21. the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem—Judah had expelled the people from their part of Jerusalem ( :-). The border of the two tribes ran through the city—Israelites and natives must have been closely intermingled. :-. SOME CANAANITES LEFT. read more
The leadership of Judah 1:1-21 read more
The soldiers of Judah and Simeon also conquered Hormah (lit. devotion or destruction), Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron (Judges 1:17-18). The "valley" from which the Israelites could not drive out the Canaanites (Judges 1:19) probably refers to the flat Coastal Plain. This inability was, of course, due to a failure in Israel’s trust and obedience (cf. Joshua 1:5-8; Joshua 17:16-18).The reference to iron chariots (Judges 1:19) has caused problems for some readers since archaeologists have dated the... read more
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
(20) Hebron.—See Joshua 14:12-15; Joshua 15:13-14.As Moses said.—Numbers 14:21.It is remarkable that after this time Judah is only mentioned in Judges 10:9; Judges 15:10; Judges 20:18. The tribe produced no judge, with the possible exception of Ibzan (see Judges 12:8), nor is it mentioned in the song of Deborah. Perhaps we may see a reason for this in the strength which had won for Judah so secure a position. On the other hand, their conduct towards Samson was of the most abject kind (Judges... read more
(21) The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites.—In Joshua 15:63 we find the same statement respecting the children of Judah. (See Judges 1:8.) Jerusalem was on the borders of Judah (Joshua 16:8) and Benjamin (Judges 18:28). It belongs more properly to the latter, but the conquest of Zion by David (2 Samuel 5:7) naturally caused its closer identification with Judah. The Jebusites were tolerated inhabitants ever after this conquest, and had their own prince—Araunah (2 Samuel... read more
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
THE WAY OF THE SWORDJudges 1:12-26THE name Kiriath-sepher, that is Book-Town, has been supposed to point to the existence of a semi-popular literature among the pre-Judaean inhabitants of Canaan. We cannot build with any certainty upon a name; but there are other facts of some significance. Already the Phoenicians, the merchants of the age, some of whom no doubt visited Kiriath-sepher on their way to Arabia or settled in it, had in their dealings with Egypt begun to use that alphabet to which... read more
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
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 1:20
17-29. And Judah went with Simeon his brother—The course of the narrative is here resumed from Judges 1:9, and an account given of Judah returning the services of Simeon (Judges 1:9- :), by aiding in the prosecution of the war within the neighboring tribes. slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath—or Zephathah (Judges 1:9- :), a valley lying in the southern portion of Canaan. Hormah—destroyed in fulfilment of an early vow of the Israelites (see on Judges 1:9- :). The confederate tribes,... read more