Judges 1
Judah's Conquest and the Capture of Jerusalem
1After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked of the LORD, saying, “Who should go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”
2The LORD said, “Judah shall go up. Behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.”
3Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your lot.” So Simeon went with him.
4Judah went up, and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand. They struck ten thousand men in Bezek.
5They found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek, and they fought against him. They struck the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6But Adoni-Bezek fled. They pursued him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his big toes.
7Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their big toes cut off, scavenged under my table. As I have done, so God has done to me.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8The children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, took it, struck it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
9After that, the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, and in the South, and in the lowland.
10Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron. (The name of Hebron before that was Kiriath Arba.) They struck Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
11From there he went against the inhabitants of Debir. (The name of Debir before that was Kiriath Sepher.)
12Caleb said, “I will give Achsah my daughter as wife to the man who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it.”
13Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it, so he gave him Achsah his daughter as his wife.
14When she came, she got him to ask her father for a field. She got off her donkey; and Caleb said to her, “What would you like?”
15She said to him, “Give me a blessing; because you have set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water.” Then Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
16The children of the Kenite, Moses’ brother-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and lived with the people.
17Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they struck the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. The name of the city was called Hormah.
18Also Judah took Gaza with its border, and Ashkelon with its border, and Ekron with its border.
19The LORD was with Judah, and drove out the inhabitants of the hill country; for he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
20They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said, and he drove the three sons of Anak out of there.
21The children of Benjamin didn’t drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem, but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
The House of Joseph and Incomplete Conquests
22The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the LORD was with them.
23The house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel. (The name of the city before that was Luz.)
24The watchers saw a man come out of the city, and they said to him, “Please show us the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with you.”
25He showed them the entrance into the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man and all his family go.
26The man went into the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.
27Manasseh didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its towns, nor Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
28When Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out.
29Ephraim didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, but the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.
30Zebulun didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.
31Asher didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob;
32but the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they didn’t drive them out.
33Naphtali didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but he lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and of Beth Anath became subject to forced labor.
34The Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill country, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley;
35but 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 subject to forced labor.
36The border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
Following Joshua's death, the Israelites begin the conquest of their tribal inheritances, with Judah leading the campaign as divinely appointed. The chapter chronicles initial successes under God's blessing, including victories at Bezek and Jerusalem, alongside Caleb's conquest of Hebron and his daughter Achsah's shrewd negotiation for water rights. However, the narrative reveals a troubling pattern as various tribes fail to completely drive out the Canaanites, instead allowing them to remain as inhabitants or forced laborers, setting the stage for future compromise and conflict.
Context
This chapter transitions from Joshua's unified conquest to the individual tribal campaigns, establishing the pattern of incomplete obedience that will dominate the book of Judges.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-8Judah's Initial VictoriesGod designates Judah to lead the conquest, resulting in decisive victories at Bezek and Jerusalem.
- 9-15Caleb's Inheritance and FamilyJudah conquers Hebron and Debir, with Caleb rewarding Othniel and granting his daughter Achsah additional land.
- 16-20Continued Successes in the SouthThe Kenites settle with Judah, and further victories are won despite some limitations with iron chariots.
- 21-36Incomplete Conquests by Other TribesBenjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, and other tribes fail to fully drive out the Canaanites from their territories.
Judah's Conquest and the Capture of Jerusalem
1:1–1:21After Joshua's death, Judah leads the conquest of Canaanite territories, capturing Jerusalem and other cities while fulfilling God's promise to give them the land.
person_contrast
Joshua's posthumous influence emerges through Israel's immediate consultation with Yahweh, contrasting his living leadership with their newfound dependence on divine oracle for military direction.
The House of Joseph and Incomplete Conquests
1:22–1:36The house of Joseph conquers Bethel, but the tribes of Israel fail to completely drive out the Canaanites from their territories as commanded. This incomplete obedience sets the stage for future spiritual compromise and conflict.
person_contrast
Joseph's house receives divine blessing for conquering Bethel yet immediately follows the pattern of incomplete obedience that defines this chapter's tragic trajectory.
Judges 1:5
Joshua 24:11lexical“‘You went over the Jordan, and came to Jericho. The men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the…
Nehemiah 9:8lexicalfound his heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Am…
Judges 1:8
Jeremiah 37:8lexicalThe Chaldeans will come again, and fight against this city. They will take it and burn it with fire.”’
Jeremiah 34:22lexicalBehold, I will command,” says the LORD, “and cause them to return to this city. They will fight against it, take it, and…
Jeremiah 32:24lexical“Behold, siege ramps have been built against the city to take it. The city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who f…
Joshua 19:47lexicalThe border of the children of Dan went out beyond them; for the children of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and t…
Judges 1:9
Joshua 12:8lexicalin the hill country, and in the lowland, and in the Arabah, and in the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the South;…
Deuteronomy 1:7lexicalTurn, and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the places near there: in the Arabah,…
Numbers 21:1lexicalThe Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South, heard that Israel came by the way of Atharim. He fought against…
Judges 1:10
Numbers 13:22lexicalThey went up by the South, and came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now H…
Joshua 15:14lexicalCaleb drove out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
Judges 1:11
Joshua 15:49lexicalDannah, Kiriath Sannah (which is Debir),
Joshua 15:15lexicalHe went up against the inhabitants of Debir: now the name of Debir before was Kiriath Sepher.
Judges 1:12
Joshua 15:16lexicalCaleb said, “He who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.”
Joshua 15:17lexicalOthniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
1 Chronicles 2:49lexicalShe bore also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbena and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of…
Judges 1:13
Joshua 15:17lexicalOthniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
Judges 3:9lexicalWhen the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a savior to the children of Israel, who saved them, ev…
Joshua 15:16lexicalCaleb said, “He who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.”
1 Chronicles 4:13lexicalThe sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath.
Judges 3:11lexicalThe land had rest forty years, then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
Judges 1:18
Zechariah 9:5lexicalAshkelon will see it, and fear; Gaza also, and will writhe in agony; as will Ekron, for her expectation will be disappoi…
1 Samuel 6:17lexicalThese are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to the LORD: for Ashdod one, for Gaza…
Zephaniah 2:4lexicalFor Gaza will be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation. They will drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron will be rooted up…
Jeremiah 25:20lexicaland all the mixed people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron,…
Jeremiah 47:5lexicalBaldness has come on Gaza; Ashkelon is brought to nothing. You remnant of their valley, how long will you cut yourself?
Judges 1:19
Joshua 17:16lexicalThe children of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. All the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the val…
Joshua 17:18lexicalbut the hill country shall be yours. Although it is a forest, you shall cut it down, and it’s farthest extent shall be y…
Judges 1:20
Joshua 15:14lexicalCaleb drove out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
Joshua 15:13lexicalHe gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to…
Judges 1:27
Joshua 17:11lexicalManasseh had three heights in Issachar, in Asher Beth Shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants…
1 Chronicles 7:29lexicaland by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth Shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns,…
1 Kings 4:12lexicalBaana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth…
Joshua 17:12lexicalYet the children of Manasseh couldn’t drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that…
2 Kings 9:27lexicalBut when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, and said,…
Judges 1:28
Joshua 17:13lexicalWhen the children of Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out…
Joshua 16:10lexicalThey didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this da…
Judges 1:29
Joshua 16:10lexicalThey didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this da…
Joshua 3:10lexicalJoshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite…
Judges 1:30
Joshua 16:10lexicalThey didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this da…
Joshua 17:13lexicalWhen the children of Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out…
Joshua 3:10lexicalJoshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite…
Judges 1:31
Joshua 19:30lexicalUmmah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-two cities with their villages.
Joshua 19:28lexicaland Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, even to great Sidon.
Judges 1:32
Joshua 16:10lexicalThey didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this da…
Joshua 3:10lexicalJoshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite…
Judges 1:33
Joshua 16:10lexicalThey didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this da…
Joshua 17:13lexicalWhen the children of Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out…
Joshua 19:38lexicalIron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
Joshua 3:10lexicalJoshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite…
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