Judges 1

The tribe of Judah by Gods command begin to make war against the inhabitants of Canaan verse 1 &c. subdue Adonibezek 4 take Jerusalem 8 slay the children of Enak at Hebron 10 Othiniel subdued Debir and thereby getteth Cales daughters to wife 11 the kenites dwell among Judah 16 Simeon Subdueth Zephath 17 and Judah divers cities of Philistines 18 they of the house of Joseph subdued Bethel 23 a relation of remissness of the tribes of driving out of the Canaanites for which they are vexed by them and they are left to dwell one another 19, 20 &c.

1. And it came to pass after the death of Joshua that the children of Israel inquired of the Lord [by the high priest wearing the Epod see for this the command of God Numbers 27:21 and compare below chapter 20.18 1Samuel 23.9] saying who among us shall march up first towards the Canaanites to fight against them?

2. And the Lord said Judah [that is the tribe of Judah so in the following verse Simeon that is the tribe of Simeon and so forward in the rest] shall march up behold I have given that land into his hand.

3. Then said Judah unto his brother Simeon [the inheritances of Judah and Simeon were partly intermixed or common between them see Joshua 9:1, 2] march with me into my lot [that is to subdue and take possession of the land that is fallen to me by lot] and let us war against the Canaanites and I will also march up with thee into thy lot so Simeon marched with them.

4. And Judah marched up and the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Pherezites into their hands [that is into the hand of Judah and Simeon] and they smote them by Bezek [which lay not far from Jerusalem see also 1 Samuel 11:8] ten thousand men.

5. And they found Adoni Bezek at Bezek and fought against him and they smote the Canaanites and the Perezites.

6. But Adoni Bezek fled and they pursued after him and they took him and cut off the thumbs of his hands and of his feet [the cause of this was of the abominable tyranny mentioned in the following verse.]

7. Then said Adoni Bezek threescore and ten kings with the thumbs of their hands of their feet cut off under my table were gathering up the crumbs [that is that which fell from the table or was cast to them] according as I have done so hath God rewarded me and they brought him to Jerusalem and he died there.

8. For the children of Judah had against Jerusalem [others fought or did fight but the opinion of the most is that here by occasion that is in the foregoing verse it is said that they brought down Adoni Bezek to Jerusalem the taking of Jerusalem and some other passages unto the 17 verse were repeated out of the book of Joshua as may be seen Joshua chapter 15]and had taken it [understand the part of the city which was fallen to their share, nor the other part which appertained to Benjamin together with them, and the strong hold: See Jos.15.8,13. & 18.11,28. Also below ver.21. With the Annot.] And smote it with the edge of the sword: [Heb. At the mouth of the sword] and they had set [Heb. sent] the city on fire. [i.e. they had cast fire into it: So below chap.21 48.]

9. And after that [i.e. after the taking of Jerusalem] the children of Judah were gone down to war against the Canaanites, dwelling in the south and in the low grounds.

10. And Judah was gone against the Canaanites [Under the conduct of Joshua and Caleb, Jos.15.14.] that dwelt at Hebron, [See Jos.15.13.] (Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-Arba) and they smote Sefia and Abiman, and Thalmai. [Three Giants, children of Enak, as is related below ver.20.]

11. And from thence he [viz. Judah] was marched forth against the inhabitants of Debir: now the name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-Sepher. [See Joshua 12:13.]

12. And Caleb said, He that shall smite Sepher, and take it, to him will l also give my daughter Achsa to wife.

13. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz, [i.e. one of Kenaz his posterity, as some do understand this] brother of Caleb,[i.e. cousin, near kinsman: some understand this of Othiel, others of Kenaz: compare Numb.32.12. Joshua 15:17. below Chap.3.9,11. 1 Chron.4.13, 15.] who was younger then be, [Heb. smaller, or lesser then he, namely, Kenaz. Oth.who (viz. Othiel) was the youngest of, or out of him, namely, Kenaz; i.e. the youngest and meanest to see to among all the posterity of Kenaz, and yet not withstanding honoured and exalted above others, by this courageous and valiant act, the match that followed, and also the office of judge: below chap.3.9,etc.] took it: and Caleb gave him aches his daughter to wife.

14. And it came to pass, when she came (unto him) [See of this relation, Jos.15.18,19. And the Annotat. There] that she moved him [Or, sought unto him] to ask a field of her father; and she lighted off the ass. Then said Caleb unto her, what (aileth) thee?

15. And she said unto him, give me a blessing: [See Gen.33. on ver.11.] seeing thou hast given me a dry land, [Heb. south-land] give me also water (or springs of water) then Caleb gave her high wells, and low wells.

16. Also the children of the Kenite, [Understand Jethro: See Numb.24.21,22.] Moseh his father in law, went up out of the Palm-city [viz. Jericho. See Duet.34. On ver.3.] With the children of Juda, toward the wilderness of Judah, which is toward the south of Harad: [the name of a city lying near mount Seir, and peradventure also of a King of the same place. See Numb.21.1.] and they went and dwelt with the people. [Heb. and he went and dwelt, or abode with, or by the people. He, namely, the Kenite, that is Jethro posterity. Some translate it thus: for he (the Kenite) was (along with them) and had remained, or had dwelt with the people, namely, Israel. See Numbs 10.29. and 24.21,22. 1 Samuel 15:6.]

17. Juda then went with his brother Simeon, [Here the history, which above ver.8. was intermitted, is reassumed, and pursued] and they smote the Canaanites dwelling at Zephath, [this place is no where else mentioned; onely we find 2 Chron.14.9,10. The valley of Zephata, by Maresa in Juda: Some there translate it, the valley (lying) towards Zephath] and they banned it, [See Duet.2.onver.34.] and the name of this city was called Horma. [i.e. Bun banning. Compare Numb. 14 45. and 21.3. Some conceive, that this Horma was the Royal City, situate on the southern borders of Canaan] at the west-end of Mount Seir: See Jos.12.14. and 15.30. and 19.4. 1 Samuel 30:30. 1 Chronicles 4:30.]

18. Also Juda took Gaza with her border, [i.e. the circumjacent country: So in the following] and Askelon with her border, and Ekron with her border. [These Cities were situate in the Philistines country, at the mid-land Zea, and are often mentioned in the holy Scripture]

19. And the Lord was with Juda, that he drave out (the inhabitants) of the mountain: but he. [viz. Juda (proceeded not) to drive out [Oth. But not driving out] the inhabitant of the valley, because they had iron charets. [although the Lord was with Judah in the subduing and taking of the mountain, yet notwithstanding he was not courageous enough for to pursue the rest through humane fear, which here prevailed more with him, then the command and promise of God, Jos.13.6. and 17.18. Of the iron charets then used in battle, see Jos.17.18.]

20. And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, [See the History hereof, Jos.14, from the end of the Chapter] according as Moseh had spoken: and the expelled thence the three sons of Enak. [Of whom mention is made above, ver.10. Of Enak and his posterity which were Giants, see Numb.13. On ver .22. Oth. Of the Giant]

21. But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites dwelling at Jerusalem: [Underst. In the upper part of the City, and the strong hold which was fallen unto Benjamin’s share, in regard their inheritances lay partly among those of Juda, Jos.1811. Judah had taken his, as above ver.8. Out of strong hold the Jebusites were not expelled till Davids time, 2 Sam.5.6,7.] But the Jebusites dwelt with the children of Benjamin at Jerusalem unto this day. [viz. when this was written by the Author of this book]

22. And the house of Joseph went up also toward Bethel: and the Lord was with them.

23. And the house of Joseph set spies near Bethel: now the name of this city was before-time Luz. [See Gen.28 ver.19.]

24. And the watchmen [That were sent forth to spy out the situation of the City] saw a man going forth out of the city: and they said unto him, shew us, we pray, the entrance of the city, and we will shew kindness unto thee.

25. And when he had shewed them the entrance of the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword, but they let go that man, and all his family.

26. Then went this man into the land of the Hethites. [Which dwelt on the north-side of mount Ephraim] and he built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: this is the name thereof unto this day.

27. And Manasseh [Understand, the half tribe which dwelt in Canaan, not those which dwelt beyond Jordan in Gilead, and Basan] drave not out Beth-Sean, [i.e. the inhabitants of Beth-Sean; as in the sequel is set forth. Beth-Sean lay by Jordan on the west-side: see Jos.1711.] nor her dependant places, [i.e. the circumjacent places, resorting under them] neither Taanach, situate in mount Gilboa. See also Jos.17.v.11. And 21.25.] With her dependant places, nor the inhabitants of Dor, with her dependant places, nor the inhabitants of Jibleam, [Jos.17.11. both these places lay near to the mid-land Sea] with her her dependant places, nor the inhabitants of Meggido, with her dependant places: and the Canaanites would dwell in the same land. [Or, found good, consented, or began (Heb. the Canaanite would, etc.) viz. either out of willfulness, or on condition of Tribute, as some expound this out of the following verse. So below ver. 35. See also Jos.17.12,13.]

28. And it came to pass, when Isreal grew strong, that he put the Canaanites upon tribute: but he drave them not quite out. [Heb. driving out, he drave them not out; to wit, the Canaanites]

29. Also Ephraim drave not out the Canaanites which dwelt at Gezer: [Situate by the brook of Gaas, toward the midland Sea; being also a City of the Levites; Jos. At 21. 21.] But the Canaanites dwelt in the midst of them at Gezer.

30. Zebulon drave not out the inhabitant of Kitron, [Situate by the mountain of Zebulon, westward, near unto the source of the brook Jiphtahel] nor the inhabitants of Nuhalel: see Jos .19.15.] but the Canaanites dwelt in the midst of him, [viz. Zebulon] and were tributary.

31. Aser drave not out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Zidon: [These places lay by the midland Sea, onely Achlab lay somewhat further land-ward. Of Asers lot, see Joshua 19:24, etc. Rehob was also a City of the Levites, Joshua 21:31. Lying also land-ward. See Num. 13 21.] nor Achlab, nor Achsib, nor Chelba, nor Rehob: [i.e. the inhabitants of these cities]

32. But the Aserites dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites which dwelt in the Canaanites which dwelt in the land: for they drave them not out.

33. Naphtali drave not the inhabitants of Beth-Semes, nor the inhabitants of Beth-Anath, [See of both these cities lying in Naphtali, Joshua 19:38.] but dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites which dwelt in the land: but the inhabitants of Beth-Semes and Beth-Anath became tributary unto them.

34. And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain, for they suffered them not to come down into the valley. [i.e. the lower parts, or plains].

35. Also the Amorites would dwell [See above on ver.27.] on mount Heres, at Ajalon, and at Saalbim: [see Jos.19.42. and 21. 24. Saalbim lay in the valley of Escol, Ajalon from thence in the northwest, toward the west sea, on the borders of Dan. Of other places of this name, see below chap 12.12.] but the hand of house of the house of Joseph became heavy, so that they became tributary. [Heb. became, or were tributary. The meaning is, those of the house of Joseph came to succor Dan, and compelled or forced the Amorites so far, that they became tributary unto them]

36. And the border of the Amorites was from the going up of Akrabbim, [Lying by the south-end of the salt-sea, and on the east-end of mount Seer, upon the uttermost borders of Canaan toward the south. see Jos.15.2,3,] from the rock. [Oth. Sela, or Petra Arabia; a famous City, lying upon a rock] and along upwards.