Asherites Dwelling Among the Canaanites - Judges 1:32

In the book of Judges we learned, “Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob”, and in chapter one and verse thirty-two of Judges, we learn how, “the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites”, where we read,

But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: 

for they did not drive them out.

The verse reads, “But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land:” The writer began with the words, “but the Asherites” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the people of Asher whose name means ‘happy’ and was those who descended from Asher” “dwelt among the Canaanites” or “lived, abided and dwelt in the midst and middle of the Canaanites whose name means ‘zealous or lowland’ and were the descendants of Canaan”, “the inhabitants” which means “the livers, dwellers and abiders” “of the land” or “within the region, territory and area”. The writer shared how the people of “Asher” lived in the midst of the people of “Canaan” who dwelt in the territory. 

The verse continues, “for they did not drive them out.” The writer added the words, “for they did not drive” which means “because, since and on account that they, the people of Asher, did not in any way or manner expel, seize, dispossess, occupy, or disinherit” “them out” or “them, the Canaanites, from the region”. The writer said the reason the people of “Asher” lived in the midst of the “Canaanites” was because they did not in any way or manner expel them from the land. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how the decision and inability to dispossess the “Canaanites” from the territory allotted to the “tribe of Asher” cost them dearly. We shall see how in later verses, but for now this action is similar to allowing an area of sin to remain in our lives. Paul the apostle wrote, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (See Romans 6:23) For this reason God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to give us the ability to expel all sin that will certainly cost us dearly. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; 1 John 1:9)

Next time we learn, “neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".