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Judges 1
1It happened after the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked of Yahweh, saying, "Who should go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?"
2Yahweh 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 Yahweh delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they struck of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
5They found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him, and they struck the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6But Adoni-Bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
7Adoni-Bezek said, "Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered [their food] under my table: as I have done, so God has requited me." They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8The children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
9Afterward 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 (now the name of Hebron before was Kiriath Arba); and they struck Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.
11From there he went against the inhabitants of Debir. (Now the name of Debir before was Kiriath Sepher.)
12Caleb said, "He who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife."
13Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
14It happened, when she came [to him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she alighted from off her donkey; and Caleb said to her, "What would you like?"
15She said to him, "Give me a blessing; for that 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.
19Yahweh 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 spoken: and he drove out there the three sons of Anak.
21The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
22The house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel; and Yahweh was with them.
23The house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
24The watchers saw a man come forth 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 go and all his family.
26The man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.
27Manasseh did not drive out [the inhabitants of] Beth Shean and its towns, nor [of] 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.
28It happened, when Israel had grown strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and did not 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 did not 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.
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Accho: Also Called Ptolemais, a Town of Phoenicia Judges 1:31
Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.
Achsah: Caleb's Daughter Judges 1:9–13
Afterward, the men of Judah marched down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, in the Negev, and in the foothills. / Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebron (formerly known as Kiriath-arba), and they struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. / From there they marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher).
Achzib: A City of Asher Judges 1:31
Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.
Adoni-Bezek: King of Bezek Judges 1:4–7
When Judah attacked, the LORD delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek. / And there they found Adoni-bezek and fought against him, striking down the Canaanites and Perizzites. / As Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, seized him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.
Ahlab: A City of Asher, the Original Inhabitants of Which Were not Expelled Judges 1:31
Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.
Ajalon: A City of Dan: Amorites of, not Exterminated Judges 1:35
And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, they pressed the Amorites into forced labor.
Akrabbim: A Chain of Hills in the South of Palestine Judges 1:36
And the border of the Amorites extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim to Sela and beyond.
Amorites: Not Exterminated Judges 1:34–36
The Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to come down into the plain. / And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, they pressed the Amorites into forced labor. / And the border of the Amorites extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim to Sela and beyond.
Amorites: Territory of Judges 1:35, 36
And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, they pressed the Amorites into forced labor. / And the border of the Amorites extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim to Sela and beyond.
Anakim: Defeated by Caleb Judges 1:20
Just as Moses had promised, Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, who drove out the descendants of the three sons of Anak.
Aphek: A City of the Tribe of Asher: Called Aphik Judges 1:31
Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.
Armies: March in Ranks of Beth-El Judges 1:23, 24
They sent spies to Bethel (formerly known as Luz), / and when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, “Please show us how to get into the city, and we will treat you kindly.”
Armies: March in Ranks: Confederated Judges 1:3
Then the men of Judah said to their brothers the Simeonites, “Come up with us to our allotted territory, and let us fight against the Canaanites. And we likewise will go with you to your territory.” So the Simeonites went with them.
Armies: March in Ranks: Seeking Counsel from God Before Battle Judges 1:1
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”
Ashkelon: Captured by the People of Judah Judges 1:18
And Judah also captured Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron—each with its territory.
Beth-Anath: A Fortified City of Naphtali Judges 1:33
Naphtali failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. So the Naphtalites also lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served them as forced laborers.
Beth-El: A City North of Jerusalem: Conquered by the Household of Joseph Judges 1:22–26
The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel, and the LORD was with them. / They sent spies to Bethel (formerly known as Luz), / and when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, “Please show us how to get into the city, and we will treat you kindly.”
Beth-El: A City North of Jerusalem: The Ancient City Adjacent To, and Finally Embraced In, Was Called Luz Judges 1:23–26
They sent spies to Bethel (formerly known as Luz), / and when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, “Please show us how to get into the city, and we will treat you kindly.” / So the man showed them the entrance to the city, and they put the city to the sword but released that man and all his family.
Beth-Shean: Not Subdued Judges 1:27
At that time Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.
Beth-Shemesh: A Fortified City of the Territory of the Tribe of Naphtali Judges 1:33
Naphtali failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. So the Naphtalites also lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served them as forced laborers.
Betrayal of Cities Judges 1:24, 25
and when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, “Please show us how to get into the city, and we will treat you kindly.” / So the man showed them the entrance to the city, and they put the city to the sword but released that man and all his family.
Bezek: Residence of Adoni-Bezek Judges 1:5
And there they found Adoni-bezek and fought against him, striking down the Canaanites and Perizzites.
Bochim: A Place West of the Jordan River, Near Gilgal Judges 1:5
And there they found Adoni-bezek and fought against him, striking down the Canaanites and Perizzites.
Caleb: Leader of the Israelites After Joshua's Death Judges 1:11, 12
From there they marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher). / And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”
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Judges 1:1-8 Verses 1-8
The Israelites were convinced that the war against the Canaanites was to be continued; but they were in doubt as to the manner in which it was to be carried on after the death of Joshua. In these respects they inquired of the Lord. God appoints service according to the strength he has given. From those who are most able, most work is expected. Judah was first in dignity, and must be first in duty. Judah's service will not avail unless God give success; but God will not give the success, unless Judah applies to the service. Judah was the most considerable of all the tribes, and Simeon the least; yet Judah begs Simeon's friendship, and prays for aid from him. It becomes Israelites to help one another against Canaanites; and all Christians, even those of different tribes, should strengthen one another. Those who thus help one another in love, have reason to hope that God will graciously help both. Adoni-bezek was taken prisoner. This prince had been a severe tyrant. The Israelites, doubtless under the Divine direction, made him suffer what he had done to others; and his own conscience confessed that he was justly treated as he had treated others. Thus the righteous God sometimes, in his providence, makes the punishment answer the sin.
Judges 1:9-20 Verses 9-20
The Canaanites had iron chariots; but Israel had God on their side, whose chariots are thousands of angels, Ps 68:17. Yet they suffered their fears to prevail against their faith. About Caleb we read in Jos 15:16-19. The Kenites had settled in the land. Israel let them fix where they pleased, being a quiet, contented people. They that molested none, were molested by none. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Judges 1:21-36 Verses 21-36
The people of Israel were very careless of their duty and interest. Owing to slothfulness and cowardice, they would not be at the pains to complete their conquests. It was also owing to their covetousness: they were willing to let the Canaanites live among them, that they might make advantage of them. They had not the dread and detestation of idolatry they ought to have had. The same unbelief that kept their fathers forty years out of Canaan, kept them now out of the full possession of it. Distrust of the power and promise of God deprived them of advantages, and brought them into troubles. Thus many a believer who begins well is hindered. His graces languish, his lusts revive, Satan plies him with suitable temptations, the world recovers its hold; he brings guilt into his conscience, anguish into his heart, discredit on his character, and reproach on the gospel. Though he may have sharp rebukes, and be so recovered that he does not perish, yet he will have deeply to lament his folly through his remaining days; and upon his dying bed to mourn over the opportunities of glorifying God and serving the church he has lost. We can have no fellowship with the enemies of God within us or around us, but to our hurt; therefore our only wisdom is to maintain unceasing war against them.