Judges 1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 1

This chapter gives us a particular account what sort of progress the several tribes of Israel made in the reducing of Canaan after the death of Joshua. He did (as we say) break the neck of that great work, and put it into such a posture that they might easily have perfected it in due time, if they had not been wanting to themselves; what they did in order hereunto, and wherein they came short, we are told. I. The united tribes o Judah and Simeon did bravely. 1. God appointed Judah to begin,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 1

This is called the Hebrew Shepher Shophtim, the Book of Judges, which the Syriac and Arabic versions enlarge upon, and call it, The Book of the Judges of the Children of Israel; the judgments of that nation being peculiar, so were their judges, whose office differed vastly from that of the judges of other nations. The LXX. entitles it only Kritai, Judges. It is the history of the commonwealth of Israel, during the government of the judges from Othniel to Eli, so much of it as God saw fit... read more

Matthew Henry

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

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

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 1 The children of Israel, after Joshua's death, inquiring of the Lord which tribes should first go up against the remaining Canaanites, Judah is ordered to go up, who with Simeon did, Judges 1:1 ; and had success against the Canaanites under Adonibezek, whom they brought to Jerusalem Judges 1:4 ; and against the Canaanites in Hebron, Debir, Zephath, Hormah, Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron, Judges 1:9 ; the Benjamites had not such good success as Judah against the... 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

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