But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.

JUDGES 1:35KJV
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Judges 1:35 (KJV)

What does Judges 1:35 mean?

Judges 1:35 describes how the Amorites continued to live in certain mountain areas—specifically mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim—even though the house of Joseph eventually became strong enough to force the Amorites to pay them tribute. The verse shows a situation where the Israelites did not fully drive out the Amorites but instead made them subject to forced payments.

This verse is part of a larger section where the book of Judges lists the incomplete conquest of Canaan by the Israelite tribes. The narrative explains that, although the tribe of Joseph (descendants of Joseph, mainly Ephraim and Manasseh) gained the upper hand ("prevailed") over the Amorites, they did not remove them completely but imposed a form of control by making them tributaries. This sets the stage for later issues Israel would face with the remaining Canaanite peoples.

The Hebrew behind Judges 1:35

  • "Amorites" (אֱמֹרִי, ʼĕmōrî) refers to one of the main Canaanite groups living in the land before Israel’s arrival. Their continued presence highlights the incomplete conquest.
  • "Prevailed" (כָּבֵד, kaved) often means "to be heavy" or "to become strong." Here, it suggests that the house of Joseph became powerful enough to dominate the Amorites, but not to remove them entirely.
  • "Tributaries" (מַס, mas) means forced laborers or people required to pay tribute. This indicates a relationship where the Amorites were subjugated but not expelled, showing a compromise rather than total victory.

Why Judges 1:35 matters

  • Judges 1:35 clarifies that Israel’s conquest of Canaan was not total; some groups, like the Amorites, remained and were only subdued economically or through forced labor.
  • The verse emphasizes the partial obedience of the Israelites, which becomes a recurring theme in Judges and leads to future difficulties with the remaining Canaanite peoples.
  • This detail connects to the broader narrative of Judges, where the incomplete conquest and coexistence with other peoples lead to cycles of conflict and spiritual decline.