Judges 1:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.

Complete Jewish Bible:

They gave Hevron to Kalev, as Moshe had said to do; and he drove out from there the three sons of 'Anak.

Berean Standard Bible:

Just as Moses had promised, Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, who drove out the descendants of the three sons of Anak.

American Standard Version:

And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses had spoken: and he drove out thence the three sons of Anak.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And they gave^{H5414} Hebron^{H2275} unto Caleb^{H3612}, as Moses^{H4872} said^{H1696}: and he expelled^{H3423} thence the three^{H7969} sons^{H1121} of Anak^{H6061}.

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Commentary for Judges 1:20

Judges 1:20 is set in the context of the Israelite conquest and settlement of the Promised Land, Canaan, following the death of Joshua. The verse specifically references an event related to the fulfillment of a promise made by Moses, as recorded in the Torah (Numbers 14:24 and Deuteronomy 1:36). The theme of faithfulness is central, as Caleb, one of the original spies sent to scout the land of Canaan, is rewarded for his faith and obedience to God.

In the verse, Caleb is granted the city of Hebron, a strategically and historically significant city in the hill country of Judah. This grant is a direct fulfillment of Moses' decree, highlighting the importance of honoring commitments and the reliability of God's promises. The "three sons of Anak" mentioned in the verse are likely descendants of the Anakim, a formidable group of giants who inhabited the region and struck fear into the hearts of the Israelites during their initial approach to the land. Caleb's expulsion of these giants underscores his courage, leadership, and trust in God's strength over the intimidating forces of the land.

This event also illustrates the broader theme of the Israelites' struggle to possess the land God had given them, as they faced both external enemies and internal challenges, such as disobedience and a lack of faith. Caleb's actions serve as a contrast to the hesitancy and unbelief exhibited by others, emphasizing the importance of trusting in God's promises and acting upon them. The verse thus encapsulates the interplay between divine promise, human faithfulness, and the practical outworking of faith in the historical and geographical context of ancient Israel.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2275
   There are 66 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֶבְרוֹן
   Transliteration: Chebrôwn
   Pronunciation: kheb-rone'
   Description: from חֶבֶר; seat of association; Chebron, a place in Palestine, also the name of two Israelites; Hebron.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3612
   There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּלֵב
   Transliteration: Kâlêb
   Pronunciation: kaw-labe'
   Description: perhaps a form of כֶּלֶב, or else from the same root in the sense of forcible; Caleb, the name of three Israelites; Caleb.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3423
   There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרַשׁ
   Transliteration: yârash
   Pronunciation: yaw-rash'
   Description: or יָרֵשׁ; a primitive root; to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin; cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, [idiom] without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) [phrase] magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon, succeed, [idiom] utterly.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7969
   There are 381 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: shâlôwsh
   Pronunciation: shaw-loshe'
   Description: or שָׁלֹשׁ; masculine שְׁלוֹשָׁה; or שְׁלֹשָׁה; a primitive number; three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice; [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare שָׁלִישׁ.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
9. Strong's Number: H6061
   There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָנָק
   Transliteration: ʻÂnâq
   Pronunciation: aw-nawk'
   Description: the same as עָנָק; Anak, a Canaanite; Anak.