Why did the tribe of Asher fail to drive out the Canaanites? Setting the Scene Judges 1 describes each tribe’s obedience—or lack of it—after Joshua’s death. Verse 31 zeroes in on Asher: “Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco or of Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob.” (Judges 1:31) “So the Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, because they did not drive them out.” (Judges 1:32) Tracing the Roots of Asher’s Failure • God’s clear command: “You must utterly destroy them… make no covenant with them and show them no mercy.” (Deuteronomy 7:2) • Asher chose coexistence over conquest. Judges 1:32 says they “lived among” the Canaanites—an intentional decision, not an inability. • Possible motives behind the compromise: – Material comfort in the fertile, coastal territory (Joshua 19:24-31 lists eleven cities in a rich trade corridor). – Fear of the enemy’s strength, echoing earlier unbelief at Kadesh-barnea (Numbers 13:31). – Lack of unity with neighboring tribes—no record of asking for help as Judah did with Simeon (Judges 1:3). • Judges 2:1-3 shows the spiritual diagnosis: “You have disobeyed My voice…” The Angel of the LORD links all partial conquest to unbelief. Consequences of Partial Obedience • Persistent Canaanite influence: “They served their gods, and it became a snare.” (Psalm 106:34-36) • Military weakness: later, in Judges 5:17, Asher stays “by the seashore” instead of joining Deborah’s call to battle. • Lost inheritance fullness: Asher’s borders remain unsettled until the united monarchy under David and Solomon (2 Samuel 24:7). Scripture’s Wider Witness • Joshua 17:12-13 shows Manasseh’s similar compromise; Judges presents a pattern, not an isolated incident. • Hebrews 3:12-19 warns believers today against “an evil, unbelieving heart” using Israel’s history as example. • James 4:4 reminds us that friendship with the world equals enmity with God—echoing Asher’s coexistence with Canaanites. Lessons for Today • Obedience must be complete, not selective; partial obedience is disobedience. • Faith drives out fear: God had already promised, “No man shall be able to stand against you.” (Joshua 1:5) • Compromise always costs more than immediate conflict; sin tolerated becomes sin triumphant. • Corporate solidarity matters: isolation from fellow believers weakens resolve, just as Asher stood alone. The narrative calls every reader to trust God’s promises fully, reject compromise, and pursue wholehearted obedience. |
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