Judges 1:28

28 In time, when Isra'el had grown strong, they did put the Kena'ani to forced labor but failed to drive them out completely.

Judges 1:28 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 1:28

And it came to pass, when Israel was strong
All the tribes of Israel were become numerous, and able to drive the Canaanites out of the land everywhere, and particularly were able to assist Manasseh in expelling the Canaanites out of the above places, yet they did not; but all they did was,

that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive
them out;
which flowed from covetousness, and a love of ease; they did not care to be at the trouble of expelling them, as they found it turned more to their account and present advantage to make them tributaries; and this was true of the Israelites in general, and of the half tribe of Manasseh in particular; which, as Abarbinel thinks, is here respected.

Judges 1:28 In-Context

26 He went into the land of the Hittim, built a city and called it Luz, which is its name to this day.

27 M'nasheh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beit-Sh'an and its villages, Ta'anakh and its villages, Dor and its villages, Yivle'am and its villages or Megiddo and its villages; so that the Kena'ani managed to keep on living in that land.

28 In time, when Isra'el had grown strong, they did put the Kena'ani to forced labor but failed to drive them out completely.

29 Efrayim did not drive out the Kena'ani living in Gezer; so the Kena'ani continued living in Gezer along with them.

30 Z'vulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or Nahalol; so the Kena'ani continued to live among them but became subject to forced labor.