Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob. Asher failed to drive outThe tribe of Asher, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, was allotted a portion of the Promised Land. The Hebrew root for "failed" (לוֹא יָרַשׁ, lo yarash) implies a lack of possession or inheritance. This phrase highlights a recurring theme in Judges: the Israelites' incomplete obedience to God's command to fully possess the land. Historically, this failure led to the coexistence with pagan cultures, which often resulted in Israel adopting idolatrous practices. The spiritual lesson here is the importance of complete obedience to God’s commands to avoid spiritual compromise. the residents of Acco
Acco, known today as Acre, was a significant Canaanite city located on the northern coast of Israel. Archaeological evidence suggests it was a fortified city with a strong maritime culture. The inability of Asher to drive out the residents of Acco indicates the strength and resilience of the Canaanite inhabitants. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for the strongholds in our lives that require divine intervention to overcome. or of Sidon
Sidon was a major Phoenician city, known for its wealth and trade. The Hebrew name צִידוֹן (Tzidon) reflects its historical significance as a center of commerce and idolatry. The mention of Sidon underscores the challenge Israel faced in dealing with powerful, established cities. From a spiritual perspective, it serves as a reminder of the dangers of allowing worldly influences to persist in our lives. or Ahlab
Ahlab is less well-known, with limited archaeological evidence. Its mention signifies the smaller, yet still significant, areas that Asher failed to conquer. This can be seen as a reminder that even seemingly minor areas of disobedience can have significant spiritual consequences. Achzib
Achzib, another coastal city, is mentioned in other biblical texts as a place of deception (Micah 1:14). The Hebrew root עַכְזִיב (Akziv) means "deceptive" or "disappointing." This city’s name serves as a symbolic warning of the deceitfulness of sin and the disappointment that comes from failing to fully trust and obey God. Helbah
Helbah is not well-documented archaeologically, but its inclusion in this list emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Asher's failure. Spiritually, it suggests that no area of our lives should be left unconquered by God’s truth and righteousness. Aphik
Aphik, meaning "fortress" in Hebrew, was a strategic location. The failure to drive out its inhabitants indicates a missed opportunity to secure a stronghold for God’s people. This serves as a spiritual lesson on the importance of establishing strongholds of faith in our lives. or Rehob
Rehob, meaning "broad" or "spacious," was another significant city. The failure to conquer Rehob symbolizes the broad and spacious path that leads away from God’s will. It serves as a caution against taking the easy path of compromise rather than the narrow path of obedience. Persons / Places / Events 1. AsherOne of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Asher, the eighth son of Jacob and Zilpah. The tribe was allotted land in the northern part of Canaan. 2. AccoA coastal city in the territory of Asher, known today as Acre. It was a significant port city in ancient times. 3. SidonAn ancient and prominent Phoenician city, located in modern-day Lebanon. It was known for its wealth and trade. 4. Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and RehobThese are lesser-known cities within the territory of Asher. Each had its own strategic or economic significance. 5. The EventThe failure of the tribe of Asher to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants from these cities, contrary to God's command to fully possess the land. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandsThe failure of Asher to drive out the inhabitants serves as a reminder of the importance of complete obedience to God's instructions. Partial obedience is still disobedience. Consequences of CompromiseAllowing the Canaanites to remain led to cultural and religious compromise, which eventually ensnared the Israelites in idolatry and sin. Spiritual VigilanceJust as Asher was called to drive out the inhabitants, Christians are called to be vigilant in removing sin and influences that can lead them away from God. Trust in God's ProvisionThe Israelites' failure to fully possess the land reflects a lack of trust in God's promise and provision. Believers today are encouraged to trust God fully in their spiritual journey. Bible Study Questions 1. What were the specific cities that the tribe of Asher failed to drive out, and what might have been the reasons for their failure? 2. How does the failure of Asher to drive out the inhabitants relate to the broader theme of disobedience in the Book of Judges? 3. In what ways can partial obedience to God’s commands lead to spiritual compromise in our lives today? 4. How can we apply the lesson of Asher's failure to our personal walk with God, especially in terms of dealing with sin and temptation? 5. What other biblical examples can you find where God's people failed to fully obey His commands, and what were the consequences? How can these examples serve as warnings for us? Connections to Other Scriptures Joshua 13:13This verse highlights the incomplete conquest of the land by the Israelites, similar to the situation in Judges 1:31, where certain tribes did not fully drive out the inhabitants. Deuteronomy 7:1-5God commands the Israelites to completely destroy the nations in Canaan to avoid being led astray by their practices. This connects to the failure of Asher to drive out the inhabitants. Judges 2:1-3The Angel of the Lord rebukes Israel for not obeying God's command to drive out the inhabitants, which sets the stage for the cycle of disobedience and oppression in Judges. People Abednego, Achsah, Adonibezek, Ahiman, Amalekites, Amorites, Anak, Anath, Arad, Arba, Asher, Asherites, Benjamin, Benjamites, Caleb, Canaanites, Dan, Danites, Debir, Edomites, Hittites, Hobab, Israelites, Jebusites, Joseph, Joshua, Kenaz, Manasseh, Naphtali, Naphtalites, Othniel, Perizzites, Rehob, Sheshai, Simeon, Simeonites, Talmai, Zebulun, ZidonPlaces Acco, Achzib, Ahlab, Aijalon, Akrabbim, Aphik, Arad, Ashkelon, Beth-anath, Bethel, Beth-shan, Beth-shemesh, Bezek, Debir, Dor, Ekron, Gaza, Gezer, Gibeah, Hebron, Helbah, Hormah, Ibleam, Jerusalem, Kiriath-arba, Kiriath-sepher, Kitron, Luz, Megiddo, Mount Heres, Nahalol, Negeb, Rehob, Sela, Shaalbim, Sidon, Taanach, ZephathTopics Accho, Acco, Achzib, Aczib, Ahlab, Aphek, Aphik, Asher, Didn't, Dispossessed, Drive, Driving, Drove, Expel, Helbah, Inhabitants, Rehob, Sidon, ZidonDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 1:27-35 7259 promised land, later history Library The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the BibleThe Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
"On the western shore" (of the Asphaltites) "dwell the Essenes; whom persons, guilty of any crimes, fly from on every side. A nation it is that lives alone, and of all other nations in the whole world, most to be admired; they are without any woman; all lust banished, &c. Below these, was the town Engadda, the next to Jerusalem for fruitfulness, and groves of palm-trees, now another burying-place. From thence stands Massada, a castle in a rock, and this castle not far from the Asphaltites." Solinus, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Beth-El. Beth-Aven.
Josephus thus describes the land of Benjamin; "The Benjamites' portion of land was from the river Jordan to the sea, in length: in breadth, it was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." Let these last words be marked, "The breadth of the land of Benjamin was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." May we not justly conclude, from these words, that Jerusalem and Beth-el were opposite, as it were, in a right line? But if you look upon the maps, there are some that separate these by a very large tract of land, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Tsippor
"Tsippor is the greatest city of Galilee, and built in a very strong place." "Kitron (Judg 1:29,30) is Tsippor: and why is it called Tsippor? Because it is seated upon a mountain as Tsippor, a bird." "Sixteen miles on all sides from Tsippor was a land flowing with milk and honey." This city is noted in Josephus for its warlike affairs; but most noted in the Talmudists for the university fixed there, and for the learning, which Rabbi Judah the Holy brought hither, as we have said before. He sat in …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
ISRAEL'S VICTORIES OVER THE CANAANITES.--Josh. 2-9; Judg. 1, 4, 5. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible II,1-4.1. Prin. of Politics X. That the leaders took the lead in Israel, That the people volunteered readily, Bless Jehovah! Zebulun was a people who exposed themselves to deadly peril, And Naphtali on the heights of the open field. Kings came, they fought; They fought, the kings of Canaan, At Taanach by the Waters of Megiddo, They took no booty of silver. Prom heaven fought the stars, From their …
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation The Place of the Old Testament in Divine Revelation
[Sidenote: Advent of the Hebrews] Modern discovery and research have demonstrated that the truth revealed through the Babylonians and with less definiteness through the people of the Nile was never entirely lost. Such a sad waste was out of accord with the obvious principles of divine economy. As the icy chill of ceremonialism seized decadent Babylonia and Egypt, there emerged from the steppes south and east of Palestine a virile, ambitious group of nomads, who not only fell heir to that which …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament The Prophet Jonah.
It has been asserted without any sufficient reason, that Jonah is older than Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah,--that he is the oldest among the prophets whose written monuments have been preserved to us. The passage in 2 Kings xiv. 25, where it is said, that Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, prophesied to Jeroboam the happy success of his arms, and the restoration of the ancient boundaries of Israel, and that this prophecy was confirmed by the event, cannot decide in favour of this assertion, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Scythopolis. Beth-Shean, the Beginning of Galilee.
The bonds of Galilee were, "on the south, Samaris and Scythopolis, unto the flood of Jordan." Scythopolis is the same with Beth-shean, of which is no seldom mention in the Holy Scriptures, Joshua 17:11; Judges 1:27; 1 Samuel 31:10. "Bethsaine (saith Josephus), called by the Greeks Scythopolis." It was distant but a little way from Jordan, seated in the entrance to a great valley: for so the same author writes, "Having passed Jordan, they came to a great plain, where lies before you the city Bethsane," …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 Jews and Gentiles in "The Land"
Coming down from Syria, it would have been difficult to fix the exact spot where, in the view of the Rabbis, "the land" itself began. The boundary lines, though mentioned in four different documents, are not marked in anything like geographical order, but as ritual questions connected with them came up for theological discussion. For, to the Rabbis the precise limits of Palestine were chiefly interesting so far as they affected the religious obligations or privileges of a district. And in this respect …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 1:31 NIVJudges 1:31 NLTJudges 1:31 ESVJudges 1:31 NASBJudges 1:31 KJV
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