1 Kings 9:20
All the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the people of Israel—
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to skim over this list, but notice that these were the original inhabitants of the land God promised to Israel. God knew they wouldn't disappear on their own, so He commanded Israel to drive them out, not to keep the land pristine, but to protect His people from the corrupting influence of their idolatrous practices.
After Solomon's magnificent temple and palace were built, the Lord appeared to him again, warning him about disobedience. This passage immediately follows that divine instruction and describes the remnant populations in the land, descendants of the original Canaanite inhabitants, who were not wiped out by Israel but were instead made subjects and laborers for Solomon's vast building projects. It sets the stage for the later warnings about intermarriage and the influence of these foreign peoples on Israel's worship.
Joshua's generation was supposed to drive out ALL the inhabitants of Canaan. But when we get to Solomon's reign, there are still people left. How did this happen, and why is it significant?
A Task Left Undone
The conquest of Canaan, led by Joshua, was a monumental event. However, the promise to completely dispossess the land's inhabitants wasn't fully realized by the Israelites. Instead of total removal, the generation of Joshua and the early judges saw a gradual assimilation and coexistence.
The Purpose of These Nations
God had actually given a reason for these nations to remain, at least for a time. In Judges 3, it says they were left "to test Israel, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses."
This verse in 1 Kings shows that even by Solomon's time, these "leftover" groups were still present, serving as a constant reminder of Israel's incomplete obedience and the ongoing spiritual battle.
These weren't just any people; they were explicitly linked to idolatry and practices God detested. What happens when we allow such influences to linger?
A Seedbed for Corruption
These remaining nations were not neutral. They actively practiced the idolatrous and immoral ways that God had condemned, and which were the very reasons He was giving the land to Israel. Their presence was a persistent temptation.
The Pattern of Compromise
Throughout the period of the Judges and even into the Monarchy, Israel repeatedly fell into spiritual compromise by adopting the practices of these surrounding peoples. This led to cycles of disobedience, judgment, and repentance.
This verse sets the stage for understanding Solomon's later downfall. While he initially secured peace and prosperity, his alliances and marriages with foreign women (mentioned in the next verse) brought their gods and practices into the very heart of Israel, a direct consequence of these 'lingering nations.'
Understand the original words
’ĕmōrî · Hebrew Noun
A collective term for the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan; biblically, these groups represent the indigenous pagan populations whose influence Israel was warned against.
chittî · Hebrew Noun
A powerful ancient people group, descendants of Heth, whom God promised to cast out from the land to make way for the inheritance of Israel.
Pĕrizzî · Hebrew Noun
One of the nations inhabiting Canaan; their presence in the land served as a test of Israel's faithfulness to the covenant and separation from idolatry.
chivvî · Hebrew Noun
A Canaanite people group; they are consistently mentioned among those indigenous populations whose religious practices were antithetical to the law of God.
This verse points to a lingering issue from the initial conquest of Canaan: the presence of the original inhabitants. Solomon's building projects required immense labor, and instead of eradicating these remaining groups, he used them as forced labor, a decision that would have long-term consequences for Israel.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Enter Canaan
Following their exodus from Egypt and 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, led by Joshua, began their conquest of Canaan.
c. 1350-1200 BC
Conquest and Settlement of Canaan
The Israelites fought and gradually took control of the land, dispossessing or assimilating the existing Canaanite peoples.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy Established
Saul, David, and Solomon reigned, unifying the tribes of Israel and establishing Jerusalem as the capital.
c. 970-930 BC— this verse
Solomon's Reign and Temple Construction
King Solomon oversaw a period of peace and prosperity, marked by the construction of the magnificent First Temple in Jerusalem.
This passage directly mirrors 1 Kings 9:20 by listing the same nations that the Israelites were commanded to drive out, highlighting the ongoing challenge of foreign influence.
Joshua 11:16-20This passage details Joshua's conquest of Canaan, showing the initial command and partial fulfillment of dispossessing these very same groups before they became a problem in later generations.
Judges 3:5-7This passage explicitly states that the remaining nations, including those mentioned in 1 Kings 9:20, became a snare and a source of temptation for Israel, demonstrating the consequences of not fully obeying God's commands.
Ezra 9:1-2Centuries later, the returned exiles are facing a similar crisis, where the 'peoples of the lands' are intermarrying with them, echoing the same problem of foreign influence that 1 Kings 9:20 alludes to.
It's easy to skim over this list, but notice that these were the original inhabitants of the land God promised to Israel. God knew they wouldn't disappear on their own, so He commanded Israel to drive them out, not to keep the land pristine, but to protect His people from the corrupting influence of their idolatrous practices.
After Solomon's magnificent temple and palace were built, the Lord appeared to him again, warning him about disobedience. This passage immediately follows that divine instruction and describes the remnant populations in the land, descendants of the original Canaanite inhabitants, who were not wiped out by Israel but were instead made subjects and laborers for Solomon's vast building projects. It sets the stage for the later warnings about intermarriage and the influence of these foreign peoples on Israel's worship.
After Solomon's magnificent temple and palace were built, the Lord appeared to him again, warning him about disobedience. This passage immediately follows that divine instruction and describes the remnant populations in the land, descendants of the original Canaanite inhabitants, who were not wiped out by Israel but were instead made subjects and laborers for Solomon's vast building projects. It sets the stage for the later warnings about intermarriage and the influence of these foreign peoples on Israel's worship.
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Yĕbûsî · Hebrew Noun
The original inhabitants of Jerusalem before it was conquered by David; they represent the remnant of the Canaanite nations incorporated into the kingdom through labor or eventual subjugation.
930 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom split into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
"All the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the people of Israel—" — It's easy to skim over this list, but notice that these were the original inhabitants of the land God promised to Israel. God knew they wouldn't disappear on their own, so He commanded Israel to dr…
