SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:1
¶ Y aconteció después de la muerte de Josué, que los hijos de Israel consultaron al SEÑOR, diciendo: ¿Quién subirá por nosotros el primero a pelear contra los cananeos?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Judges 1:1
Verse 1. Now after the death of Joshua] How long after the death of Joshua this happened we cannot tell; it is probable that it was not long. The enemies of the Israelites, finding their champion dead, would naturally avail themselves of their unsettled state, and make incursions on the country.
Who shall go up] Joshua had left no successor, and every thing relative to the movements of this people must be determined either by caprice, or an especial direction of the Lord.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Now after the death of Joshua , etc.] With the account of which the preceding book is concluded, and therefore this very properly follows after that; though Epiphanius places the book of Job between them: it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the Lord ; that is, the heads of them who gathered together at Shiloh, where the tabernacle was; and standing before the high priest, either Eleazar, or rather Phinehas his son, Eleazar being in all probability dead, inquired by Urim and Thummim: saying, who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them ? for they had no commander in chief, Joshua leaving no successor, though the Samaritan Chronicle pretends he did; one Abel, a son of Caleb’s brother, of the tribe of Judah, on whom the lot fell, out of twelve of the nine tribes and a half, to whom Joshua delivered the government of the nation, and crowned him: but this inquiry was not for any man to go before them all as their generalissimo, but to know what tribe should first go up, and they were desirous of having the mind of God in it, when they might expect to succeed; which to do, at their first setting out, would not only be a great encouragement to them to go on, but strike dread and terror into their enemies; and this is to be understood of the Canaanites who remained unsubdued, that dwelt among them, and in cities, which though divided to them by lot, they were not in the possession of; and these being troublesome neighbours to them, and besides the Israelites daily increasing, needed more room and more cities to occupy, and more land to cultivate.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - The Israelites were convinced that the war against the Canaanites wa 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 the inquired of the Lord. God appoints service according to the strength he has given. From those who are most able, most work is expected. Juda was first in dignity, and must be first in duty. Judah's service wil 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' friendship, and prays for aid from him. It becomes Israelites to hel one another against Canaanites; and all Christians, even those of different tribes, should strengthen one another. Those who thus hel one another in love, have reason to hope that God will graciously hel both. Adoni-bezek was taken prisoner. This prince had been a sever tyrant. The Israelites, doubtless under the Divine direction, made his suffer what he had done to others; and his own conscience confesse that he was justly treated as he had treated others. Thus the righteou God sometimes, in his providence, makes the punishment answer the sin.
Original Hebrew
ויהי 1961 אחרי 310 מות 4194 יהושׁע 3091 וישׁאלו 7592 בני 1121 ישׂראל 3478 ביהוה 3068 לאמר 559 מי 4310 יעלה 5927 לנו אל 413 הכנעני 3669 בתחלה 8462 להלחם׃ 3898
