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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 1:21-36

We are here told upon what terms the rest of the tribes stood with the Canaanites that remained. I. Benjamin neglected to drive the Jebusites out of that part of the city of Jerusalem which fell to their lot, Jdg. 1:21. Judah had set them a good example, and gained them great advantages by what they did (Jdg. 1:9), but they did not follow the blow for want of resolution. II. The house of Joseph, 1. Bestirred themselves a little to get possession of Beth-el, Jdg. 1:22. That city is mentioned in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:22

And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel ,.... Which lay upon the borders of the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, Joshua 16:1 ; and though it seems to have been taken when Ai was, Joshua 8:17 ; yet it appears that it was now in the possession of the Canaanites; wherefore the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh being desirous of enlarging their borders after the example of Judah, went against this place in order to take it: and the Lord was with them ; the Word of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:23

And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel ,.... To reconnoitre the place, to observe its passes and avenues, which were most accessible, and to examine the walls of it, where they were weakest and least defended: now the name of the city before was Luz ; which signifies a "nut"; perhaps it was so called from large numbers of nut trees which grew near it; the Jews suggest as if it was like a nut, no entrance into it but through a cave or some subterraneous passage, see Genesis... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:24

And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city ,.... Or "the keepers" F18 השמרים "custodes", Pagninus, Montanus; "observatores", Vatablus, Drusius, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; those that were sent to watch, and observe, and get what intelligence they could of the city, and the way into it: and they said unto him, show us, we pray, thee, the entrance into the city ; not the gate or gates of it, which no doubt were visible enough, but some private way into it; the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:25

And when he showed them the entrance, into the city ,.... Pointing to it with his fingers, as the same writers observe: they smote the city with the edge of the sword ; they gave notice of what intelligence they had got to the body of the army, who came up, entered the city, took it, and put the inhabitants of it to the sword, as they were ordered to do with all the Canaanites: but they let go the man and all his family ; who had returned to it, encouraged by the promise made him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:26

And the man went into the land of the Hittites ,.... With his family; Kimchi says this was not one of the seven nations of Canaan; and it is very clear from this narrative, that the land this man went to was not in the land of Canaan; though it is certain a people of this name formerly dwelt there, Genesis 15:20 ; and the land of Canaan is called the land of the Hittites, Joshua 1:4 ; these either might flee to another country upon Joshua's entry into the land of Canaan, or a colony of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:22

The house of Joseph , they also went up against Bethel - That is, the tribe of Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh, who dwelt beyond Jordan. Beth-el was not taken by Joshua, though he took Ai, which was nigh to it. Instead of יוסף בית beith Yoseph , "the house of Joseph," ten of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. and six of De Rossi's have יוסף בני beney Yoseph , "the children of Joseph;" and this is the reading of both the Septuagint and Arabic, as well as of two copies in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:23

Beth-el - the name of the city before was Luz - Concerning this city and its names, see the notes on Genesis 28:19 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:24

Show us - the entrance into the city - Taken in whatever light we choose, the conduct of this man was execrable. He was a traitor to his country, and he was accessary to the destruction of the lives and property of his fellow citizens, which he most sinfully betrayed, in order to save his own. According to the rules and laws of war, the children of Judah might avail themselves of such men and their information; but this does not lessen, on the side of this traitor, the turpitude... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:26

The land of the Hittites - Probably some place beyond the land of Canaan, in Arabia, whither this people emigrated when expelled by Joshua. The man himself appears to have been a Hittite, and to perpetuate the name of his city he called the new one which he now founded Luz, this being the ancient name of Beth-el. read more

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