Judges 1:30

Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(30) Neither did Zebulun.—See Joshua 19:10-16. Nothing is known of the towns here mentioned. It is remarkable that Issachar is not mentioned, but it may perhaps be accounted for by the condition of contented subjection in which this tribe “bowed his shoulder to the yoke” (Genesis 49:14-15).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:21-36 The people of Israel were very careless of their duty and interest. Owing to slothfulness and cowardice, they would not be at the pains to complete their conquests. It was also owing to their covetousness: they were willing to let the Canaanites live among them, that they might make advantage of them. They had not the dread and detestation of idolatry they ought to have had. The same unbelief that kept their fathers forty years out of Canaan, kept them now out of the full possession of it. Distrust of the power and promise of God deprived them of advantages, and brought them into troubles. Thus many a believer who begins well is hindered. His graces languish, his lusts revive, Satan plies him with suitable temptations, the world recovers its hold; he brings guilt into his conscience, anguish into his heart, discredit on his character, and reproach on the gospel. Though he may have sharp rebukes, and be so recovered that he does not perish, yet he will have deeply to lament his folly through his remaining days; and upon his dying bed to mourn over the opportunities of glorifying God and serving the church he has lost. We can have no fellowship with the enemies of God within us or around us, but to our hurt; therefore our only wisdom is to maintain unceasing war against them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The site of this new Luz is not known, but "the land of the Hittites" was apparently in the north of Palestine, on the borders of Syria (Genesis 10:15 note).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

27-36. The same course of subjugation was carried on in the other tribes to a partial extent, and with varying success. Many of the natives, no doubt, during the progress of this exterminating war, saved themselves by flight and became, it is thought, the first colonists in Greece, Italy, and other countries. But a large portion made a stout resistance and retained possession of their old abodes in Canaan. In other cases, when the natives were vanquished, avarice led the Israelites to spare the idolaters, contrary to the express command of God; and their disobedience to His orders in this matter involved them in many troubles which this book describes.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol,.... The first of these seems to be the same with Kattah or Kartah, and the latter with Nahalal, both cities given to the Levites, Joshua 19:15; which perhaps was the reason of their sloth in driving them out; though it aggravated their sin not to take care to rid those cities of the Canaanites, which were given to religious persons:

but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries; which is observed so far in their favour, that they exerted themselves to make them tributaries, which was more than was done by some others.

Geneva Study Bible

Neither did {m} Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.

(m) That is, the tribe of Zebulun as is also to be understood of the rest.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

30. Zebulun] settled N.W. of the Great Plain, in Lower Galilee, between Asher and Issachar; see Jdg 5:14, Genesis 49:13.

Kitron … Nahalol] In Joshua 19:15 Kattath … Nahalal; ib. Joshua 21:34 f. Kartah … Nahalal; the sites are unknown.

30–33. The Northern tribes settle among the Canaanites

We may conclude from this narrative that the northern tribes entered the country after Judah and Ephraim (so Joshua 18:2-10 JE), and independently of them. Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, were not strong enough to make any conquests; they could only settle among the older population; and the northern district remained, probably for centuries, only partially Israelite, ‘Galilee of the Gentiles,’ ‘the heathen territory’ (Isaiah 9:1). In Jdg 1:27-30 the Canaanites dwell in the midst of Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun; in Jdg 1:31-33 Asher and Naphtali dwell in the midst of the Canaanites. According to P in Joshua 19:10 ff. the cities which are said here to have remained Canaanite belong to the three tribes.

Judges 1:30

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Zebulun did not root out the Canaanites in Kitron and Nahalol.