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Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 1:1-3

The Book of Judges begins with a conjunction translated "now" or "and." God intended Judges to continue the narrative of Israel’s history where the Book of Joshua ended (cf. Joshua 1:1). This verse provides a heading for the whole Book of Judges with the actual events following Joshua’s death not being narrated until after the record of his death in Judges 2:8. Another view of the relationship of Judges 1:1 to Judges 2:5 to the death of Joshua is that all of Judges 1:1 to Judges 2:5 records... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 1:1-5

A. Hostilities between the Israelites and the Canaanites following Joshua’s death 1:1-2:5". . . archaeology shows that the superpowers (Babylonia, Assyria, the Hittites, and Egypt) were relatively weak during the days of the judges and the monarchy. Internal affairs kept them busy at home. This, humanly speaking, made possible the survival of the nation of Israel. The smaller, local enemies were trouble enough for her armies." [Note: Arthur H. Lewis, Judges and Ruth, p. 13.] 1. Initial... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 1:1-6

I. THE REASONS FOR ISRAEL’S APOSTASY 1:1-3:6The first major section in the book (Judges 1:1 to Judges 3:6) explains very clearly why the period of the judges was a dark chapter in Israel’s history. God revealed the reasons for Israel’s apostasy and consequent national problems in terms too clear to miss.The years immediately following Joshua’s death saw a transition from success to failure. The events of this period set the scene for the amphictyony (rule by judges) and provide a background for... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:1-4

Introductory (Judges 1:1 to Judges 3:4)Division 1, Judges 1:1 to Judges 2:5.This section of the book contains a brief recapitulation of the early conquest of Palestine, told from a somewhat different point of view from that of Joshua 7-21, and supplying much that is there not mentioned. From these vv. it is clear that Palestine was not conquered in one great invasion; and the whole of the book shows Israel to be only in very precarious possession of the land. The narrative in Joshua emphasises... read more

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 1:1

(1) Now.—The “now” should rather be rendered And, as in Leviticus 1:1, Numbers 1:1, Joshua 1:1, 1 Samuel 1:1, 2 Samuel 1:1, 2 Kings 1:1. The word connects this book with the last, “as a link in the chain of books which relate in unbroken connection the sacred history of the world from the Creation to the Exile” (Bertheau).Alter the death of Joshua.—In these first words we are met by a difficulty, for there can be little reasonable doubt that most, at any rate, of the events narrated from this... 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

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