Judges 1:16-36 NIV

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

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 1:16

And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law ,.... The posterity of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses; for though Jethro returned to his own country, after he had paid a visit to Moses in the wilderness, yet Hobab his son, at the persuasion of Moses, travelled with him and Israel through the wilderness, and went with them into Canaan, at least some of his descendants, and settled there, some in one part of the land, and some in another, of whom we read in several places of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:17

And Judah went with Simeon his brother ,.... Having subtitled his Canaanites which were in his own lot, according to his promise, he went with his brother Simeon, or the tribe of Simeon, into their lot to reduce those that were in that: and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it : where and what this city was is not certain; there was a place of this name in upper Galilee, mentioned in Jewish writings F16 Juchasin, fol. 68. 1. , which cannot be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:18

Also Judah took Gaza, with the coast thereof ,.... Which by lot fell to that tribe, Joshua 15:47 ; it was not till now subdued: and Ashkelon with the coast thereof ; which, according to our countryman Sandys F17 Travels, p. 118. Ed. 5. , was ten miles from Gaza: and Ekron with the coast thereof ; this also is the lot that fell to Judah, but was afterwards given to the tribe of Dan, Joshua 15:45 ; for whom Judah now fought and took it; but in a short time all these places... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:19

And the Lord was with Judah ,.... Encouraging, strengthening, succeeding, and giving the tribe victory over the Canaanites; the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord was for the help of the house of Judah:" and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountains ; the mountainous part of Judea, such as was about Jerusalem, and where Hebron stood, and other cities, see Joshua 15:48 , &c.; which though fortified both by nature and man, yet God being with them, they were easily subdued: but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:20

And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said ,.... Which was done in the times of Joshua, both by him and all the people, according to the order of Moses. This is to be understood not of the city which was given to the Levites, but of the fields and parts adjacent, Joshua 14:13 , and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak : whose names are given Judges 1:10 ; this shows that this refers to the same expedition as in Joshua 15:14 ; and is expressed in the same manner. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:21

And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem ,.... That is, that part of it which belonged to them, for it lay between Judah and Benjamin; and neither of them separately, nor both conjunctly, could drive out the Jebusites from it, particularly the strong hold on the top of Mount Sion, which they held to the times of David. Abarbinel is of opinion, that Jerusalem in those times was not a city enclosed about, but was a large province, part of which... 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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 1:21

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

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

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