Judges 1:8 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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:8

Had fought against Jerusalem - We read this verse in a parenthesis, because we suppose that it refers to the taking of this city by Joshua; for as he had conquered its armies and slew its king, Joshua 10:26 , it is probable that he took the city: yet we find that the Jebusites still dwelt in it, Joshua 15:63 ; and that the men of Judah could not drive them out, which probably refers to the strong hold or fortress on Mount Zion, which the Jebusites held till the days of David, who... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 1:8

Render “and the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and smote it,” etc. With regard to the capture of Jerusalem there is some obscurity. It is here said to have been taken, smitten with the edge of the sword, and burned, by the children of Judah. In Joshua 12:8, Joshua 12:10 the Jebusite and the king of Jerusalem are enumerated among Joshua’s conquests, but without any distinct mention of the capture of the city; and in the marginal reference we read that the Jebusites were... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 1:8-10

Judges 1:8-10. Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and taken it Yet some of the inhabitants retired into the castle, and held out there till David’s time. Judah went against the Canaanites in Hebron Under the conduct of Caleb, as is recorded Joshua 15:14, &c., for that relation and this are doubtless one and the same expedition, and it is mentioned there by anticipation. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 1:1-36

1:1-2:10 SUMMARY OF JOSHUA’S CONQUESTIsrael’s incomplete conquest (1:1-36)The writer of the book is concerned with events ‘after the death of Joshua’ (see 1:1), but before describing these events he gives a background to them by outlining Israel’s conquest of Canaan under Joshua. First, he summarizes the attack led by Judah and Simeon in the southern part of the central highlands (1:1-7; see notes on Joshua 10:1-43).Jerusalem was among the highland towns that Joshua captured. Later, however, it... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 1:8

Jerusalem. The first occurrence is in Joshua 10:1 , in connection with Adoni-zedek's fear of its being "utterly destroyed" like Ai. Here, in Judges 1:8 , we have a picture of its future history in miniature. See App-63 . The Tel-el- Amarna tablets contain a long correspondence with Egypt about 1400 B.C. taken it. The citadel not taken till 2 Samuel 5:6-9 , by David. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 1:8

"Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. And afterward, the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites that dwelt in the hill-country, and in the South, and in the lowland. And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron (now the name of Hebron beforetime was Kiriath-arba); and they smote Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir. (Now the name of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 1:8

Judges 1:8. Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, &c.— The strong fortress on mount Sion continued in the hands of the Jebusites till the time of David. See Joseph. Hist. b. vi. c. 7. Note; (1.) God often repays the wicked in their own coin. (2.) The proudest are not too high for God to humble; let kings remember that they are in slippery places. (3.) When God's judgments awaken the conscience, we shall own his righteousness, and stand self-condemned before him. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 1:8

8. Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it—The capture of this important city, which ranks among the early incidents in the war of invasion (Joshua 15:63), is here noticed to account for its being in the possession of the Judahites; and they brought Adoni-bezek thither [Joshua 15:63- :], in order, probably, that his fate being rendered so public, might inspire terror far and wide. Similar inroads were made into the other unconquered parts of Judah's inheritance... read more