Judges 1:27-36 – The dangers of disobedience

Two things kept appearing in reading these last ten verses of Judges 1. Firstly, they kept saying that the Israelites “did not drive out” the Canaanites from among them. Secondly, we see that those enemies continued to live among the different tribes of Israel. Some were subjugated and were subject to forced labour. Others were just left to dwell among them. The key theme of these ten verses is the on-going failures of the tribes in the north to drive the hostile Canaanites out of the lands they were allocated. They started off well but in the process of time, they slacken till the Canaanites were able to force the tribe of Dan to relocate.   

The failure of the two tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, which belonged to Joseph, is described in verses 27-29. Manasseh failed to take possession of the areas assigned to them. They failed to fully possess Beth-Shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam and Megiddo. These five areas and all their villages were spared. The Canaanites that lived in them were not driven out completely but instead subjected to forced labour. The issue was not that the Canaanites were stronger but that they became complacent and did not take the warning of the Lord seriously. The tribe of Ephraim also made the same mistake as their brethren from Manasseh. They did not drive out the inhabitants from the strategic city of Gezer. It was left in the hand of the Canaanites.   

In verses 30-36, we see the failures of the other tribes of Israel. Zebulun left the Canaanites in Kitrol and Nahalol alone and allowed them to live among them. Even though Zebulun was stronger, they did not drive out the Canaanites but subjected them to forced labour. Verses 31-32 reveal the failure of the tribe of Asher. They failed to drive out the inhabitants living in Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob. The way verse 32 puts it, suggests that they were even living at the mercy of the Canaanites because of their failure to drive them out. The tribe of Naphtali also failed in their responsibility. They did not drive out the Canaanites living in Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath, but subjected them to forced labour for them. Reading verses 34-36 brings a tint of sadness. It is about the tribe of Dan being forced by the Amorites to retreat into the hill country of Ephraim.  

Here we see the result of Israel’s failure to obey God. It’s something we must take note not to emulate. Obedience to God must always be total and complete. The Israelites’ disobedience led them to tolerate the Canaanites. This meant that they would have to accommodate their lifestyle. Toleration and accommodation always lead to syncretism. This would, in turn, reduce the Almighty into one among many deities. Instead of continual commitment to Him, He would be treated as one of the deities that only needed to be appeased occasionally. This is not what our Almighty God deserves. Israel’s failure was a spiritual one. And they left us an example of what we ought to do, i.e. be found totally obedient to God’s Word. We must worship and serve Him and Him alone. If not, the enemy will have control over us sooner or later, or we will be ineffective Christians!