‘ And it happened that when Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to taskwork and did not utterly drive them out.'
At one stage or another Israel obtained control of these cities and their surrounding villages, but when they did so they did not drive the Canaanites out, but allowed them to remain, and subjected them to slavery in direct disobedience to God's commands. Their desire for ease and mastery overcame their willingness to obey God. Thus they began to fraternise with them, and to learn their ways, for the Canaanites were more sophisticated than the Israelites and would seem to have much to offer. The criticism here of the tribes includes criticism of David for he too failed to carry out God's command concerning the Canaanites. Both Manasseh and Israel were at fault in all this, and it led to religious syncretism, and infection with the teachings and practises of Canaanite religion, along with their depraved activities.