But (as a rendering of the Hebrew waw conjunction) seems too strong at this point. “And so” may be more appropriate. Other possibilities are “Thus” (Revised English Bible) and “So” (New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

The Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: Here there is yet another example of the “bad to worse” scenario so typical of this book. In the preceding verses the Canaanites are said to live among the Israelites, but here the situation is reversed, with the Asherites said to be dwelling among the Canaanites! This way of expressing things could also reflect the fact that the descendants of Asher were very few in number. Whatever the explanation, the storyteller has shifted viewpoints and this tribe seems worse off than the others. The order of presentation highlights the fact that it is the Canaanites, and not the Asherites, who are the inhabitants of the land—the land that was supposedly promised to this tribe of Israel. The long list of cities cited in the previous verse also emphasizes the fact that these people have consistently failed to do what God requested of them. For the Canaanites, see verse 1.1; for inhabitants see verse 1.11. Contemporary English Version‘s translation “and the Asher tribe lived with Canaanites all around them” is particularly effective.

For they did not drive them out is repeated from the beginning of verse 1.31, enclosing this short unit in an inclusio. The Hebrew particle ki rendered for introduces the reason the two peoples are living together, though this particle could also be taken as an emphatic marker, rendered “Indeed.” For did not drive … out, see verse 1.19.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .