28 When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely.

Other Translations of Judges 1:28

King James Version

28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.

English Standard Version

28 When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely.

The Message

28 When Israel became stronger they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they never got rid of them.

New King James Version

28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not completely drive them out.

New Living Translation

28 When the Israelites grew stronger, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves, but they never did drive them completely out of the land.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 1:28

Commentary on Judges 1:21-36

(Read Judges 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.