Judges 1:21

21 The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

Judges 1:21 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 1:21

And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites
that inhabited Jerusalem
That is, that part of it which belonged to them, for it lay between Judah and Benjamin; and neither of them separately, nor both conjunctly, could drive out the Jebusites from it, particularly the strong hold on the top of Mount Sion, which they held to the times of David. Abarbinel is of opinion, that Jerusalem in those times was not a city enclosed about, but was a large province, part of which belonged to the tribe of Judah, and another to the tribe of Benjamin, and another was possessed by the Jebusites; and so Jarchi says it was a province, the name of which was Jebusi:

but the Jebusites dwelt with the children of Benjamin unto this day;
when this book was written, which was done by Samuel, as Kimchi and Ben Gersom; and it is certain from hence it must have been written before the reign of David, who dispossessed the Jebusites, ( 2 Samuel 5:6-9 ) .

Judges 1:21 In-Context

19 Yahweh was with Judah; and drove out [the inhabitants of] the hill-country; for he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
20 They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had spoken: and he drove out there the three sons of Anak.
21 The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
22 The house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel; and Yahweh was with them.
23 The house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
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