Judges 1:1-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 1:1-8

Here, I. The children of Israel consult the oracle of God for direction which of all the tribes should first attempt to clear their country of the Canaanites, and to animate and encourage the rest. It was after the death of Joshua. While he lived he directed them, and all the tribes were obedient to him, but when he died he left no successor in the same authority that he had; but the people must consult the breast-plate of judgment, and thence receive the word of command; for God himself, as... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 1:9-20

We have here a further account of that glorious and successful campaign which Judah and Simeon made. 1. The lot of Judah was pretty well cleared of the Canaanites, yet not thoroughly. Those that dwelt in the mountain (the mountains that were round about Jerusalem) were driven out (Jdg. 1:9, 19), but those in the valley kept their ground against them, having chariots of iron, such as we read of, Josh. 17:16. Here the men of Judah failed, and thereby spoiled the influence which otherwise their... read more

John Gill

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

Now after the death of Joshua ,.... With the account of which the preceding book is concluded, and therefore this very properly follows after that; though Epiphanius F2 De Mensur. & Ponder. c. 13. 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:2

And the Lord said ,.... By an articulate voice, which it is probable was the usual way of answering by Urim and Thummim: Judah shall go up ; not Judah in person, who was long ago dead, but the tribe of Judah; it was the will of the Lord that that tribe should engage first with the Canaanites, being the principal one, and the most numerous, powerful, and valiant, and perhaps had the greatest number of Canaanites among them; and who succeeding, would inspire the other tribes with courage,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:3

And Judah said unto Simeon his brother ,.... The men of the tribe of Judah said to those of the tribe of Simeon, they being not only brethren by father's and mother's side, which was not the case of all the sons of Jacob, but their possessions and inheritances lay near together; and indeed those of Simeon were within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, Joshua 19:1 ; so that as they lived in great nearness and familiarity with each other, their interests were closely united together: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:4

And Judah went up ,.... Simeon being along with him, from the southern parts of the land, where they dwelt, and went more northward towards Jerusalem, and which therefore is called a going up: and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands : into the hands of Judah and Simeon: the Canaanites here is not the common name of the seven nations, but the name of one of those nations, distinguished from the rest, as here from the Perizzites, who otherwise were also... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:5

And they found Adonibezek in Bezek ,.... Who was king of, the place, and whose name signifies lord of Bezek; not that they took him there, for he is afterwards said to make his escape from thence, but here he was when they came against that city, and into which they rushed upon him, and fell upon him as follows: and they fought against him ; entering the city with their forces: and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites : that were in it, or about it, even to the number of ten... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:6

But Adonibezek fled, and they pursued after him, and caught him ,.... It is very probable his view was to get to Jebus or Jerusalem, a strong and fortified city and he made his way thither as fast as he could, but was pursued and overtaken by some of the forces of Judah and Simeon; and the rather it may seem he took this course, since when he was taken by them, they brought him thither, as follows: and cut off his thumbs and his great toes ; whereby he was disabled both for fighting and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:7

And Adonibezek said ,.... To the men of Judah, after his thumbs and toes were cut off, his conscience accusing him for what he had done to others, and being obliged to acknowledge he was righteously dealt with: threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off ; that is, by him, or by his orders, whom he had conquered and made captives; according to Josephus F7 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 2. , they were seventy two; the number may be accounted for by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:8

Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it ,.... Which accounted for their carrying Adonibezek thither. This they had done in the times of Joshua; for when the king of that place was taken and slain by Joshua, it seems that he and Israel went and fought against the city, and took that in which the tribe of Judah had a principal concern; so Kimchi and Ben Gersom interpret it; but Jarchi and Abarbinel are of opinion, that now from Bezek they went up to Jerusalem,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 1:1-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 1:9-20

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:8

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