Judges 1:1-7

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

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

Adam Clarke

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

Now after the death of Joshua - How long after the death of Joshua this happened we cannot tell; it is probable that it was not long. The enemies of the Israelites, finding their champion dead, would naturally avail themselves of their unsettled state, and make incursions on the country. Who shall go up - Joshua had left no successor, and every thing relative to the movements of this people must be determined either by caprice, or an especial direction of the Lord. read more

Adam Clarke

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

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