Judges 1:21
French (La Bible expliquée)
Les descendants de Benjamin ne réussirent pas à chasser les Jébusites qui habitaient Jérusalem, et ceux-ci vivent maintenant encore dans cette ville avec les Benjaminites. Les tribus du Nord ne parviennent pas à chasser les habitants des villes. Béthel est prise par ruse. L'installation n'est plus racontée comme un nettoyage par le vide mais comme une infiltration parmi les Cananéens. Plus on avance dans le chapitre, et moins le peuple de Dieu garde l'avantage. S'il parvient encore à imposer des travaux aux Cananéens, ces derniers vivent avec eux (v. 21) ou parmi eux (v. 29); quant aux dernières tribus, elles résident parmi les Cananéens (v. 32, 33). Par deux fois (v. 19, 22), le texte rappelle que le Seigneur est avec eux, sans préciser si la victoire en est la conséquence. Cette suite de récits montre plusieurs tribus qui s'installent à côté des Cananéens. Cette cohabitation va devenir pour les Israélites une tentation permanente d'idolâtrie.
What Does This Mean?
This verse tells us that the tribe of Benjamin didn't manage to remove the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. As a result, the Jebusites continued to live in the city with the Benjamites. This shows the incomplete conquest of the promised land by the Israelites.
Explained for Children
Imagine you have a new house, but there are some people already living in one of the rooms. You try to move them out, but you can't. So, those people keep living in that room with you. That's kind of what happened in Jerusalem with the Benjamites and the Jebusites.
Historical Background
The Book of Judges was likely written between the 11th and 6th centuries BCE, after the conquest of Canaan. It was compiled from older oral traditions and written records by an unknown author. The audience was the Israelites, and the cultural setting reflects the challenges of settling and maintaining control over the promised land.
Living It Out Today
In modern terms, this can be applied to situations where we face stubborn obstacles that we can't remove, like a difficult coworker who affects team dynamics. It's important to find ways to coexist peacefully while working towards a better future.
Topics
conquestcoexistencechallengespromised landtribal historyJerusalem
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the Jebusites not driven out of Jerusalem?
The Jebusites were not driven out because the tribe of Benjamin lacked the military strength or unity to fully conquer the city. This reflects the broader challenge of settling the promised land against strong opposition.
How does this verse relate to the broader themes of Judges?
This verse illustrates the theme of incomplete conquest and ongoing conflict that characterizes the Book of Judges, showing the Israelites' struggle to fully implement God's command to take possession of the land.
What does this verse tell us about the relationship between Israelites and Jebusites?
It suggests a complex relationship of cohabitation rather than integration or peaceful coexistence, as the Jebusites were not fully assimilated and continued to live as separate inhabitants of Jerusalem.
What lessons can we draw from this verse for dealing with long-term challenges?
We can learn the importance of perseverance and finding ways to coexist when immediate resolution isn't possible, while continuing to work towards long-term goals and solutions.