Judges 1
1
Judah Leads
1And # 1:1 See first footnote on Josh. 1:1. after Joshua died, the twelve tribal leaders # 1:1 Or “the Israelites.” Not the entire nation but the twelve representatives of the twelve tribes came before the high priest to present their request before God. consulted Yahweh for a prophetic sign # 1:1 Although the Hebrew verb sha’al means, in its basic sense, “ask” or “inquire,” one subset meaning is to “inquire of,” “consult deity,” or “ask for an oracle [a prophetic sign or message].” It’s not explicitly stated, but it is likely Israel came before Yahweh at Shiloh (see Josh. 18:1). They presented themselves there to consult the Urim and Thummim worn on the breastplate of Phineas the high priest. Urim means “lights” and Thummim means “perfections.” See Ex. 28:30; Num. 27:21. The Israelites showed their commitment to following Yahweh’s plan by seeking a prophetic indication of which tribe should go first in the attack. It is always wise to seek the Lord before we step out into a new chapter of our lives. See Prov. 3:5–6. and asked, “Which tribe do you choose to be the first to lead the attack against the Canaanites?”
2Yahweh answered them, # 1:2 Our God answers prayer. We can expect the Lord to speak to his leaders and to his people today. Twelve times in Judges Yahweh spoke to the Israelites. See 6:16, 23, 25; 7:2, 4–5, 7, 9; 10:11; 20:18, 23, 28. “Let Judah take the lead. # 1:2 Judah means “praise.” Praise will lead the way before us. See 2 Chron. 20:21. 3I have delivered the land into their hands.”
Judah then enlisted support from their brother-tribe Simeon, # 1:3 One (Judah) can chase a thousand, but two (Judah and Simeon) can chase ten thousand (see Deut. 32:30). In the next verse they did just that! Simeon’s cities were within the territory of Judah (see Josh. 15:26–32, 42; 19:1–9). Both Judah and Simeon had the same mother (Leah) and saw themselves as true brothers. Simeon means “one who hears.” When worship and the prophetic flow together, we will win our battles. saying, “Follow us into our territory and fight with us against the Canaanites; then we will do the same for you.” So the Simeonites agreed and joined them.
4When Judah advanced, Yahweh gave them victory over the Canaanites and Perizzites, and they defeated ten thousand men at Bezek. # 1:4 Bezek means “lightning.” Bezek is identified by some with Khirbet Bezqa, a site near Gezer, or possibly Khirbet Ibzik, about fifteen miles northeast of Shechem. 5-6They encountered King Adoni-Bezek # 1:5–6 Adoni-Bezek means “the lord of lightning.” fleeing with his army on the battlefield. They pursued him, captured him, and defeated the Canaanites and Perizzites. Then they cut off Adoni-Bezek’s thumbs and big toes. # 1:5–6 They cut off the king’s thumbs so he would never be able to hold a sword or scepter again. They cut off his big toes so that he would never be able to flee. He reaped what he had sown (see v. 7; cf. Gal. 6:7). 7Adoni-Bezek confessed, “I once had seventy # 1:7 The number seventy is the biblical number of the nations (Gen. 10 mentions seventy nations). In contrast, Jesus sent out seventy to bring the kingdom feast to the hungry among the nations. As they were sent out in Christ’s name, Jesus saw Satan fall from heaven like “lightning” (Luke 10:17–19). This was the ultimate victory over Adoni-Bezek, the lord of lightning. Adoni-Bezek is a picture of Satan. kings picking up scraps under my table with their thumbs and big toes cut off. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them!” They took him captive to Jerusalem, where he died. # 1:7 Although Jesus died in Jerusalem, by virtue of his resurrection, he lives today (see Rom. 6:10). But Satan was defeated in Jerusalem and stripped of his ability to conquer us all because of the cross of Jesus Christ. (See Col. 2:14–15; cf. John 3:18.)
Judah’s Victories
8The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and captured it. They killed the inhabitants of the city # 1:8 Or “they put the city to the mouth of the sword.” The words of our mouth are like the edge of a sword to defeat our enemies. See Heb. 4:12. and set it on fire. # 1:8 Although they conquered Jerusalem, they did not fully occupy it until the time of King David, when he established Jerusalem as the nation’s capital. 9Afterward, the men of Judah continued their advance and attacked the Canaanites living in the hill country, the southern desert region, and the western lowlands. 10Under Caleb’s leadership, # 1:10 See Josh. 15:14. they fought against the Canaanites living in Hebron, formerly known as Kiriath Arba, and killed the three Canaanite families descended from Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. # 1:10 These three descended from the giant Anak (see Num. 13:22, 33), and their names represent the three “giants” we must topple to advance into our inheritance. Sheshai is taken from a word that means “white-washed.” He points to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees that were like “tombs painted over with white paint” (Matt. 23:27), consumed with how they appeared to others. Ahiman means “brother of a gift” or “like a gift.” He represents pride over giftedness. We all have spiritual gifts, but they are gifts of grace, not trophies. And Talmai comes from a word that means “scholar.” True scholarship will always acknowledge how little humans know and how great God truly is. According to the parallel passage in Joshua, it was the descendants of these three sons of Anak that were conquered (see Josh. 15:13–14). 11From there, they attacked the city of Debir, formerly known as Kiriath Sepher. # 1:11 Kiriath Sepher means “city of books,” and Debir means “the word.” God is still looking for people who will “conquer” the book (Bible), view it as the Word of God, and make it their own. 12Caleb announced, “I will give my daughter Achsah # 1:12 Achsah means “anklet [that which beautifies the feet].” A believer who brings the good news to others is said to have “beautiful feet.” See Song. 7:1; Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:15. in marriage to the man # 1:12 Caleb knew it would take a special man to conquer a city with giants and thereby be a worthy husband for his daughter. Caleb knew that it would require a man endued with God’s power and favor to take the city of Debir. who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.”
Othniel
13Caleb’s nephew Othniel # 1:13 Othniel was the first champion-deliverer (judge). He lived in the shadow of his famous uncle, Caleb. No dragon slayer did more for his princess. Othniel prefigures our Lord Jesus, the Living Word who took the “city of books” for his bride. Othniel means “lion of God” or “strength of God.” He lived up to his name! Scholars believe Othniel was about fifty-three years old at this time. Arguably, Othniel could be considered the “ideal judge,” who married an Israelite, mobilized all the people, and was Spirit-endowed to lead to victory. (Rick Wadholm Jr., A Theology of the Spirit in the Former Prophets: A Pentecostal Perspective [Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, 2018] 121–124, 210.) the Kenizzite captured Kiriath Sepher; and Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah in marriage.
14One day, Othniel nagged her to ask her father for a field as a wedding gift, so she went to him. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb said to her, “What can I do for you?”
15“Please, give me a blessing,” she replied. “I know you’ve already given me some arid desert land, but please give me a field with springs of water.” So Caleb blessed her with a field that had both upper and lower springs. # 1:15 Or possibly the name of a specific field: “He gave her [a field called] Upper and Lower Gulloth-Mayim.”
Judah Advances
16The descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, joined the people of Judah, and went with them from Jericho, the City of Date Palms, to the Judean wilderness. The Kenites had settled there among the Amalekites at Arad. # 1:16 Or “among the people at Arad.”
17Judah and their brother-tribe Simeon advanced to the city of Zephath and wiped out the Canaanites living there. That’s why they now call the city Hormah. # 1:17 This is an example of a Hebraic pun, or play on words. The words for “Hormah” and for the phrase “wiped out” are similar. Hormah means “totally destroyed” or “under the ban.” 18The men of Judah captured Gaza, # 1:18 Gaza means “strong” or “stronghold.” Gaza is located on the Mediterranean, and scholars consider it to be the oldest city of the Philistines. It is mentioned eighteen times in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament (see Acts 8:26). Ashkelon, # 1:18 Ashkelon means “weight.” The town is possibly named for the weights of the scales used for measuring products. It is a coastal city located about thirty miles south of modern Tel Aviv. Ekron, # 1:18 Ekron means “torn up by the roots.” It is mentioned over twenty times in the Old Testament. and the territories surrounding each of these cities.
Israel Fails to Conquer the Land
19Yahweh’s presence and power were with the men of Judah and they were able to conquer the hill country, but because the people of the lowlands had war chariots, # 1:19 Or “chariots with iron-rimmed wheels.” they failed to drive them out. 20Because Caleb conquered the three giants, the sons of Anak, # 1:20 Since Anak can mean “long-necked,” it is presumed that the “sons of Anak” were men of great height. he was given the city of Hebron.
21The tribe of Benjamin, however, failed to conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day, the Jebusites live among the Benjamites in Jerusalem. # 1:21 The inability of Israel to dispossess their enemies in vv. 19–29 (see Josh. 15:63) becomes a picture for us today of not dealing with every issue (enemy) within our hearts that prevents us from possessing our full inheritance in Christ. We will repeat the same patterns of defeat if we are not thorough in eliminating every evil from our lives. See Col. 3:5–11.
22-23Yahweh’s presence and power were with Joseph’s descendants, so they advanced toward Bethel and sent men ahead to spy out the city that was formerly known as Luz. 24The spies confronted a man coming out of Bethel and they said to him, “Show us the way to enter the city and we will treat you well.” # 1:24 Or literally “we will do chesed [covenant loyalty] to you.” 25So he showed the spies a secret entrance into the city, and they killed everyone living in Bethel with the sword # 1:25 Or literally “with the mouth” (i.e., “edge”) of the sword. See Heb. 4:12. except that man and his family. 26Later the man and his family moved to the land of the Hittites # 1:26 The region from northern Syria into Asia Minor was known in the days of Joshua and Judges as the kingdom of Hatti, or “the land of the Hittites.” The Talmud describes this region as the place where Phoenicians produced blue dye that the Israelites used for the blue fringes (tassels) of their garments. (See Num. 15:38; Sotah [Talmud] 46b.) According to Egyptian inscriptions dated to 1500 BC, the Hittites were expelled from the land of Canaan. and built a town. The new town has kept the name Luz to this day.
27The Canaanites were determined to stay in their land, so the men of Manasseh did not conquer the cities of Beth Shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their surrounding villages. # 1:27 Or “and their daughter towns.” 28And whenever Israel gained the upper hand, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor; # 1:28 Eventually, Solomon conscripted the Canaanites to build the temple (see 1 Kings 9:20–22; 2 Chron. 8:7–8). but they did not completely drive them out.
29The tribe of Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, so the Canaanites continue to live there among them.
30The tribe of Zebulun failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron # 1:30 Traditionally identified in Jewish writings as Sepphoris, about four miles north of Nazareth. or Nahalol, so the Canaanites continue to live there among them.
31The tribe of Asher failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob, 32so the people of Asher live among the Canaanites residing in the land because they did not conquer them.
33Likewise, the tribe of Naphtali failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath, # 1:33 Shemesh means “sun” and Anath means “the war goddess.” They were Canaanite deities. It is likely that temples to these pagan gods were located in their respective cities. so they live among the Canaanites residing in the land. However, they forced the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath to serve them.
34The tribe of Dan was least successful. The Amorites forced them back into the hills # 1:34 Although our enemies may push God’s people into retreat for a season, in Christ, our ultimate victory over our foes is secure. and they could no longer live in the valley. 35The Amorites persisted in living on Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim. But when the descendants of Joseph grew stronger, they overpowered the Amorites and ruled over them. 36The boundary of the Amorites ran from Scorpion Pass # 1:36 Or “Akrabbim,” possibly modern Neqb es-Safa, which descends from Beersheba to the Wadi Murra. Scorpion Pass lies about twenty miles south of the Dead Sea. to Sela and continued northward from there.
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationJudges 1
1
Judah Fights the Canaanites
1After Joshua died, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who will be first to go and fight for us against the Canaanites?”
2The Lord said to them, “The tribe of Judah will go. I have handed the land over to them.”
3The men of Judah said to the men of Simeon, their relatives, “Come and help us fight the Canaanites for our land. If you do, we will go and help you fight for your land.” So the men of Simeon went with them.
4When Judah attacked, the Lord handed over the Canaanites and the Perizzites to them, and they defeated ten thousand men at the city of Bezek. 5There they found Adoni-Bezek, the ruler of the city, and fought him. The men of Judah defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites, 6but Adoni-Bezek ran away. The men of Judah chased him, and when they caught him, they cut off his thumbs and big toes.
7Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings whose thumbs and big toes had been cut off used to eat scraps that fell from my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.” The men of Judah took Adoni-Bezek to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They attacked with their swords and burned the city.
9Later, they went down to fight the Canaanites who lived in the mountains, in the dry country to the south, and in the western hills. 10The men of Judah went to fight against the Canaanites in the city of Hebron (which used to be called Kiriath Arba). And they defeated Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
Caleb and His Daughter
11Then they left there and went to fight against the people living in Debir. (In the past Debir had been called Kiriath Sepher.) 12Before attacking the city, Caleb said, “I will give Acsah, my daughter, as a wife to the man who attacks and captures the city of Kiriath Sepher.” 13Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured the city, so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to Othniel to be his wife. 14When Acsah came to Othniel, she told him to ask her father for a field. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?”
15Acsah answered him, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in southern Canaan, also give me springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.
Fights with the Canaanites
16The Kenite people, who were from the family of Moses’ father-in-law, left Jericho, the city of palm trees. They went with the men of Judah to the Desert of Judah to live with them there in southern Judah near the city of Arad.
17The men of Judah and the men of Simeon, their relatives, defeated the Canaanites who lived in Zephath. They completely destroyed the city, so they called it Hormah. 18The men of Judah captured Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron, and the lands around them.
19The Lord was with the men of Judah. They took the land in the mountains, but they could not force out the people living on the plain, because they had iron chariots. 20As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, and Caleb forced out the three sons of Anak. 21But the people of Benjamin could not make the Jebusite people leave Jerusalem. Since that time the Jebusites have lived with the Benjaminites in Jerusalem.
22The men of Joseph went to fight against the city of Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 23They sent some spies to Bethel (which used to be called Luz). 24The spies saw a man coming out of the city and said to him, “Show us a way into the city, and we will be kind to you.” 25So the man showed them the way into the city. The men of Joseph attacked with swords the people in Bethel, but they let the man and his family go free. 26He went to the land where the Hittites lived and built a city. He named it Luz, which it is called even today.
27There were Canaanites living in the cities of Beth Shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and the small towns around them. The people of Manasseh did not force those people out of their towns, because the Canaanites were determined to stay there. 28Later, the Israelites grew strong and forced the Canaanites to work as slaves, but they did not make all the Canaanites leave their land. 29The people of Ephraim did not force out all of the Canaanites living in Gezer. So the Canaanites continued to live in Gezer with the people of Ephraim. 30The people of Zebulun did not force out the Canaanites living in the cities of Kitron and Nahalol. They stayed and lived with the people of Zebulun, but Zebulun made them work as slaves.
31The people of Asher did not force the Canaanites from the cities of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Aczib, Helbah, Aphek, and Rehob. 32Since the people of Asher did not force them out, the Canaanites continued to live with them. 33The people of Naphtali did not force out the people of the cities of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath. So they continued to live with the Canaanites in those cities, and the Canaanites worked as slaves. 34The Amorites forced the Danites back into the mountains and would not let them come down to live in the plain. 35The Amorites were determined to stay in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the Israelites grew stronger, they made the Amorites work as slaves. 36The land of the Amorites was from Scorpion Pass to Sela and beyond.
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