Judges 1:1-8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:2

The Lord said , Judah shall go up - They had inquired of the Lord by Phinehas the high priest; and he had communicated to them the Divine counsel. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:3

Come up with me into my lot - It appears that the portions of Judah and Simeon had not been cleared of the Canaanites, or that these were the parts which were now particularly invaded. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:5

And they found Adoni-bezek - The word מצא matsa , "he found," is used to express a hostile encounter between two parties; to attack, surprise, etc. This is probably its meaning here. Adoni-bezek is literally the lord of Bezek. It is very probable that the different Canaanitish tribes were governed by a sort of chieftains, similar to those among the clans of the ancient Scottish Highlanders. Bezek is said by some to have been in the tribe of Judah. Eusebius and St. Jerome mention... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:6

Cut off his thumbs - That he might never be able to draw his bow or handle his sword, and great toes, that he might never be able to pursue or escape from an adversary. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:7

Threescore and ten kinds - Chieftains, heads of tribes, or military officers. For the word king cannot be taken here in its proper and usual sense. Having their thumbs and their great toes cut off - That this was an ancient mode of treating enemies we learn from Aelian, who tells us, Var. Hist. l. ii., c. 9, that "the Athenians, at the instigation of Cleon, son of Cleaenetus, made a decree that all the inhabitants of the island of Aegina should have the thumb cut... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:8

Had fought against Jerusalem - We read this verse in a parenthesis, because we suppose that it refers to the taking of this city by Joshua; for as he had conquered its armies and slew its king, Joshua 10:26 , it is probable that he took the city: yet we find that the Jebusites still dwelt in it, Joshua 15:63 ; and that the men of Judah could not drive them out, which probably refers to the strong hold or fortress on Mount Zion, which the Jebusites held till the days of David, who... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 1:1

After the death of Joshua - But from Judges 1:1 to Judges 2:9 is a consecutive narrative, ending with the death of Joshua. Hence, the events in this chapter and in Judges 2:1-6 are to be taken as belonging to the lifetime of Joshua. See Judges 2:11 note.Asked the Lord - The phrase is only found in Judges and Samuel. It was the privilege of the civil ruler, to apply to the high priest to consult for him the Urim and Thummim (marginal reference). (Compare Joshua 14:1; Joshua 18:1, Joshua 18:10;... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 1:2

And the Lord said - i. e. answered by Urim and Thummim. The land was the portion which fell to Judah by lot, not the whole land of Canaan (see Judges 3:11). The priority given to Judah is a plain indication of divine direction. It points to the birth of our Lord of the tribe of Judah. Judah associated Simeon with him Judges 1:3 because their lots were intermingled Joshua 19:1. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 1:4

The Canaanites and the Perizzites - See Genesis 12:6, note; Genesis 13:7, note. Bezek may be the name of a district. It has not yet been identified. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 1:7

Threescore and ten kings - We may infer from this number of conquered kings, that the intestine wars of the Canaanites were among the causes which, under God’s Providence, weakened their resistance to the Israelites. Adoni-Bezek’s cruelty to the subject kings was the cause of his receiving (compare the marginal references) this chastisement. The loss of the thumb would make a man unfit to handle a sword or a bow; the loss of his big toe would impede his speed. read more

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