Judges 1:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then the people of Y'hudah fought against Yerushalayim, captured it, overpowered it with the sword, and set the city on fire.

Berean Standard Bible:

Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.

American Standard Version:

And the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Now the children^{H1121} of Judah^{H3063} had fought^{H3898} against Jerusalem^{H3389}, and had taken^{H3920} it, and smitten^{H5221} it with the edge^{H6310} of the sword^{H2719}, and set^{H7971} the city^{H5892} on fire^{H784}.

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Commentary for Judges 1:8

Judges 1:8 is set in the period following the death of Joshua, when the Israelites are in the process of conquering and settling the land of Canaan, as promised to them by God. The verse is part of a larger narrative found in the Book of Judges, which describes the tumultuous time when the Israelites were led by a series of judges, or charismatic leaders, who would rise to deliver the people from oppression and guide them in times of crisis.

In this specific verse, we see the tribe of Judah taking a prominent role in the military campaigns against the Canaanite cities. The city of Jerusalem, which would later become the capital of Israel under King David, is here described as having been conquered by the Judahites. They are said to have defeated the city, killed its inhabitants with the sword, and then set it on fire. This reflects the military tactics of the time, where complete destruction of a city served both as a strategic victory and as a warning to other cities that might resist the Israelite advance.

The themes present in this verse include conquest, divine promise, and the beginning of the Israelites' often violent and difficult process of establishing themselves in the Promised Land. It also highlights the tribe of Judah's emerging leadership role among the tribes of Israel, a role that would eventually lead to the establishment of the Davidic dynasty with its roots in Judah. The verse speaks to the complexity of the biblical narrative, where the fulfillment of God's promises is interwoven with the realities of war and the moral challenges that come with territorial expansion.

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3063
   There are 754 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהוּדָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-daw'
   Description: from יָדָה; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3898
   There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָחַם
   Transliteration: lâcham
   Pronunciation: law-kham'
   Description: a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction); devour, eat, [idiom] ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).
   
4. Strong's Number: H3389
   There are 600 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם
   Transliteration: Yᵉrûwshâlaim
   Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im
   Description: rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of יְרוּשָׁלֵם)); probably from (the passive participle of) יָרָה and שָׁלַם; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine; Jerusalem.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3920
   There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָכַד
   Transliteration: lâkad
   Pronunciation: law-kad'
   Description: a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere; [idiom] at all, catch (self), be frozen, be holden, stick together, take.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5221
   There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָכָה
   Transliteration: nâkâh
   Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6310
   There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פֶּה
   Transliteration: peh
   Pronunciation: peh
   Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2719
   There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֶרֶב
   Transliteration: chereb
   Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
   Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7971
   There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלַח
   Transliteration: shâlach
   Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).
   
10. Strong's Number: H5892
    There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עִיר
    Transliteration: ʻîyr
    Pronunciation: eer
    Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
    
11. Strong's Number: H784
    There are 549 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֵשׁ
    Transliteration: ʼêsh
    Pronunciation: aysh
    Description: a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.