Judges 1:28

28 It happened, when Yisra'el had grown strong, that they put the Kana`anim to forced labor, and did not utterly drive them out.

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 The man went into the land of the Hitti, and built a city, and called the name of it Luz, which is the name of it to this day.

27 Menashsheh did not drive out [the inhabitants of] Beit-She'an and its towns, nor [of] Ta`nakh and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Yivle`am and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Kana`anim would dwell in that land.

28 It happened, when Yisra'el had grown strong, that they put the Kana`anim to forced labor, and did not utterly drive them out.

29 Efrayim didn't drive out the Kana`anim who lived in Gezer; but the Kana`anim lived in Gezer among them.

30 Zevulun didn't drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Kana`anim lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.