Judges 1:27

Failure of the Other Tribes

27 At that time Manasseh failed to take possession of Beth-shean^[a][b] and its villages,^[c] or Taanach^[d] and its villages, or the residents of Dor^[e] and its villages, or the residents of Ibleam^[f][g]and its villages, or the residents of Megiddo^[h] and its villages. But the Canaanites refused to leave^[i] this land.^[j]

Judges 1:27 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 1:27

Neither did Manasseh
One of the sons of Joseph before mentioned; and it respects that half tribe of Manasseh, which had its portion on this side Jordan in the land of Canaan: these 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:
all which were places the half tribe had assigned them in Issachar and Asher; of which (See Gill on Joshua 17:11). This tribe seems to have been sluggish, and not to have exerted itself at all, or made any attempts to drive out these people:

but the Canaanites would dwell in that land;
not only desired it, but were determined on it, and rather chose to submit to a tribute than be expelled, at least would not depart unless they were forced.

Judges 1:27 In-Context

25 When he showed them the way into the town, they put the town to the sword but released the man and his entire family.

26 Then the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a town, and named it Luz. That is its name to this day.

27 At that time Manasseh failed to take possession of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the residents of Dor and its villages, or the residents of Ibleamand its villages, or the residents of Megiddo and its villages. But the Canaanites refused to leave this land.

28 When Israel became stronger, they made the Canaanites serve as forced labor but never drove them out completely.

29 At that time Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived among them in Gezer.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX reads Beth-shean, which is a Scythian city
• [b]. Jos 17:11,16; 1 Sm 31:10,12; 2 Sm 21:12
• [c]. LXX reads its villages nor the fields around it
• [d]. Jdg 5:19; Jos 17:11; 21:25
• [e]. Jos 11:2; 12:23; 17:11; 1 Kg 4:11
• [f]. LXX reads Balaam
• [g]. Jos 17:11; 2 Kg 9:27
• [h]. Jdg 5:19; 1 Kg 9:15; 2 Kg 23:29-30
• [i]. LXX reads Canaanites began to live in
• [j]. Jdg 1:35; Jos 17:12; Hs 5:11