Now as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah could not drive them out; so the Jebusites live with the sons of Judah at Jerusalem until this day.Why couldn't the Israelites drive out the Jebusites? This is the first time that a failure to eliminate the inhabitants is mentioned, where there was no sin or lack of trying. It seems that the tribe of Judah tried to take Jerusalem, and failed. Why did God allow this?
I personally have two theories, though I don't really believe the first. That first theory is that God intentionally left them be so that David could take the city later, and who his prowess. However, I don't believe that because it doesn't fit with the command to drive everyone out, and who knows what contamination to the people the Jebusites caused in the mean time. My second theory is that Judah didn't try long/hard enough. We know that Jerusalem was a city with very good defensive positioning. To assault it was nearly impossible without first tricking them into coming out to fight, which would mean they had to besiege it. I'm guessing that they gave up the siege too soon, and that God would have given them the victory if they had persevered. Since they did not, they now have to live with the consequences for generations.
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