What does Judges 1:21 mean?
"And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day." - Judges 1:21
The verse Judges 1:21 in the King James Version of the Bible reads, "And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day." This verse is part of the historical narrative found in the book of Judges, which describes the conquest and settlement of the Promised Land by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua.
In this particular verse, the focus is on the tribe of Benjamin and their failure to completely drive out the Jebusites from the city of Jerusalem. This failure to fully obey God's command to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants from the land had significant repercussions for the Israelites in the future.
To fully understand the meaning and significance of Judges 1:21, it is essential to examine the verse within its broader context. The book of Judges tells the story of the Israelites' conquest and settlement of the Promised Land after the death of Joshua. The Israelites were instructed by God to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants of the land and to completely destroy their idols and altars. However, the Israelites did not completely obey these commands, which led to intermarriage with the Canaanites and adopting their pagan practices.
The failure of the tribe of Benjamin to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem illustrates the overall failure of the Israelites to fully obey God's commands. This failure had far-reaching consequences, as the presence of the Jebusites in Jerusalem meant that the Israelites did not have complete control over the city, which would later become the capital of the united kingdom of Israel under King David. This failure to completely conquer the land and remove its pagan inhabitants led to ongoing conflict and idolatry among the Israelites.
The verse also highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands. Throughout the book of Judges, the Israelites' disobedience to God is a recurring theme, leading to their oppression and suffering at the hands of their enemies. The failure of the tribe of Benjamin to drive out the Jebusites serves as a warning against compromise and half-hearted obedience to God's instructions.
Symbolically, the presence of the Jebusites in Jerusalem represents the lingering influence of pagan practices and beliefs among the Israelites. This reflects the ongoing struggle of God's people to remain faithful to him and resist the allure of foreign gods and customs.
In conclusion, Judges 1:21 is a verse that holds significant historical, theological, and moral significance within the broader narrative of the book of Judges. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience and compromise, as well as the ongoing struggle of God's people to remain faithful to him. The verse also highlights the importance of fully obeying God's commands and the dangers of allowing the influence of foreign practices to persist among God's people.
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Judges 1:21 - "And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day."
"And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day." - Judges 1:21
Judges 21:1 - "Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife."
Obadiah 1:21 - "And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S."
Judges 21:20 - "Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;"
Judges 21:9 - "For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there."
Judges 18:21 - "So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them."
Judges 21:17 - "And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel."
Judges 9:21 - "And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother."
Judges 21:15 - "And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel."
Judges 21:25 - "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
Judges 21:21 - "And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin."
Judges 21:4 - "And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings."
Judges 7:21 - "And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled."
Judges 13:21 - "But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD."
Judges 21:6 - "And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day."
Judges 21:2 - "And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;"
Judges 21:13 - "And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them."
Judges 19:21 - "So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink."
Judges 21:16 - "Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?"
Judges 21:3 - "And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?"
Judges 20:21 - "And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men."
"And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S." - Obadiah 1:21
"Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife." - Judges 21:1
Deuteronomy 21:2 - "Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:"
Judges 2:21 - "I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:"
Judges 21:8 - "¶ And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly."
Judges 5:21 - "The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength."
Judges 21:7 - "How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?"
Judges 21:14 - "And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not."