Judges 1:31-32
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What's easily missed here is the stark contrast between the tribal land God promised and the places the tribe of Asher actually ended up occupying. This isn't just about incomplete conquest; it's about the Asherites settling for a life nestled among powerful, unconquered cities like Sidon, essentially coexisting with those they were meant to displace.
Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon or of Ahlab or of Achzib or of Helbah or of Aphik or of Rehob, so the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage appears in the aftermath of the initial Israelite conquest, as the tribes are settling into their allotted territories. Instead of completely expelling the Canaanite inhabitants as God commanded, the tribe of Asher failed to drive out several key cities and their people along the coast and inland. This failure to obey God's command sets the stage for future problems, as these remaining Canaanites will later become a source of oppression and idolatry for Israel.
The book of Judges opens with a stark pattern: Israel is commanded to drive out the Canaanites, yet they often fail. What happens when obedience is partial?
Judges 1:31 reveals a critical failure within the tribe of Asher. They did not drive out the inhabitants of key cities like Acco and Sidon.
This wasn't just a minor oversight; it was a direct contravention of God's command. This incomplete conquest had significant consequences:
This pattern is a powerful reminder that partial obedience rarely leads to lasting peace or spiritual victory.
The tribe of Asher was assigned a fertile coastal region. Yet, their story in Judges is one of limited success. Why might this be?
The tribe of Asher was given a rich territory along the Mediterranean coast, extending into Phoenicia (Genesis 49:20). This region included important port cities like Acco and the great Phoenician capital, Sidon.
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However, Judges 1:31 highlights their struggle. Unlike some other tribes who were more aggressive in conquering their territories, Asher seemed content with a partial hold.
This situation serves as a caution against allowing proximity to the world's allurements to dilute our commitment to God's specific commands.
Understand the original words
yarash · Hebrew Verb
To dispossess, cast out, or evict, often used in the context of Israel taking possession of the Promised Land from the idolatrous nations. It carries the weight of a divine command and mission to cleanse the land of spiritual corruption.
Kena'ani · Hebrew Noun
The indigenous peoples of the Promised Land who were characterized by their idolatry and opposition to God’s covenant people. They represent the spiritual and moral obstacles Israel was commanded to remove to maintain holiness.
yashab · Hebrew Noun/Participle
Refers to those residing in a specific location; in this context, it emphasizes the people who remained in the land rather than being expelled, leading to the compromise of Israel's covenant responsibilities.
This verse highlights the incomplete nature of the Israelite conquest, showing how the tribe of Asher, despite being part of God's people, failed to dislodge the Canaanite populations in their assigned territory, particularly the influential Phoenician coastal cities.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites in Canaan Under Egyptian Rule
During the New Kingdom period, Egypt exerted significant influence and control over Canaan, with some scholars suggesting parts of the Israelite nation, possibly the tribe of Asher, were present in southern Phoenicia under Egyptian administration.
c. 13th Century BC
Israelite Conquest and Settlement
Following the Exodus, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, entered and began conquering Canaan. However, the conquest was incomplete, with many Canaanite populations and strongholds remaining unconquered.
c. 13th-11th Century BC
Period of the Judges Begins
After Joshua's death, the Israelites entered a period characterized by cycles of disobedience, oppression by surrounding nations, and deliverance through charismatic leaders known as Judges.
c. 12th Century BC
Egyptian Campaigns in Canaan
Pharaohs like Merneptah conducted military campaigns in Canaan, encountering and documenting conflicts with various peoples, including a group identified as 'Israel'. These campaigns indicate continued Egyptian interest and involvement in the region.
c. 11th Century BC— this verse
Asher's Limited Control Over Coastal Cities
The tribe of Asher, settled in a fertile but contested coastal region bordering Phoenicia, failed to fully drive out the established inhabitants of key cities like Acco and Sidon, as well as several other towns.
c. 1000 BC
Rise of Phoenician City-States
By the time of the United Monarchy in Israel, Phoenician cities like Sidon and Tyre had become powerful maritime and commercial centers, maintaining their independence and influence.
This passage lists the cities that were allotted to the tribe of Asher, providing the context for the list of places Asher failed to conquer in Judges.
Judges 1:21This verse shows a similar failure by the tribe of Benjamin to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem, highlighting a pattern of incomplete conquest across Israel.
Judges 2:1-5This passage speaks directly to the consequences of not driving out the Canaanites, warning that they would become a snare and their gods would be an occasion of sin.
Galatians 5:16-17This New Testament passage speaks to the ongoing spiritual battle within believers between the desires of the flesh and the Spirit, paralleling the physical struggle Israel failed to complete against opposing forces.
Hebrews 3:12-13This passage warns against hardening hearts and falling away from God, connecting the Israelites' failure to conquer to a spiritual condition of unbelief and its resulting negative consequences.
gillJudges 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:"
Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho,.... The same with Ptolemais; see Gill on Acts 21:7 ; so called from the first Ptolemy king of Egypt, who enlarged it; but it has since recovered its ancient name pretty nearly, and is now called Acca or Acra."On its north and east sides (Mr. Maundrell says (w)) it is encomp…
ellicottJudges 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:"
(31) Neither did Asher. —See Joshua 19:24-31 . Accho.—The seaport so famous under the names of Ptolemais (Acts 21:7; 1 Maccabees 5:15; 1 Maccabees 10:1), Acre, and St. Jean d’Acre (now Acca). Josephus called it Ako (Antt. ix. 14, § 2). Zidon.—(Joshua 11:8.) Asher never succeeded in conquering Zidon, which was the capital of Ph…
What's easily missed here is the stark contrast between the tribal land God promised and the places the tribe of Asher actually ended up occupying. This isn't just about incomplete conquest; it's about the Asherites settling for a life nestled among powerful, unconquered cities like Sidon, essentially coexisting with those they were meant to displace.
This passage appears in the aftermath of the initial Israelite conquest, as the tribes are settling into their allotted territories. Instead of completely expelling the Canaanite inhabitants as God commanded, the tribe of Asher failed to drive out several key cities and their people along the coast and inland. This failure to obey God's command sets the stage for future problems, as these remaining Canaanites will later become a source of oppression and idolatry for Israel.
This passage appears in the aftermath of the initial Israelite conquest, as the tribes are settling into their allotted territories. Instead of completely expelling the Canaanite inhabitants as God commanded, the tribe of Asher failed to drive out several key cities and their people along the coast and inland. This failure to obey God's command sets the stage for future problems, as these remaining Canaanites will later become a source of oppression and idolatry for Israel.
"Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon or of Ahlab or of Achzib or of Helbah or of Aphik or of Rehob, so the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive th…" — What's easily missed here is the stark contrast between the tribal land God promised and the places the tribe of Asher actually ended up occupying. This isn't just about incomplete conquest; it's a…
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Last reviewed October 2026
