Contemplative Bible Reading

Judges 1:27-31  (New International Version)

²⁷ But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land. ²⁸ When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely. ²⁹ Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live there among them. ³⁰ Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, so these Canaanites lived among them, but Zebulun did subject them to forced labor. ³¹ Nor did Asher drive out those living in Akko or Sidon or Ahlab or Akzib or Helbah or Aphek or Rehob.

This was written after God’s people moved into the promised land. The people were instructed to drive out the land’s inhabitant’s. The above verses are only a partial list. Over and over,

each tribe failed to drive out the inhabitants.

God’s people lived among other people who did not worship the Lord.

The result was predictable and predicted. The previous inhabitants influenced God’s people – not the other way around. Behavior went down, not up.