation. Across eras, the passage has been applied spiritually to the Christian life as a call to root out sin completely rather than manage it.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The Incomplete Conquest: Tribe after tribe failed to drive out the Canaanites. The repeated phrase “did not dispossess” (Hebrew lo horish) marks a pattern of half-hearted obedience.
- The Turn to Expedience: When Israel gained the upper hand, they did not expel the inhabitants but put them to forced labor. This compromise with God’s clear command (Deuteronomy 7:2) reveals a heart more concerned with profit than holiness.
- The Consequences of Compromise: The Canaanites “dwelt among them.” Over time, their idolatry would entice Israel away from Yahweh. What began as a military failure became a spiritual crisis, setting up the cycles of apostasy that dominate the rest of Judges.
Five-Point Outline
- Disobedience by Inaction: Not driving out the Canaanites (vv. 27, 29, 31, 33).
- Disobedience by Substitution: Replacing expulsion with forced labor (vv. 28, 30, 33, 35), a half-measure that kept the enemy present.
- Disobedience by Reversal: Asher and Naphtali ended up living among the Canaanites rather than the other way around (vv. 32, 33), showing a loss of dominance.
- Disobedience in the Face of Strength: Even the house of Joseph, which prevailed over the Amorites, settled for tribute rather than complete removal (v. 35).
- The Geographical Toll: Dan was driven into the hills, losing access to the valley (v. 34). The border of the Amorites expanded (v. 36). Partial obedience shrank Israel’s inheritance.
Illustration Hooks
- A homeowner decides not to remove a termite-infested beam because repairs are expensive. The house stands for years, but the damage spreads silently until major renovation, or collapse.
- A business partner is kept on despite dishonesty because he brings in revenue. The arrangement works for a while, but the poison bleeds into everything.
- A gardener pulls only the visible weeds but leaves the roots. Next season, the weeds return thicker than before.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- “Why did God command the total destruction of the Canaanites? Doesn’t that contradict His love?”
- “Is it always disobedience when we can’t remove every sin or obstacle in our lives? Does this passage mean I’m failing if I still struggle?”
- “What does ‘forced labor’ mean for us today? Are there ways we put sin in a ‘servant role’ thinking we control it, rather than killing it outright?”
Leading a Discussion
Judges 1:27, 36 is a sobering catalog of what happens when God’s people stop short of fully following His instructions. The chapter lists tribe after tribe that “did not drive out” the inhabitants. Some lacked strength; others compromised when they found strength. The result was ongoing conflict and spiritual danger. This study invites your group to reflect on where we, like Israel, settle for half-measures in our walk with God.
Discussion Questions
- What stands out to you about the repeated phrase “did not drive out”? Why do you think the author lists so many cities and tribes?
- Read Joshua 17:12, 13 alongside Judges 1:27, 28. How does the parallel account affect the way we understand Israel’s failure, was it inability, disobedience, or both?
- Some tribes put the Canaanites to forced labor instead of expelling them. What is the danger of putting God’s enemies (sin, compromise) under a system of control rather than removing them completely?
- Asher and Naphtali ended up “dwelling among the Canaanites” (vv. 32, 33). Describe a modern situation where a Christian tries to “live among” the values of the world rather than letting Christ transform them.
- Dan was forced into the hill country by the Amorites (v. 34). What factors in your life can “force” you into less-than-ideal spiritual territory? How could you reclaim lost ground?
- Verse 28 says “when Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor.” Why do you think strength didn’t lead to full obedience? What does that say about the human heart?
- What one area of your life needs a “complete driving out” rather than just management? How can your group support you in that?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 23:32 | You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. |
| Deuteronomy 7:2 | and when Yahweh your God delivers them up before you, and you strike them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them. |
| Joshua 17:11 | Manasseh had three heights in Issachar, in Asher Beth Shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns. |
| Joshua 17:13 | When the children of Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out. |
| Joshua 21:25 | Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its pasture lands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands: two cities. |
| Judges 1:1 | After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked of Yahweh, saying, “Who should go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?” |
| Judges 5:19 | “The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver. |
| I Samuel 15:9 | But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, of the fat calves, of the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke sees this chapter as a supplement to Joshua, showing Israel's pattern of incomplete obedience. He compares the Amorites forcing Dan into the mountains to how the Romans drove the Britons into Wales. He then reflects that adversity, though unwelcome, is a blessing that teaches wisdom when one's heart is turned toward God.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that the biblical phrase “the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites” reverses the usual pattern, revealing that the Canaanites were so dominant in that region that the Israelites were the subordinate residents. He links this Canaanite strength to the later Danite expedition and notes that the same area, including the “ascent of scorpions” near Petra, shows their continued hold on the land.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that from this point the narrative changes, recording only a bare list of Canaanite strongholds the Israelites could not capture. Rather than driving them out, the tribes had to settle alongside the older population, and the northern tribes in particular were not strong enough to make conquests. The phrase "did not drive out" should be understood as "was not able to drive out."
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible notes highlight a pattern of Israel's partial obedience. Tribe after tribe failed to drive out the Canaanites as God commanded. When Israel grew strong, they forced the Canaanites into slave labor rather than expelling them completely, leaving permanent foreign settlements among God's people.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill traces each tribe's failure to drive out the Canaanites to specific sins: sluggishness, cowardice, covetousness, and love of ease. Some tribes made no attempt at all, others settled for tribute, and a few ended up living among the Canaanites. He sees all these as stemming from a preference for material gain over obedience to God's command.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB points out that the conquest of Canaan was only partial and uneven. Many natives escaped and became, in the commentator's view, the first colonists of Greece and Italy. Worse still, greed led the Israelites to spare idolaters against God's express command, and this disobedience brought the many troubles recorded in this book.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argues that the Hebrew verb in this passage means "exterminate" rather than simply "take possession," since Israel failed to drive out the Canaanites entirely and later only made them tributary. They locate these unconquered towns strategically along key trade routes and the Plain of Jezreel, where Canaanite war-chariots gave them a decisive advantage.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that the Canaanites "consented to dwell" because Manasseh was too weak to drive them out and reached a compromise. The tribes made them tributary only when strong, a partial obedience that the narrator condemns. The omission of Issachar suggests its failures were already covered by Manasseh’s.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley rejects Matthew Henry's claim that the goodness of God's promised land will intensify the punishment of those who perish. He argues that this reasoning fails under predestination: if some are not elected, they never had a genuine offer, and if all the elect are saved, the grant was never free to the others.