Why did Israel fail to drive out the Geshurites and Maacathites completely? Context of Joshua 13:13 “Yet the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites; so Geshur and Maacath dwell among Israel to this day.” (Joshua 13:13) • Joshua 13 recounts how the conquest campaigns were largely complete, yet pockets of land remained unconquered. • The Geshurites and Maacathites occupied two small Aramean kingdoms just north-east of the Sea of Galilee—territory allotted to the half-tribe of Manasseh (vv. 11–12). God’s Clear Command to Remove the Nations • Exodus 23:31-33 — “I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand… You shall make no covenant with them.” • Deuteronomy 20:16-18 — “You shall devote them to complete destruction… so that they will not teach you to do all the detestable things they do.” • Numbers 33:55 — “If you do not drive out the inhabitants… those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides.” Israel’s assignment was unmistakable: full eviction, no treaties, no coexistence. Common Threads Explaining Israel’s Incomplete Conquest • Waning zeal after early victories – Joshua 11:23 records the land “at rest from war.” Momentum slowed; contentment set in. • Complacency and compromise – Judges 1 shows tribe after tribe allowing Canaanites to stay “to this day.” Geshur and Maacah fit the same pattern. • Fear or calculation based on human strength – Deuteronomy 7:17-18 anticipated Israel might say, “These nations are greater than we are.” The rugged Golan heights and fortified towns of Geshur and Maacah likely looked formidable. • Desire for immediate peace and economic gain – Keeping locals as vassals (cf. Joshua 16:10; 17:13) brought tribute without fresh battles. • Failure to rely fully on the Lord’s promise – Joshua 1:9: “Do not be afraid… the LORD your God is with you.” Trust faltered, obedience stalled. Later Ripple Effects in Israel’s History • David married Maacah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur (2 Samuel 3:3). Foreign alliances sprang from the tolerated kingdoms. • After killing Amnon, Absalom fled to his maternal grandfather in Geshur for three years (2 Samuel 13:37-38). The refuge existed only because the territory had never been subdued. • Solomon’s servant Shimei fled to Gath, another leftover city, illustrating an ongoing pattern (1 Kings 2:39-40). Each lingering enclave created pitfalls for future generations. Truths to Take to Heart • Partial obedience is disobedience; small compromises today invite larger troubles tomorrow. • God’s commands come with sufficient power to obey; reluctance springs from unbelief, not inadequacy in Him. • Unfinished battles in one generation become entrenched strongholds in the next. |
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