Judges1

After Joshua's death, the tribe of Judah, with the Lord's guidance, led the initial conquest against the Canaanites, achieving significant victories including the defeat of Adonibezek and the capture of Jerusalem. However, despite these early successes, many Israelite tribes, and even Judah in some areas, failed to completely dispossess the indigenous inhabitants. This resulted in the Canaanites dwelling among them, often becoming tributaries, marking a departure from the full conquest commanded.

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Judah and Simeon Receive the Commission

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?”

“Judah shall go up,” answered the LORD. “Indeed, I have delivered the land into their hands.”

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.

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.

Then Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have gathered the scraps under my table. As I have done to them, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.

Judah’s Campaigns in the South

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

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).

And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”

So Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.

One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?”

“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.

Now the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms to the Wilderness of Judah in the Negev near Arad. They went to live among the people.

Then the men of Judah went with their brothers the Simeonites, attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and devoted the city to destruction. So it was called Hormah.

And Judah also captured Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron—each with its territory.

The LORD was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plains because they had chariots of iron.

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

Benjamin and Joseph Failures

The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.

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.”

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.

And the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called it Luz, which is its name to this day.

Widespread Tribal Compromise

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.

When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.

Ephraim also failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer; so the Canaanites continued to dwell among them in Gezer.

Zebulun failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kitron and Nahalol; so the Canaanites lived among them and served as forced laborers.

Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.

So the Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, because they did not drive them out.

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.

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.

Study Notes for Judges 1

Verse 1

This verse marks the transition from the unified leadership of Joshua to the decentralized tribal initiatives, indicating that Israel still sought divine guidance (likely via the high priest/Urim and Thummim) before military action.

Verse 2

Judah, the tribe from which the Messiah would eventually come (Gen. 49:10), is chosen by God to lead the first wave of conquest, demonstrating their preeminence among the tribes.

Verse 3

Judah sought a strategic alliance with Simeon. Simeon’s territory was located entirely within Judah’s allotment (Josh. 19:1), making mutual assistance necessary for them both to secure their inheritance.

Verse 6

Mutilating the hands and feet was a common ancient practice intended to permanently cripple a defeated enemy, rendering them useless as warriors or runners.

Verse 7

Adonibezek recognizes the principle of divine justice (lex talionis) at work. This foreign king implicitly acknowledges that Israel’s God controls history and justly repays cruelty.

Verse 8

This capture likely refers to the lower city of Jerusalem; the Jebusite fortress (the City of David, cf. v. 21) remained unconquered until the time of King David (2 Sam. 5:6-7).

Verse 12

This account is a virtual repetition of Joshua 15:16-19. It highlights Othniel’s prowess; he later becomes the first Judge of Israel (Judges 3:9-11), establishing his early leadership credentials.

Verse 15

Achsah’s request for springs of water demonstrates wisdom and initiative. She understood that even a promised land was useless without essential resources to sustain life and agriculture.

Verse 16

The Kenites, descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, were non-Israelite allies who maintained fidelity to Israel and settled peacefully in the southern wilderness, illustrating a positive integration.

Verse 19

This is a pivotal theological statement. Although 'the LORD was with Judah,' their failure to conquer the valley is attributed to the enemy’s superior technology (iron chariots), implying a lack of faith in God’s ability to overcome material obstacles.

Verse 21

The failure of Benjamin to expel the Jebusites from Jerusalem is the first explicit failure listed, immediately following Judah's success, setting a negative tone for the rest of the chapter.

Verse 22

The 'house of Joseph' refers to the combined strength of Ephraim and Manasseh. They initially showed more vigor than Benjamin, though their success was still incomplete (v. 29).

Verse 26

The spared man established a city named Luz in the land of the Hittites. This suggests that while Israel spared some individuals, they likely relocated, potentially spreading Canaanite influence elsewhere.

Verse 27

This verse begins the long list of tribes who failed to secure their allotted territories. The phrase 'the Canaanites would dwell in that land' shows the resilience and successful resistance of the native inhabitants.

Verse 28

Putting the Canaanites to tribute was a compromise that violated God's covenant command to drive them out completely (Deut. 7:2). This pragmatic solution led directly to future spiritual contamination.

Verse 32

Asher’s failure was total; they ended up dwelling 'among the Canaanites' rather than possessing the land, demonstrating the danger of compromise leading to cultural assimilation.

Verse 34

Dan’s failure was particularly severe: instead of conquering the inhabitants, the Amorites successfully forced the Danites into the mountains, reversing the intended conquest and leading later to Dan’s relocation (Judges 18).

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Judges1

Judah and Simeon Receive the Commission

Judah’s Campaigns in the South

Benjamin and Joseph Failures

Widespread Tribal Compromise

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