This chiasm was discovered whilst preparing a Bible Class talk on Judges. When reading up on what Christadelphians have written previously about Judges 1, more than one writer notes the switch from the Canaanites dwelling among the people (vv. 29,30) to the people dwelling among the Canaanites (vv. 32, 33). John Martin describes this as “the position reversed” (The Judges, p. 11), a description which alerts us to the possibility of a chiasm.

Note that in verse 30, in the Hebrew, “dwelt” comes before “the Canaanites”. The chiasm is formed, rather, by the reversal of “Canaanites” and “among”. Verse 31 may seem obscure for a central statement but it’s a pivotal point detailing the way the tribe of Asher, typical of Israel as whole, was merging with the Canaanite world. The same was true of the tribe of Naphtali mentioned in the next verse (v. 33). As John Martin wrote concerning Naphtali: “No longer was it a matter of a tribe allowing the Canaanites to dwell among them, but now we find the Canaanites are in the ascendancy and allowed the tribe of Naphatali to dwell among them.”

A (30) Neither did Zebulun DRIVE OUT

B (30) the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but THE CANAANITES dwelt

C (30) AMONG them, and became tributaries.

D (31) Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:

C′ (32) But the Asherites dwelt AMONG

B′ (32) THE CANAANITES, the inhabitants of the land:

A′ (32) for THEY DID NOT DRIVE THEM OUT.