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:

JUDGES 1:31KJV
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Judges 1:31 (KJV)

What does Judges 1:31 mean?

Judges 1:31 states that the tribe of Asher did not drive out the people living in several cities, including Accho, Zidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob. This means the Asherites allowed the original inhabitants to remain in these places instead of taking full possession of the land as instructed.

This verse is part of a larger account describing how the Israelite tribes settled in Canaan after entering the land. The text lists specific towns and highlights the incomplete obedience of Asher, showing that they did not remove the local populations as commanded. This sets up later challenges Israel would face because of these remaining groups.

The Hebrew behind Judges 1:31

  • אָשֵׁר (Asher, transliteration: Asher): This is the name of one of the tribes of Israel, emphasizing which group is being described in this verse.
  • יָשַׁב (yashav, transliteration: inhabitants): This word means "to dwell" or "to inhabit," focusing on the people already living in these cities, not just the places themselves.
  • יָרַשׁ (yarash, transliteration: out/drive out): This verb means "to dispossess" or "drive out," highlighting the action the tribe of Asher failed to complete.
  • Names like עַכּוֹ (Akko, transliteration: Accho), צִידוֹן (Tzidon, transliteration: Zidon), אַחְלָב (Ahlab), אַכְזִיב (Achzib), חֶלְבָּה (Helbah), אָפִיק (Aphik), and רְחֹב (Rehob) are all specific locations, showing the incomplete conquest was widespread, not limited to one area.

Why Judges 1:31 matters

  • Judges 1:31 clarifies that the failure to drive out the inhabitants was not just a general problem but affected many specific towns, showing the scale of incomplete obedience.
  • This verse helps explain later difficulties Israel faced with neighboring peoples, as these groups remained and influenced or opposed Israel in various ways.
  • The mention of well-known cities like Zidon (a major Phoenician port) hints at the significant cultural and political challenges the Israelites would encounter by not fully settling the land.