Bible Strands
Joshua 17:13
However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua narrates the territorial outcome for the descendants of Joseph, explaining why the allotments of Manasseh and Ephraim still contain subjugated Canaanite populations.
The words — The Hebrew חָזְקוּ (cha.ze.Ku) means "they became strong," paired with יִתְּנוּ (yi.ten.nu) meaning "they made," tracking the Israelites' military consolidation and subsequent imposition of servitude.
The thread — This partial conquest pattern reappears in Joshua 16:10 regarding Ephraim and Gezer, and aligns with the Deuteronomy 20:11 provision for reducing non-fleeing cities to forced labor.
Why it lands — The passage records a historical compromise where military advantage replaced complete obedience, requiring readers to face the tangible cost of settling for partial compliance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.
Cross-references
- Joshua 16:10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, but they are forced laborers.
- Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Deuteronomy 20:11 If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you.
- Judges 1:28 When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.
- Judges 1:30 Zebulun failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kitron and Nahalol; so the Canaanites lived among them and served as forced laborers.
- Judges 1:33 Naphtali failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. So the Naphtalites also lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served them as forced laborers.
- Judges 1:35 And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, they pressed the Amorites into forced labor.
- 2 Samuel 3:1 Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
- 2 Chronicles 8:7 As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)—
- Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.