PREVIOUS CHAPTER - NEXT CHAPTER - HELP - GR VIDEOS - GR YOUTUBE - TWITTER - SD1 YOUTUBE CHAPTER 1 Jud 1:1-3. THE ACTS OF JUDAH AND SIMEON.
1. Now after the death of Joshua--probably not a long period, for the
Canaanites seem to have taken advantage of that event to attempt
recovering their lost position, and the Israelites were obliged to
renew the war.
2. the Lord said, Judah shall go up--The predicted pre-eminence
(Ge 49:8)
was thus conferred upon Judah by divine direction, and its appointment
to take the lead in the ensuing hostilities was of great importance, as
the measure of success by which its arms were crowned, would animate
the other tribes to make similar attempts against the Canaanites within
their respective territories.
3. Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me . . ., that we may fight against the Canaanites--Being conterminous tribes (Jos 19:1, 2), they had a common interest, and were naturally associated in this enterprise. Jud 1:4-21. ADONI-BEZEK JUSTLY REQUITED.
5, 6. Bezek--This place lay within the domain of Judah, about twelve
miles south of Jerusalem.
7. Threescore and ten kings--So great a number will not appear strange, when it is considered that anciently every ruler of a city or large town was called a king. It is not improbable that in that southern region of Canaan, there might, in earlier times, have been even more till a turbulent chief like Adoni-bezek devoured them in his insatiable ambition. 8. Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it--The capture of this important city, which ranks among the early incidents in the war of invasion (Jos 15:63), is here noticed to account for its being in the possession of the Judahites; and they brought Adoni-bezek thither [Jud 1:7], in order, probably, that his fate being rendered so public, might inspire terror far and wide. Similar inroads were made into the other unconquered parts of Judah's inheritance [Jud 1:9-11]. The story of Caleb's acquisition of Hebron is here repeated (Jos 15:16-19). [See on Jos 15:16.] 16. the children of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah--called "the Kenite," as probably descended from the people of that name (Nu 24:21, 22). If he might not himself, his posterity did accept the invitation of Moses (Nu 10:32) to accompany the Israelites to Canaan. Their first encampment was in the "city of palm trees"--not Jericho, of course, which was utterly destroyed, but the surrounding district, perhaps En-gedi, in early times called Hazezon-tamar (Ge 14:7), from the palm-grove which sheltered it. Thence they removed for some unknown cause, and associating themselves with Judah, joined in an expedition against Arad, in the southern part of Canaan (Nu 21:1). On the conquest of that district, some of this pastoral people pitched their tents there, while others migrated to the north (Jud 4:17).
17-29. And Judah went with Simeon his brother--The course of the
narrative is here resumed from
Jud 1:9,
and an account given of Judah returning the services of Simeon
(Jud 1:3),
by aiding in the prosecution of the war within the neighboring tribes.
19. the Lord was with Judah; . . . but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley--The war was of the Lord, whose omnipotent aid would have ensured their success in every encounter, whether on the mountains or the plains, with foot soldiers or cavalry. It was distrust, the want of a simple and firm reliance on the promise of God, that made them afraid of the iron chariots (see on Jos 11:4-9). 21. the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem--Judah had expelled the people from their part of Jerusalem (Jud 1:8). The border of the two tribes ran through the city--Israelites and natives must have been closely intermingled. Jud 1:22-26. SOME CANAANITES LEFT. 22, 23. the house of Joseph--the tribe of Ephraim, as distinguished from Manasseh (Jud 1:27).
24. the spies . . . said, . . . Show us, . . . the entrance into the
city--that is, the avenues to the city, and the weakest part of the
walls.
26. Luz--(See on Ge 12:7; Ge 28:18). 27-36. The same course of subjugation was carried on in the other tribes to a partial extent, and with varying success. Many of the natives, no doubt, during the progress of this exterminating war, saved themselves by flight and became, it is thought, the first colonists in Greece, Italy, and other countries. But a large portion made a stout resistance and retained possession of their old abodes in Canaan. In other cases, when the natives were vanquished, avarice led the Israelites to spare the idolaters, contrary to the express command of God; and their disobedience to His orders in this matter involved them in many troubles which this book describes. GOTO NEXT CHAPTER - D. J-F-B INDEX & SEARCH
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