Judges lists multiple tribes that did not drive out the inhabitants of their territories and instead lived among them or put them to forced labor (Judges 1:27–36). The chapter also notes Judah could not drive out some valley inhabitants because they had iron chariots (Judges 1:19).
Judges 1:27–36 lists a chain of tribal shortfalls after earlier military gains. Tribe after tribe does not remove the existing populations from key towns and regions, so Canaanites and Amorites remain in place. When Israel becomes stronger, some groups shift from removal to control through forced labor, creating mixed settlement rather than clear possession. This unit sits in the opening chapter’s survey of Israel’s early efforts to secure the land after Joshua, moving from scattered successes to a widening pattern of incomplete control (Judges 1:1).
Judges 1:27–36 presents a repeating pattern: several tribes do not “drive out” existing populations from key locations, so Canaanites/Amorites remain in place. The text highlights named towns and regions to show that the problem is widespread, not isolated.
A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.
Start with Judges 1:27-36, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
27Manasseh did not drive out [the inhabitants of] Beth-shean and its towns, nor [of] Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
28It happened, when Israel had grown strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and did not utterly drive them out.
29Ephraim didn`t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.
30Zebulun didn`t drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.
31Asher didn`t drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob;
32but the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.
33Naphtali didn`t drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to forced labor.
34The Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill-country; for they would not allow them to come down to the valley;
35but the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to forced labor.
36The border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.