Wesley Corpus

This seems more probable. Judah took - It is only said, they took the cities, and probably contented themselves with making them tributary; but it is not said that they slew the people, as they ought to have done; and as it is said of the other cities here. And the people being thus spared, did by God's just judgment recover their strength, and expel the Jews out of their cities. It is farther observable, that Ekron here taken, was one of Dan's cities, Josh 19:43, and it was taken here by Judah and Simeon, partly out of love for their brother Dan, and partly to secure their new conquests, and other adjoining territories, from such potent neighbours. Could not drive - Because of their unbelief, whereby they distrusted God's power to destroy those who had chariots of iron, and so gave way to their own fear and sloth, whereby God was provoked to withdraw his helping hand. House of Joseph - That is, the tribe of Ephraim. The entrance - On which side it is weakest, that we might best invade and take it. His family - Together with his estate, as the following verse manifests. The Hittites - Where the Hittites seated themselves after they were driven out of Canaan, which seems to be northward from Canaan, and near upon it. Manasseh - That is, that half of this tribe which dwelt in Canaan. In Gezer - Which they possessed 'till Solomon's time, 1Kings 9:16. The valley - That is, into the plain country; which was the occasion of that expedition for the getting new quarters, of which we read Josh 19:47,48 and chap.Jud 18:1 - 31. House of Joseph - That is, of the Ephraimites, who helped their brethren the Danites against the Amorites. Akrabbim - Which was in the southern part of Canaan, Josh 15:2,3, from whence it went up towards the north. This is added to shew the great power and large extent of this people.