1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?
2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.
3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
4 And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
5 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
7 And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered [their meat] under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
8 Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
10 And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before [was] Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.
11 And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before [was] Kirjathsepher:
12 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
14 And it came to pass, when she came [to him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off [her] ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
15 And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
16 And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which [lieth] in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.
18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
19 And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out [the inhabitants of] the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
20 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
21 And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD [was] with them.
23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before [was] Luz.)
24 And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy.
25 And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.
26 And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which [is] the name thereof unto this day.
27 Neither did Manasseh 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: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
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:
32 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.
33 Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.
36 And the coast of the Amorites [was] from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
Overview of Judges Chapter 1
Judges Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the period of the Judges in Israel’s history, detailing the conquests and challenges faced by the tribes of Israel after the death of Joshua. The chapter highlights the themes of obedience, the consequences of failure to fully obey God’s commands, and the ongoing struggle against the Canaanite inhabitants of the land.
Key Themes
- Leadership and Guidance: The chapter begins with the Israelites seeking divine guidance on who should lead the charge against the Canaanites.
- Divine Assistance: The Lord’s promise of support in battles against the Canaanites is emphasized, showcasing the importance of faith in God.
- Partial Obedience: The failure of the tribes to completely drive out the Canaanites illustrates the dangers of incomplete obedience to God’s commands.
- Consequences of Disobedience: The chapter foreshadows the future struggles of Israel due to their failure to fully conquer the land.
Summary of Events
- Inquiry for Leadership (1:1-2): After Joshua’s death, the Israelites ask the Lord who should lead them in battle against the Canaanites. The Lord chooses Judah to go first.
- Judah’s Victory (1:3-7): Judah teams up with Simeon and successfully defeats the Canaanites in their territory, capturing key cities and demonstrating God’s support. The chapter notes the brutal treatment of the defeated king, Adoni-Bezek.
- Capture of Jerusalem (1:8): Judah captures Jerusalem, setting it on fire, which marks a significant victory in their campaign.
- Continued Conquests (1:9-20): The chapter details further conquests by Judah in the hill country, the Negev, and the western foothills, including the capture of Hebron and the defeat of the Anakites.
- Failures of Other Tribes (1:21-36): The chapter shifts focus to other tribes, such as Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Zebulun, highlighting their failures to drive out the Canaanites. It notes specific cities and regions where they were unable to achieve complete victory.
- Consequences of Incomplete Conquest (1:27-36): The chapter concludes with a list of tribes that failed to fully conquer their allotted territories, leading to the Canaanites remaining in the land and becoming a source of future conflict for Israel.
Character Analysis
- Judah: Represents leadership and strength, taking initiative in seeking God’s guidance and achieving victories.
- Simeon: Acts in alliance with Judah, demonstrating the importance of unity among the tribes in achieving their goals.
- Adoni-Bezek: His brutal treatment serves as a reflection of the harsh realities of warfare during this period, as well as the consequences of opposing God’s people.
- The Tribes of Israel: Their varying degrees of success and failure illustrate the complexities of obedience to God’s commands and the ramifications of their actions.
Theological Implications
This chapter raises significant theological questions regarding the nature of obedience and the consequences of failing to follow God’s commands fully. It emphasizes that while God provides assistance, the onus is on the people to act decisively in faith. The presence of Canaanites in the land serves as a reminder of the ongoing spiritual and physical battles that believers face.
Conclusion
Judges Chapter 1 sets the stage for the subsequent narratives of the Judges, illustrating the challenges faced by Israel as they navigate their identity and relationship with God in the Promised Land. The themes of leadership, obedience, and the consequences of disobedience resonate throughout the chapter, providing foundational insights for understanding the broader narrative of the Book of Judges.
