Shofetim 1:28

28 And it came to pass, when Yisroel was chazak, that they put the Kena’ani to forced labor, and did not utterly drive them out.

Shofetim 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.

Shofetim 1:28 In-Context

26 And the ish went into the eretz HaChittim, and built an Ir, and called the shem thereof Luz; which is the shem thereof unto this day.

27 Neither did Menasheh drive out the Beit-Sh’an and her villages, nor Ta’nach and her villages, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her villages, nor the inhabitants of Yivleam and her villages, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her villages; so the Kena’ani were determined to dwell in that land.

28 And it came to pass, when Yisroel was chazak, that they put the Kena’ani to forced labor, and did not utterly drive them out.

29 Neither did Ephrayim drive out the Kena’ani that dwelt in Gezer; but the Kena’ani dwelt in Gezer among them.

30 Neither did Zevulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Kena’ani dwelt among them, and became subject to forced labor.