Judges 1:36

KJV

And the coast of the Amorites [was] from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the coast {H1366} of the Amorites {H567} was from the going up {H4608} to Akrabbim {H4610}, from the rock {H5553}, and upward {H4605}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So the territory of the Emori was from the Scorpion Ascent and the Rock upward.

Berean Standard Bible

And the border of the Amorites extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim to Sela and beyond.

American Standard Version

And the border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 1:36 precisely delineates the southern territorial extent of the Amorites, a significant Canaanite people group, within the Promised Land. This geographical marker, stretching from the challenging "Ascent of Scorpions" (Ma'aleh Akrabbim) and extending northward from a prominent rock formation, underscores their continued, entrenched presence in strategically vital areas, particularly bordering the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. The verse implicitly highlights Israel's failure to fully dispossess the indigenous inhabitants, a recurring theme that sets the stage for the subsequent challenges and spiritual decline detailed throughout the book of Judges.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** The book of Judges immediately follows the unified conquest narratives of Joshua, opening with an account of Israel's fragmented and often incomplete efforts to secure the Promised Land after Joshua's death. Judges 1:1-26 details initial successes, particularly by Judah and Simeon, in the southern regions. However, beginning with [Judges 1:27](/judges/1-27 "Judges 1:27 - Manasseh Fails to Dispossess"), the narrative shifts to a litany of failures, listing various tribes (Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Dan) who did not drive out the inhabitants of their allotted territories. Judges 1:36, specifically mentioning the Amorites, falls within this section of incomplete conquest, serving as a concrete example of the persistent presence of Canaanite peoples. It directly follows the mention of the Amorites in the territory of Dan in [Judges 1:34-35](/judges/1-34 "Judges 1:34-35 - The Amorites Oppress Dan"), indicating their widespread and formidable presence across different tribal allotments. This verse, therefore, is not merely a geographical note but a crucial piece of evidence illustrating the foundational failure that would plague Israel throughout the period of the Judges.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges (roughly 14th-11th centuries BCE) was a transitional era for Israel, moving from a nomadic confederacy to a settled agricultural society. The Canaanite inhabitants, including the Amorites, were well-established, often residing in fortified cities and controlling strategic trade routes and fertile lands. The Amorites, in particular, were a powerful and widespread group, mentioned frequently in ancient Near Eastern texts and often associated with mountainous or elevated regions, which allowed them to maintain strongholds. "The going up to Akrabbim" (Ma'aleh Akrabbim) was a well-known, rugged mountain pass in the Negeb, serving as a natural southern boundary for the Promised Land and the territory of Judah, as seen in [Numbers 34:4](/numbers/34-4 "Numbers 34:4 - Southern Border of Canaan") and [Joshua 15:3](/joshua/15-3 "Joshua 15:3 - Judah's Southern Border"). Their continued presence in such a strategic and difficult-to-traverse area highlights their military strength and the challenge they posed to Israelite expansion.
* **Key Themes:** Judges 1:36 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Judges. Foremost is the theme of **Incomplete Conquest and Disobedience**. Despite God's explicit commands to utterly dispossess the Canaanite inhabitants (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:2](/deuteronomy/7-2 "Deuteronomy 7:2 - Command to Dispossess")), Israel's failure to do so, exemplified by the Amorites' continued presence, sets the stage for the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance that defines the Judges period. This verse also underscores the theme of **Geographical Significance and Territorial Inheritance**, detailing the precise boundaries of the Amorites and, by extension, the contested nature of the land. The strategic location of Akrabbim emphasizes the real, physical obstacles Israel faced. Furthermore, it subtly introduces the theme of **Compromise and its Consequences**, as the failure to fully obey God's commands leads to ongoing spiritual and physical struggles for Israel, as prophesied in [Judges 2:2-3](/judges/2-2 "Judges 2:2-3 - Consequences of Disobedience").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Amorites (Hebrew, _'Emori'_):** This term refers to one of the most prominent and powerful pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan. While sometimes used broadly to encompass various Canaanite groups, the Amorites were specifically known for their strength and often associated with the hill country and mountainous regions, as suggested by their presence "from the rock, and upward" in this verse. Their continued presence signifies a direct failure of Israel to fully execute God's command for disinheritance.
* **Akrabbim (Hebrew, _'Akrabbim'_):** Literally meaning "scorpions," this refers to Ma'aleh Akrabbim, or the "Ascent of Scorpions." It was a notoriously steep, rugged, and dangerous mountain pass, likely infested with scorpions, located in the Negeb desert region. This geographical landmark served as a critical and well-known border point, marking the southern extent of the Promised Land and the tribal territory of Judah. Its mention here underscores the specific and challenging nature of the terrain where the Amorites maintained their presence.
* **Rock (Hebrew, _sela'_):** The term _sela'_ generally denotes a large, prominent rock, cliff, or crag, often implying a natural stronghold or defensive position. In the context of "from the rock, and upward," it suggests that the Amorites controlled elevated, defensible terrain, further emphasizing the formidable nature of their presence and the difficulty Israel faced in dislodging them from these strategic locations.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the coast of the Amorites [was]":** This opening clause immediately establishes the subject: the defined boundary or territory of the Amorites. The use of "coast" (Hebrew _gevul_) refers to a border or boundary, indicating a precise delineation of their established presence within the land promised to Israel.
* **"from the going up to Akrabbim":** This specifies the starting point of the Amorite territory's southern extent. "The going up to Akrabbim" (Ma'aleh Akrabbim) refers to a specific, well-known geographical ascent or pass, marking a significant and challenging natural boundary. Its inclusion highlights the Amorites' control over a strategic and difficult-to-access region.
* **"from the rock, and upward":** This phrase further refines the description of the Amorite territory. "From the rock" implies a specific, prominent rocky feature, likely a stronghold or natural defensive position. "And upward" indicates that their territory extended northward or into higher elevations from this point, reinforcing their control over the rugged, elevated terrain and their entrenched presence within the Promised Land.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 1:36 primarily employs **Topography** and **Geographical Detail** as its core literary devices. The verse is a precise, almost technical, description of physical landmarks—"the going up to Akrabbim" and "from the rock, and upward"—to define the boundaries of the Amorite territory. This meticulous detailing serves to ground the narrative in concrete reality, emphasizing the tangible and persistent presence of these unconquered peoples. While not a direct literary device within the verse itself, the verse also functions as a **Symbol** within the broader narrative of Judges. The entrenched Amorites, holding strategic ground, symbolize the spiritual strongholds and areas of compromise that Israel failed to dislodge, setting the stage for the cyclical disobedience and oppression that characterize the period. The very specificity of the geographical markers underscores the historical veracity and the real-world consequences of Israel's incomplete obedience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 1:36, though a seemingly simple geographical detail, carries profound theological weight. It stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of partial obedience and compromise with God's commands. God had explicitly instructed Israel to utterly dispossess the inhabitants of Canaan, lest they become "thorns in your sides" and lead them astray to idolatry. The Amorites' continued presence, specifically in strategic and difficult-to-conquer regions, illustrates Israel's failure to fully trust God for victory and to fully execute His will. This compromise was not merely a military oversight but a spiritual failure, foreshadowing the cycles of apostasy and oppression that would define the era of the Judges. The verse thus highlights the critical importance of complete faithfulness to God's covenant and the dangers of allowing "unconquered territories" to remain in one's life, whether individually or corporately.

* [Numbers 33:55](/numbers/33-55 "Numbers 33:55 - Consequences of Not Dispossessing")
* [Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - Command to Destroy Inhabitants")
* [Judges 2:1-3](/judges/2-1 "Judges 2:1-3 - The Angel of the Lord Rebukes Israel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The geographical precision of Judges 1:36 serves as a powerful spiritual metaphor for believers today. Just as the Amorites remained a persistent obstacle due to Israel's incomplete obedience, so too can unaddressed areas of sin, compromise, or unfaithfulness in our lives become entrenched "strongholds" that hinder our spiritual progress and fellowship with God. This verse calls us to a rigorous self-examination, prompting us to identify any "unconquered territory" within our hearts—habits, attitudes, or desires—that we have allowed to persist rather than surrendering them fully to Christ. The difficulty of dislodging the Amorites from their "rocky" strongholds reminds us that overcoming deeply rooted sin often requires persistent effort, reliance on divine strength, and unwavering commitment to God's commands. True spiritual freedom and the full experience of God's blessings come not through partial measures but through complete and radical obedience, allowing the Spirit to conquer every area of our lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Amorites"—areas of unaddressed sin or compromise—might still be entrenched in my own life, preventing me from experiencing the fullness of God's promised spiritual inheritance?**
* **How does the concept of "incomplete conquest" in Judges 1 challenge my understanding of obedience and discipleship? Am I pursuing partial or complete surrender to Christ?**
* **What specific "rocky strongholds" (difficult habits or attitudes) do I need to ask God for strength to dislodge from my heart and life?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of "Akrabbim" in this verse?**

Answer: "Akrabbim" (Hebrew: _'Akrabbim'_) literally means "scorpions" and refers to a specific geographical landmark known as Ma'aleh Akrabbim, or the "Ascent of Scorpions." This was a steep, rugged, and dangerous mountain pass located in the Negeb desert, south of the Dead Sea. Its significance in [Judges 1:36](/judges/1-36 "Judges 1:36 - Amorite Territory") is twofold: first, it served as a well-known natural southern border for the Promised Land and specifically for the tribal territory of Judah (as also mentioned in [Numbers 34:4](/numbers/34-4 "Numbers 34:4 - Southern Border of Canaan") and [Joshua 15:3](/joshua/15-3 "Joshua 15:3 - Judah's Southern Border")). Second, the Amorites' control of this strategic and difficult terrain underscores their formidable presence and Israel's failure to fully dispossess them from such vital areas. It highlights the real, physical obstacles Israel faced due to their incomplete obedience.

**Why is it important to know the specific geographical details like "from the rock, and upward"?**

Answer: The inclusion of specific geographical details like "from the rock, and upward" in [Judges 1:36](/judges/1-36 "Judges 1:36 - Amorite Territory") is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it grounds the biblical narrative in historical and geographical reality, affirming the concrete nature of the events described. These were real places with real inhabitants. Secondly, "the rock" (Hebrew: _sela'_) suggests a prominent, often fortified, rocky outcrop or stronghold. This detail, combined with "and upward," indicates that the Amorites maintained control over elevated, defensible terrain. This emphasizes the strategic military advantage they held and the formidable challenge they posed to Israel. The specificity highlights that Israel's failure was not due to a lack of clear boundaries or easy targets, but a lack of complete obedience and trust in God to overcome these entrenched enemies. It underscores the severity of their compromise, as these unconquered areas would become sources of future trouble, as described in [Judges 2:2-3](/judges/2-2 "Judges 2:2-3 - Consequences of Disobedience").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 1:36, with its detailed account of the Amorites' entrenched presence and Israel's incomplete conquest, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament. While Israel failed to fully dispossess their physical enemies and enter into the fullness of their promised rest, Jesus Christ is the ultimate and complete conqueror. He did not merely partially defeat sin and death; through His crucifixion and resurrection, He utterly disarmed the spiritual powers and authorities, triumphing over them (see [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). The "unconquered territories" of sin and spiritual strongholds that plagued Israel find their ultimate solution in Christ's finished work. Believers are called not to a partial disinheritance of spiritual foes, but to a complete surrender to the Lordship of Jesus, who enables us to "take every thought captive to obey Christ" ([2 Corinthians 10:5](/2_corinthians/10-5 "2 Corinthians 10:5 - Taking Thoughts Captive")). Unlike Israel, who struggled with the Amorites from "the rock, and upward," we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places, having been raised with Him ([Ephesians 2:6](/ephesians/2-6 "Ephesians 2:6 - Seated with Christ")), giving us authority over every spiritual "Amorite" that seeks to hinder our walk. Our "rest" is found not in a conquered land, but in the finished work of Christ, through whom we are empowered to live lives of complete obedience, trusting Him to conquer every remaining stronghold within and around us (see [Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-10 - The Sabbath Rest for God's People")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 34:4

And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:

Joshua 15:2

And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:

Joshua 15:3

And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa: