Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:1-36

The Conquests of Judah, Simeon, and other Tribes1-8. Conquests of Judah and Simeon.1. After the death of Joshua] This joins the beginning of Judges to the end of Joshua; but in what follows the author refers to events which must have preceded the partition of Joshua 13 f., and the campaigns of Joshua 10, 11. Asked the lord] Consulted the oracle of the Lord’: cp. Judges 18:5; Judges 20:18. See also Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21. 2. The land] the S. part of Palestine. 3. Simeon] The towns of Simeon... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 1:6

(6) Cut off his thumbs and his great toes.—The cutting off of his thumbs would prevent him from ever again drawing a bow or wielding a sword. Romans who desired to escape conscription cut off their thumbs (Suet. Aug. 24). The cutting off of his great toes would deprive him of that speed which was so essential for an ancient warrior, that “swift-footed” is in Homer the normal epithet of Achilles. Either of these mutilations would be sufficient to rob him of his throne, since ancient races never... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Judges 1:1-36

Judges 1:1 'Clarkson, in so far as that question regarded time, was the inaugurator of the great conflict' against the slave-trade, as De Quincey observes. 'That was his just claim. He broke the ground, and formed the earliest camp, in that field; and to men that should succeed, he left no possibility of ranking higher than his followers or imitators.' The exploit in which no one will consent to go first remains unachieved. You wait until there are persons enough agreeing with you to form an... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Judges 1:1-11

PROBLEMS OF SETTLEMENT AND WARJudges 1:1-11IT was a new hour in the history of Israel. To a lengthened period of serfdom there had succeeded a time of sojourn in tents, when the camp of the tribes, half-military, half-pastoral, clustering about the Tabernacle of Witness, moved with it from point to point through the desert. Now the march was over; the nomads had to become settlers, a change not easy for them as they expected it to be, full of significance for the world. The Book of Judges,... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Judges 1:1-36

Analysis and Annotations I. THE INTRODUCTION: ISRAEL’S FAILURE AND THE RESULTS 1. Israel’s Failure in mingling with the Canaanites CHAPTER 1 1. The question and the answer (Judges 1:1-4 ) 2. Adoni-Bezek (Judges 1:5-7 ) 3. Jerusalem (Judges 1:8 ) 4. Judah’s victory and failure (Judges 1:9-20 ) 5. The children of Benjamin and their failure (Judges 1:21 ) 6. The failures of others (Judges 1:22-36 ) The book begins with an inquiry of the Lord. This was immediately after the death of... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Judges 1:6

1:6 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and {d} cut off his thumbs and his great toes.(d) This was God’s just judgment, as the tyrant himself confesses, that as he had done, so did he receive, Leviticus 24:19-20. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:1-36

INITIAL VICTORIES, YET IMPAIRED (vv. 1-26) Joshua having died, Israel does not subside into indifference, but realizes that there is territory that should be possessed. They therefore appeal to the Lord as to who should carry the attack against the Canaanites (v. 1). The answer is "Judah shall go up," and the decisive promise of God is given that He has delivered the Canaanites into Judah's hand (v. 2). Judah means "praise," and the spirit of praise to God is surely that which rightly leads... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Judges 1:1-36

JOSHUA TO SHAMGAR JUDAH’S INCOMPLETE VICTORY (Judges 1:1-20 ) After the death of Joshua the question of which tribe should lead in the subsequent campaign was answered by the Lord in the choice of Judah (Judges 1:1-2 ) which was in accordance with the divine prophecy through Jacob (Genesis 49:8 ). Doubtless the inquiry was made by Urim and Thummim on the breastplate of the high priest, to which reference was made in Exodus. Judah invites the cooperation of Simeon because the territory of... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Judges 1:1-26

Adoni-bezek Jdg 1:7 THESE words were uttered by Adoni-bezek (king or Bezek). He had conquered seven of the little kingdoms in and around Palestine, and he showed their kings the rough hospitality of cutting off their thumbs and their great toes, and of allowing them to gather their meat under his table. In due time, however, Judah, who succeeded Joshua in the leadership, went up to do the Lord's work and took with him Simeon that they might fight against the Canaanites. In Bezek they slew ten... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Judges 1:3-8

It should seem that, as this verse is inclosed in a parenthesis, it only meant to notice what had been said before. Probably Jerusalem was taken in the wars of Joshua. See Joshua 10:1 , etc. read more

Group of Brands