And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. Instead, the Canaanites continued to live among the people of Ephraim to this day, serving them as forced laborers who had to pay taxes.
This verse explains that the tribe of Ephraim failed to completely remove the Canaanites from their territory, instead making them into servants and tax-payers.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Joshua, the Israelites were dividing the Promised Land among the tribes after their conquest led by Joshua, as part of God's fulfillment of His covenant to Abraham. The tribe of Ephraim was assigned territories that included Gezer, but they failed to drive out the Canaanites there, contrary to God's repeated commands to fully possess the land and avoid idolatry. As a result, the Canaanites lived among the Ephraimites and paid tribute, which foreshadowed ongoing spiritual and cultural challenges for Israel.
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