What is the meaning of Judges 1:21?

The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem

“ ‘The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem…’ ” (Judges 1:21a)

• God had clearly instructed Israel to remove the Canaanite peoples from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1-5; Joshua 17:12-13), promising victory if they trusted Him.

• Benjamin’s territory included Jerusalem (Joshua 18:28), yet the tribe stopped short of full obedience.

• Earlier, Judah had taken the city and burned it (Judges 1:8), showing that victory was possible. The Benjamites’ later failure highlights the danger of relying on human strength or convenience rather than God’s power.

• This pattern of partial obedience appears throughout Judges (Judges 2:1-3), setting the stage for cycles of oppression and deliverance that follow.

Takeaway: when God gives clear direction, anything less than complete obedience invites future trouble.

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So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites

“ ‘…So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.’ ” (Judges 1:21b)

• “To this day” indicates that the situation persisted for generations. The writer of Judges, looking back, sees the lingering Jebusite presence as a sober reminder of what compromise costs.

• The Jebusites maintained control of Jerusalem until David finally captured it centuries later (2 Samuel 5:6-7; 1 Chronicles 11:4-6).

• Their continued residence opened the door to cultural and religious influence. Judges 3:5-7 records Israel living among Canaanite peoples, marrying into them, and serving their gods.

• Persistent disobedience turned what should have been Israel’s stronghold into a contested space, delaying the full realization of God’s promises.

Lessons for today:

• Incomplete obedience today can become entrenched strongholds tomorrow.

• Small compromises often coexist peacefully at first but eventually challenge our allegiance to God.

• God’s faithfulness remains—He ultimately established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital—but His people endured unnecessary struggle along the way.

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summary

Judges 1:21 records Benjamin’s refusal to expel the Jebusites from Jerusalem, an act of partial obedience that left an enduring foreign presence “to this day.” The verse reminds us that God calls His people to wholehearted trust and follow-through; anything less invites lingering obstacles and spiritual drift.