Old Testament

Judges 1:28

The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English

At a Glance

In this verse, we see a pivotal moment in Israel's history after they had gained strength.

Author: Traditionally attributed to Samuel
Written: Around 1050-1000 BC
Genre: Historical narrative
Original Audience: The Israelites living under the judges

CBTClear Bible Translation

When Israel became strong, they imposed tribute on the Canaanites but did not completely drive them out.

KJVKing James Version

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

Verse Analysis

Plain-English insight for readers

In this verse, we see a pivotal moment in Israel's history after they had gained strength. Instead of fully conquering the Canaanites as God had commanded, they chose to impose tribute on them, which means they made them pay taxes or give resources instead of driving them out completely. This decision reflects a compromise that ultimately led to future problems for Israel, as the presence of the Canaanites would lead to idolatry and moral decline. The Israelites' failure to fully obey God's command demonstrates the dangers of partial obedience and the consequences that can arise from it. This verse serves as a reminder that when we do not fully commit to God's instructions, we may face challenges that could have been avoided had we followed through completely. It highlights the importance of faithfulness and the need to address issues in our lives thoroughly rather than settling for a halfway solution.

Key themes

Related Bible verses

How to apply Judges 1:28 to your life

This verse encourages us to examine areas in our lives where we may be compromising or not fully obeying God's commands. Instead of settling for a partial solution, we should strive for complete obedience, trusting that God’s way is best for our lives. Addressing issues thoroughly can prevent future struggles.

Curated for this public verse page. Judges Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick, clear answers about this verse

What does Judges 1:28 mean?

Judges 1:28 describes a time when the Israelites, after gaining strength, chose to impose tribute on the Canaanites instead of completely driving them out as God commanded. This decision reflects a compromise that led to future issues for Israel, including idolatry and moral decline.

What is the significance of tribute in Judges 1:28?

In Judges 1:28, tribute signifies that the Israelites opted for a form of control over the Canaanites by making them pay taxes or provide resources, rather than fully conquering them. This choice illustrates the dangers of partial obedience to God's commands.

What lessons can we learn from Judges 1:28?

Judges 1:28 teaches the importance of complete obedience to God's instructions. It serves as a reminder that compromising on God's commands can lead to future struggles and challenges.

How does Judges 1:28 relate to idolatry?

Judges 1:28 highlights how the Israelites' failure to fully drive out the Canaanites allowed for the continued presence of foreign influences, which eventually led to idolatry and moral decline among the Israelites.

Book Summary

The Book of Judges

Judges 1–2: Incomplete Conquest and the Cycle of Sin

After the death of Joshua, the tribes of Israel inquire of the Lord who should first go up to fight the remaining Canaanites. Judah is chosen and, with the help of the tribe of Simeon, achieves several victories, but fails to drive out the inhabitants of the coastal plain because they have iron chariots. The book then details the failures of the other tribes—Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali—to completely dispossess the Canaanites from their allotted territories. Instead of driving them out, the Israelites put them to forced labor, allowing pagan influences to remain in the land. An angel of the Lord appears at Bochim and rebukes the people for breaking their covenant with God by making treaties with the inhabitants of the land. The people weep and offer sacrifices, but the pattern of disobedience is set.

A new generation arises that does not know the Lord or the works He has done for Israel. This generation forsakes the God of their fathers, turning to worship the Baals and Ashtaroth of the surrounding peoples. This apostasy provokes the Lord's anger, and He hands them over to their enemies, who oppress them. When the Israelites cry out to the Lord in their misery, He raises up judges—deliverers who save them from their oppressors. However, as soon as a judge dies, the people relapse into even greater corruption, returning to their idolatrous ways. This establishes the book's central, recurring cycle: sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, followed by a period of rest, and then a return to sin. Judges 3: Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar The first cycle of judgment begins as the Israelites do evil in the sight of the Lord and worship idols. God's anger burns against them, and He sells them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, whom they serve for eight years. When the people cry out to the Lord, He raises up Othniel, the younger brother of Caleb, as their deliverer. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon him, and he leads Israel to victory, defeating the Mesopotamian king. The land has peace for forty years until Othniel's death. After Othniel dies, the Israelites again do evil, and God strengthens Eglon, the king of Moab, against them. Eglon, allied with the Ammonites and Amalekites, defeats Israel and captures the city of palms, Jericho. The Israelites are subject to Moab for eighteen years. When they cry out for help, God raises up Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. While delivering Israel's tribute, Ehud uses his left-handedness to his advantage, concealing a dagger on his right thigh. In a private audience with the obese King Eglon, he claims to have a secret message from God and stabs the king in the belly. Ehud escapes, rallies the Israelite forces, and leads them to a decisive victory over the Moabites, killing about 10,000 of their soldiers. The land enjoys peace for eighty years. After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath is mentioned, who strikes down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad, also saving Israel.

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