Judges 1

1 post mortem Iosue consuluerunt filii Israhel Dominum dicentes quis ascendet ante nos contra Chananeum et erit dux belli

2 dixitque Dominus Iudas ascendet ecce tradidi terram in manus eius

3 et ait Iudas Symeoni fratri suo ascende mecum in sorte mea et pugna contra Chananeum ut et ego pergam tecum in sorte tua et abiit cum eo Symeon

4 ascenditque Iudas et tradidit Dominus Chananeum ac Ferezeum in manus eorum et percusserunt in Bezec decem milia virorum

5 inveneruntque Adonibezec in Bezec et pugnaverunt contra eum ac percusserunt Chananeum et Ferezeum

6 fugit autem Adonibezec quem secuti conprehenderunt caesis summitatibus manuum eius ac pedum

7 dixitque Adonibezec septuaginta reges amputatis manuum ac pedum summitatibus colligebant sub mensa mea ciborum reliquias sicut feci ita reddidit mihi Deus adduxeruntque eum in Hierusalem et ibi mortuus est

8 obpugnantes ergo filii Iuda Hierusalem ceperunt eam et percusserunt in ore gladii tradentes cunctam incendio civitatem

9 et postea descendentes pugnaverunt contra Chananeum qui habitabat in montanis et ad meridiem et in campestribus

10 pergensque Iudas contra Chananeum qui habitabat in Hebron cui nomen fuit antiquitus Cariatharbe percussit Sisai et Ahiman et Tholmai

11 atque inde profectus abiit ad habitatores Dabir cuius nomen vetus erat Cariathsepher id est civitas Litterarum

12 dixitque Chaleb qui percusserit Cariathsepher et vastaverit eam dabo ei Axam filiam meam uxorem

13 cumque cepisset eam Othonihel filius Cenez frater Chaleb minor dedit ei filiam suam coniugem

14 quam pergentem in itinere monuit vir suus ut peteret a patre suo agrum quae cum suspirasset sedens asino dixit ei Chaleb quid habes

15 at illa respondit da mihi benedictionem quia terram arentem dedisti mihi da et inriguam aquis dedit ergo ei Chaleb inriguum superius et inriguum inferius

16 filii autem Cinei cognati Mosi ascenderunt de civitate Palmarum cum filiis Iuda in desertum sortis eius quod est ad meridiem Arad et habitaverunt cum eo

17 abiit autem Iudas cum Symeone fratre suo et percusserunt simul Chananeum qui habitabat in Sephath et interfecerunt eum vocatumque est nomen urbis Horma id est anathema

18 cepitque Iudas Gazam cum finibus suis et Ascalonem atque Accaron cum terminis suis

19 fuitque Dominus cum Iuda et montana possedit nec potuit delere habitatores vallis quia falcatis curribus abundabant

20 dederuntque Chaleb Hebron sicut dixerat Moses qui delevit ex ea tres filios Enach

21 Iebuseum autem habitatorem Hierusalem non deleverunt filii Beniamin habitavitque Iebuseus cum filiis Beniamin in Hierusalem usque in praesentem diem

22 domus quoque Ioseph ascendit in Bethel fuitque Dominus cum eis

23 nam cum obsiderent urbem quae prius Luza vocabatur

24 viderunt hominem egredientem de civitate dixeruntque ad eum ostende nobis introitum civitatis et faciemus tecum misericordiam

25 qui cum ostendisset eis percusserunt urbem in ore gladii hominem autem illum et omnem cognationem eius dimiserunt

26 qui dimissus abiit in terram Etthim et aedificavit ibi civitatem vocavitque eam Luzam quae ita appellatur usque in praesentem diem

27 Manasses quoque non delevit Bethsan et Thanach cum viculis suis et habitatores Dor et Ieblaam et Mageddo cum viculis suis coepitque Chananeus habitare cum eis

28 postquam autem confortatus est Israhel fecit eos tributarios et delere noluit

29 Ephraim etiam non interfecit Chananeum qui habitabat in Gazer sed habitavit cum eo

30 Zabulon non delevit habitatores Cetron et Naalon sed habitavit Chananeus in medio eius factusque est ei tributarius

31 Aser quoque non delevit habitatores Achcho et Sidonis Alab et Achazib et Alba et Afec et Roob

32 habitavitque in medio Chananei habitatoris illius terrae nec interfecit eum

33 Nepthali non delevit habitatores Bethsemes et Bethanath et habitavit inter Chananeum habitatorem terrae fueruntque ei Bethsemitae et Bethanitae tributarii

34 artavitque Amorreus filios Dan in monte nec dedit eis locum ut ad planiora descenderent

35 habitavitque in monte Hares quod interpretatur testaceo in Ahilon et Salabim et adgravata est manus domus Ioseph factusque est ei tributarius

36 fuit autem terminus Amorrei ab ascensu Scorpionis Petra et superiora loca

Judges 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

The book of Judges is the history of Israel during the government of the Judges, who were occasional deliverers, raised up by God to rescue Israel from their oppressors, to reform the state of religion, and to administer justice to the people. The state of God's people does not appear in this book so prosperous, nor their character so religious, as might have been expected; but there were many believers among them, and the tabernacle service was attended to. The history exemplifies the frequent warnings and predictions of Moses, and should have close attention. The whole is full of important instruction.

Proceedings of the tribes of Judah and Simeon. (1-8) Hebron and other cities taken. (9-20) The proceedings of other tribes. (21-36)

Verses 1-8 The Israelites were convinced that the war against the Canaanites was to be continued; but they were in doubt as to the manner in which it was to be carried on after the death of Joshua. In these respects they inquired of the Lord. God appoints service according to the strength he has given. From those who are most able, most work is expected. Judah was first in dignity, and must be first in duty. Judah's service will not avail unless God give success; but God will not give the success, unless Judah applies to the service. Judah was the most considerable of all the tribes, and Simeon the least; yet Judah begs Simeon's friendship, and prays for aid from him. It becomes Israelites to help one another against Canaanites; and all Christians, even those of different tribes, should strengthen one another. Those who thus help one another in love, have reason to hope that God will graciously help both. Adoni-bezek was taken prisoner. This prince had been a severe tyrant. The Israelites, doubtless under the Divine direction, made him suffer what he had done to others; and his own conscience confessed that he was justly treated as he had treated others. Thus the righteous God sometimes, in his providence, makes the punishment answer the sin.

Verses 9-20 The Canaanites had iron chariots; but Israel had God on their side, whose chariots are thousands of angels, ( Psalms 68:17 ) . Yet they suffered their fears to prevail against their faith. About Caleb we read in ( Joshua 15:16-19 ) . The Kenites had settled in the land. Israel let them fix where they pleased, being a quiet, contented people. They that molested none, were molested by none. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Verses 21-36 The people of Israel were very careless of their duty and interest. Owing to slothfulness and cowardice, they would not be at the pains to complete their conquests. It was also owing to their covetousness: they were willing to let the Canaanites live among them, that they might make advantage of them. They had not the dread and detestation of idolatry they ought to have had. The same unbelief that kept their fathers forty years out of Canaan, kept them now out of the full possession of it. Distrust of the power and promise of God deprived them of advantages, and brought them into troubles. Thus many a believer who begins well is hindered. His graces languish, his lusts revive, Satan plies him with suitable temptations, the world recovers its hold; he brings guilt into his conscience, anguish into his heart, discredit on his character, and reproach on the gospel. Though he may have sharp rebukes, and be so recovered that he does not perish, yet he will have deeply to lament his folly through his remaining days; and upon his dying bed to mourn over the opportunities of glorifying God and serving the church he has lost. We can have no fellowship with the enemies of God within us or around us, but to our hurt; therefore our only wisdom is to maintain unceasing war against them.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES

The title of this book in the Hebrew copies is Sepher Shophetim, the Book of Judges; but the Syriac and Arabic interpreters call it,

``the Book of the Judges of the Children of Israel;''

and the Septuagint only Judges; so called, not because it was written by them, though some think it was compiled out of annals and diaries kept by them; but it seems to be the work of one person only: the true reason of its name is, because it treats of the judges of Israel, gives an account of their lives and actions, and especially such as concerned their office; which office was different from that of kings, and seems only to have been occasional, and chiefly lay in delivering the people out of the hands of their enemies, when oppressed, distressed, or carried captive by them; in protecting them in the enjoyment of their country, rights, and liberties; in leading out their armies against their enemies when needful; and in settling differences, judging law suits, and administering justice. The government of the nation, during their time, was a theocracy. It is not certain who was the penman of this book; some ascribe it to King Hezekiah, others to Ezra; but the Jewish writers {a} are generally of opinion that it was written by Samuel, which is most likely, who was the last of the judges; and it seems plainly to be written before the times of David, us appears from a speech of Joab, 2Sa 11:21; and from some passages in Ps 68:8,9 Ps 97:5, which seem to refer or allude to Jud 5:4,5; and from Jerusalem being called Jebus, which shows it to be inhabited by the Jebusites in the time of the writer of this book, whereas it was taken out of their hands by David; besides, Samuel himself refers to the annals of this book; 1Sa 12:9-11; and from whose testimonies, as well as from others in the New Testament, there is no doubt to be made of its being genuine and authentic, and written by divine inspiration; as is evident from the use the Apostle Paul, and the author of the epistle to the Hebrews, have made of it, Ac 13:20, Heb 11:32; it is useful as an history, and without which the history of the people of Israel would not be complete; it containing an account of all their judges, excepting the two last, Eli and Samuel, of whom an account is given in the following books, and of some facts incidental to those times, related in an appendix at the end of it, concerning the idol of Micah, and the war of Benjamin; and furnishes out many useful moral observations concerning God's displeasure at sin in his own people Israel, and his corrections for it; and about his providential care of them in raising up for them deliverers in their time of need, as well as points at various virtues and excellencies in great and good men, worthy of imitation. It contains, according to Piscator, Dr. Lightfoot, and others, an history of two hundred ninety and nine years.

\\INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 1\\

The children of Israel, after Joshua's death, inquiring of the Lord which tribes should first go up against the remaining Canaanites, Judah is ordered to go up, who with Simeon did, Jud 1:1-3; and had success against the Canaanites under Adonibezek, whom they brought to Jerusalem Jud 1:4-8; and against the Canaanites in Hebron, Debir, Zephath, Hormah, Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron, Jud 1:9-20; the Benjamites had not such good success as Judah against the Jebusites in Jerusalem, Jud 1:21; nor as the house of Joseph had against Bethel, Jud 1:22-26; nor could the tribes of Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali, drive out the Canaanites from several places which belonged unto them, though many of them became their tributaries, Jud 1:27-33; and as for the Amorites, they were too powerful for the tribe of Dan, though some of them became tributaries to the house of Joseph, Jud 1:34-36.

{a} T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 14. 2.