Judges 1:27

“Neither did Manasseh, etc.] One of the sons of Joseph before mentioned; and it respects that half tribe of Manasseh, which had its portion on this side Jordan in the land of Canaan: these did not drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: all which were places the half tribe had assigned them in Issachar and Asher; of which (see Gill on “<061711>Joshua 17:11”). This tribe seems to have been sluggish, and not to have exerted itself at all, or made any attempts to drive out these people: but the Canaanites would dwell in that…”

“The same course of subjugation was carried on in the other tribes to a partial extent, and with varying success. Many of the natives, no doubt, during the progress of this exterminating war, saved themselves by flight and became, it is thought, the first colonists in Greece, Italy, and other countries. But a large portion made a stout resistance and retained possession of their old abodes in Canaan. In other cases, when the natives were vanquished, avarice led the Israelites to spare the idolaters, contrary to the express command of God; and their disobedience to His orders in this matter involved them in many troubles which this book describes. Next: Judges Chapter 2”

“Manasseh - That is, that half of this tribe which dwelt in Canaan. Judges 1:29”

“Manasseh: Jos 17:11-13 Taanach: Jdg 5:19; Jos 21:25 the Canaanites: Exo 23:32; Deu 7:2; Sa1 15:9; Psa 106:34, Psa 106:35; Jer 48:10 Judges 1:29”

“Manasseh did not root out the Canaanites from the towns which had been allotted to it in the territory of Asher and Issachar ( Jos 17:11), but simply made them tributary. וגו בּית־שׁאן הורישׁ לא, considered by itself, might be rendered: "Manasseh did not take possession of Bethshean," etc. But as we find, in the further enumeration, the inhabitants of the towns mentioned instead of the towns themselves, we must take הורישׁ in the sense of rooting out, driving out of their possessions, which is the only rendering applicable in Jdg 1:28; and thus, according to a very frequent metonymy, must understand by the towns the inhabitants of the towns. "Manasseh did not exterminate Bethshean," i.e.,…”