Study of the Book of Judges – Jdg 1:16-32 Israel Did Not Utterly Drive the Canaanites Out of the Land

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Jdg 1:16-32 Israel Did Not Utterly Drive the Canaanites Out of the Land

[Study Posted January 19, 2021]

Jdg 1:16  And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people. 
Jdg 1:17  And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah. 
Jdg 1:18  Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof. 
Jdg 1:19  And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. 
Jdg 1:20  And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak. 
Jdg 1:21  And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. 
Jdg 1:22  And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them. 
Jdg 1:23  And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.) 
Jdg 1:24  And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy. 
Jdg 1:25  And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family. 
Jdg 1:26  And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day. 
Jdg 1:27  Neither did Manasseh 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: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. 
Jdg 1:28  And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. 
Jdg 1:29  Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. 
Jdg 1:30  Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. 
Jdg 1:31  Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: 
Jdg 1:32  But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. 
Jdg 1:33  Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them. 
Jdg 1:34  And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: 
Jdg 1:35  But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. 
Jdg 1:36  And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward. 

In the last study, we looked at how the tribe of Judah fought against Jerusalem, took it and set the city on fire. This speaks of our deliverance from the Jerusalem within us, which represents Jerusalem which now is (the false doctrines which we have imbibed during our time in Babylon under the leadership of this mystery woman) and is in bondage with her children.

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

We also reviewed how Caleb gave his daughter as a wife to Othniel (a type of the elect) for defeating Kirjathsepher and through the wife Othniel was given upper and the nether springs. This shows how when we get into the right fellowship (Jerusalem which is above), our understanding of the scriptures is deepened through God giving gifts to men.

Eph 4:7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

In spite of our progress so far, there are wars to be won in order for us to possess our land – offering our body as a living sacrifice to God.

Jdg 1:16  And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people. 

The Kenites, the tribe of Moses’ father-in-law, were a nomadic tribe which dwelt in Canaan during the time of Abraham (Gen 15:19). This tribe became integrated with the children of Israel as they journeyed from Egypt.  In Numbers 10:29-32 Moses wanted to rely on the insight of Hobab (Moses’ brother-in-law), since he knew the terrain, but God did not want the Israelites to depend on the arm of the flesh. It is surprising that the Kenites would leave the city of Palm trees and go into the wilderness of Arad with Judah.

In the scriptures, palm trees are likened to the elect or Christ, and Arad means wild ass. Thus, the Kenites left Christ to become a wild ass roaming in the wilderness.  This speaks of us at a certain point in our walk when we do not want to pay heed to sound doctrine (Christ) but rather follow after the dictates of the flesh as the man of sin is sitting in the temple of God and calling himself God (the abomination of desolation).

Psa 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Jdg 1:17  And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah. 
Jdg 1:18  Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof. 

As we continue to offer our true worship to the Lord by offering our bodies as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1-2), which represents Judah, our praise, the Lord will continue to defeat the enemy within on our behalf. The city of Zephath (formerly called Hormah meaning destruction) is near the border of Edom which speaks of our flesh.

The defeat of the flesh is in stages. As indicated earlier, God picks the low-hanging fruits for us before we are finally ushered into serious battles. After the defeat of Zephath, Judah went ahead and defeated three of the principal cities of the Philistines which represents a more challenging enemy. Gaza means stronghold, so here we are dealing with sin that easily besets us and the false doctrines which have become our idols. Judah took over these Philistine cities for a brief period, but later these cities reverted to the control of the Philistines. This struggle against the flesh is for a lifetime. But one day, we will have the ultimate victory as the dragon will prevail not, neither will his place be found in our heavens.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

Jdg 1:19  And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. 
Jdg 1:20  And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak. 
Jdg 1:21  And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. 

Although Judah had been successful in defeating the inhabitants of the mountain, they could not defeat those in the valley because they had chariots of iron. In the Book of Revelation, out of the bottomless pit of our flesh came the locusts whose breastplates were made of iron and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses rushing to battle. So the inhabitants of Canaan with chariots of iron represents the doctrines that we have imbibed which were propagated by the Babylonian messengers (the scorpions) which dominate our mind and have become strong barriers that prevent the word of God to easily break through to renew our minds.  This is because these doctrines are like “iron chariots”.

Rev 9:9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle.

God knows our frame, and therefore He leads us to war from one level to another such that with every temptation He makes a way for us. At the right time we will be able to defeat the enemy with chariots of iron as God demonstrated later when the people of Israel defeated Sisera with nine-hundred chariots of iron. We need patience in this walk, and patience here is just obeying God and having faith that He who has started this good work (the defeat of the enemy within) will bring it to completion!!

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Jdg 4:13  And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
Jdg 4:14  And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
Jdg 4:15  And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

One problem with our walk is that sometimes we become too comfortable with the flesh as Abraham didn’t want Ishmael to go. Our victory is in relentless pursuit – that is, our desire to have our heavens cleansed and to be separated completely from Babylonian influences. The children of Benjamin were comfortable living with the Jebusites in Jerusalem however, and this became a snare to them. In spite of our desire to have our heavens cleansed, there are certain aspects of our lives that we find it difficult to let go just like the Israelies being comfortable living with the Jebusites. This is the picture of Jerusalem today. No wonder it is in bondage with her children.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

At this point in time of our study, Judah is now waging war against much stronger opposition – enemies on the hills, giants from the descendants of Anak, etc. The cleansing of our heavens is a long drawn-out war which proceeds in stages, but our confidence is in the fact that He who has started this good work will see to its completion.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Jdg 1:22  And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them. 

The meaning of Joseph is “may he add”, and Bethel means the house of God. According to Genesis 28:17, the house of God is also the gate of heaven. So what the verse means is that we need to add to our conquest the gate of heaven, which is the house of God.

Gen 28:17  And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

“Gate” represents an entrance so the gate of heaven is the entrance to our heart and mind. This war being waged by the house of Joseph to defeat Bethel is our war to add to our possession the gate of our heaven, which will help us to screen everything that enters our heart and mind. Possessing the gate of our heart and mind will help us focus on whatsoever is lovely, of good report, etc., and not allow evil thoughts to permeate our heavens!

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

From another perspective, this gate of heaven can be looked at as the entrance to the Word which is Christ.

Psa 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Thus, our war against Bethel is a war against the stumbling block of our iniquities which prevent us from understanding the word of God. This is demonstrated in the Book of Ezekiel.

Eze 14:1  Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

Jdg 1:23  And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.) 
Jdg 1:24  And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy. 

This war is so important that the house of Joseph sent spies to have a feel of what they are up against, and they could not locate the entrance to the city until they got help. The entrance to the word that brings understanding is not by human effort. It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Our understanding of the word of God is only through the mercies of God. It is not through our wisdom to discern or anything else. If we are called and chosen, then at the set time, God will open our eyes to see and our ears to hear.

Psa 136:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:2  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:4  To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

God in His mercy will send us the men – the elect, just as the spies saw a man who showed the house of Joseph the gate of the city which signifies the entrance to His words which brings illumination. During the time of the apostles, God took a man (Philip) to the desert to explain the scriptures to an Ethiopian Eunuch.  Peter was sent to Cornelius, and Ananias was sent to Paul to open his eyes to see!! Today God, through His Christs, is showing us the entrance to His Words!!

Jdg 1:25  And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family. 
Jdg 1:26  And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day. 

Getting to understand the Word and putting it in practice liberates us from the shackles of false idols, doctrines, etc. It gives us victory gradually over the flesh!! It must be noted that the man and his family were protected and set free during the war against Bethel. God preserves us in the midst of the raging storms in our lives. God’s modus operandi is not to whisk us away from trouble (as those in Babylon who believe in rapture states) but to keep us in the midst of trouble.

The inability of the Israelites to drive the enemies from the land

Jdg 1:27  Neither did Manasseh 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: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. 
Jdg 1:28  And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. 
Jdg 1:29  Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. 
Jdg 1:30  Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. 
Jdg 1:31  Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: 
Jdg 1:32  But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. 
Jdg 1:33  Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them. 
Jdg 1:34  And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: 
Jdg 1:35  But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. 
Jdg 1:36  And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward. 

This part of the Chapter relates to the inability of the Israelites to drive out the enemies from the Promised Land. A look at the commentary by F.B. Meyer in e-sword summarizes the whole study for today as follows:

In many ways, Meyer’s commentary really hit the nail on the head. However, it makes it look like we call the shots! We must understand that the Israelites inability to rid the land of their enemies is caused by the Lord who was seeking an occasion to judge them so that at the end, sin will not reign in the land. The conquest of the land is a long process!! It is not a one-time conquest. It is for a lifetime.

Spiritually, the Promised Land, Canaan, represents the Kingdom of God within. Since John the Baptist, this kingdom of God has suffered much violence but with Christ, we will be the violent that takes this kingdom by force. In Genesis the land promised is described as including the territories occupied by ten nations.

Gen 15:18  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Gen 15:19  The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
Gen 15:20  And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
Gen 15:21  And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

The number of tribes listed is ten, which represents our flesh and their false doctrines. So what occupies this land and prevents the growth of the kingdom of God within us is our own flesh. Salvation therefore is being delivered from our flesh which is our old man and it is through this process that we have victory over sin.

The common reason for the Israelites’ inability to drive out the land is stated in this verse:

Jdg 1:28  And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. 

The Israelites had the resources to drive them out of the land but they chose to live with them and put them to forced labor. In other words, they profited from the Canaanites. That is always the mentality of the carnal mind just as the Israelites were put under forced labor by the Egyptians representing the world. So this is a worldly mentality.

Jdg 1:30  Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. 

Jdg 1:33  Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them. 
Jdg 1:34  And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: 
Jdg 1:35  But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. 

The verses here are to show us that it was not only one tribe that failed to drive out the Canaanites but the whole tribe of Israel. Almost all of them put the Canaanites to forced labor as shown in the verses above. As a result of this co-habitation, the Israelites became ensnared by another Jesus which the Canaanites worshipped. As a result, their mind became darkened, and so the Lord took away from Israel (Babylon) the whole stay of bread which is the word of God. By putting them to forced labor, the Israelites were enjoying the pleasures of sin, and therefore they did not want the Canaanites to go. In our quest to cleanse our temple of all that offends, we have to be ruthless in making sure that no stone is left unturned. All that offends must be put to death!! We must have no room for the pleasures of sin as demonstrated by Moses who chose to suffer instead.

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Isa 3:1  For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

When we look at our current situation, we are all in different stages of this battle against the flesh. We have at certain times of our lives enjoyed the pleasures of sin, and as a result, the enemies within had held us in bondage. This is the picture of the people of God that runs through the Book of Judges. However, God in His mercy will not leave us in that state.  He raised up judges to deliver His people from the enemies during the time of the judges and will do the same for us. These judges are a type of our Lord’s elect who motivate us to win this war against the flesh by speaking the fiery word which is able to save us from our enemies.

Jdg 2:16  Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

According to Strong’s definition of judges, it means to pronounce a sentence for or against.

So at God’s appointed time, He will pronounce sentence against our foes within. In other words, He will send his word to heal us and deliver us from being destroyed by our coexistence with the strong enemies within. We should not therefore be frustrated when we fall. God will use these failures to judge us and bring us to an expected end. Victory is coming!!

Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Let us therefore come with supplication before our Lord to ask Him to help us in this war to overcome the enemies within. For we of ourselves cannot win this war!! But our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. For He that keepeth us shall not slumber nor sleep!! He will come in at the right time with the brightness of His coming to defeat on our behalf the giants on our land with the spirit of his mouth!!

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Psa 124:8  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Psa 121:1  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
Psa 121:2  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Psa 121:3  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Psa 121:4  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Psa 121:5  The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
Psa 121:6  The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
Psa 121:7  The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
Psa 121:8  The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

[Next study in this series is here.

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