Not Driving Out the Jebusites - Judges 1:21

In the book of Judges we learned how the tribe of Judah, “gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled from there the three sons of Anak”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-one of Judges, we learn how “the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem” where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem;” The writer began with the words, “and the children of Benjamin” which means “and the offspring and progeny belonging to Benjamin whose name means ‘son of the right hand’ and was Jacob's and Rachel's youngest son, Joseph’s full brother and the male progenitor of the tribe of Benjamin” “did not drive out the Jebusites” or “in no way or manner seized, dispossessed, disinherited or occupied the Jebusites whose name means ‘threshing place’ and were the descendants of Jebus who was the third son of Canaan who lived in or around the site of Jebus which was the early name for Jerusalem”“that inhabited Jerusalem” which means “who dwelled, abode and lived within Jerusalem whose name means ‘teaching of peace’ and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. The writer shared how the offspring of “Benjamin” were unable to dispossess and expel the “Jebusites” who dwelled within “Jerusalem”. 

The verse goes on to say, “but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.” The writer continued with the words, “but the Jebusites” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the Jebusites whose name means ‘threshing place’” “dwell with the children of Benjamin” or “live and abide alongside the offspring and progeny belonging to Benjamin whose name means ‘son of the right hand’” “in Jerusalem” which means “within Jerusalem whose name means ‘teaching of peace’” “unto this day” or “to the current time period”. The writer shared how the “Jebusites” lived alongside of the offspring belonging to “Benjamin” to that very time period. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how the “tribe of Benjamin” was unable to dispossess the “Jebusites” from their territory, so the “Jebusites” lived with them within the city of “Jerusalem” to that current time period. These foes and adversaries of Israel were left intentionally by Jehovah God for the purpose of testing the resolve of the people of Israel to follow Him and not other gods. (See Judges 2:20-22: 3:1-2) God wants to be first in our lives, (See Matthew 6:33) and when we yield ourselves to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days 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 empower us to live in a manner that is equipped to conquer all foes and areas of sin in our lives. (See John 3:16; Acts 1:8; Romans 6:18,22)

Next time we learn about, “the house of Joseph”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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