1. Judges 1:28 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why did Israel press the Canaanites into forced labour?

Judges 1:28 (ESV)

28 When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely.

The implied reason is that it made more economic sense and required less effort to enslave them than to drive them out. Convenience trumps obedience.1