Judges 1

Exact dates are not given and cannot be supplied. “The most that can be said is that the close [of the period of the Judges] may be assigned with probability to 1000 B.C.” (Prof. König in Hastings’ Dict. of the Bible, art. “Judges”).

3. Judah, Simeon. The name used for the tribes.

my lot. “My allotted territory.”

7 kings. That is, petty chiefs.

8 had fought . . . had taken. “fought . . . took” (R.V.). As Jerusalem was already in the hands of Judah, it had probably been taken by Joshua. The strong fort of Zion was, however, held by the Jebusites till the time of David; and most, if not all, of the city was regained and inhabited by them: see ver. 21 and 2 Sam. v. 6-9. Vers. 8-16 appear to be a parenthetical recital of previous events, some of which had been recorded in the Book of Joshua.

9 the valley. Or, the lowland (R.V.), the Shephelah, extending west from the mountains of Judah to the Mediterranean, and from Joppa in the north to Gaza in the south. Vers. 10, 11 refer to 18, to the “valley.”

16 the children of the Kenite. That is, the descendants of Jethro (see Numb. x. 32).

the city of palm trees. i.e., Jericho: see Deut. xxxiv. 3; 2 Chron. xxviii. 15.

18. Judah took Gaza. The Septuagint has, “Though Judah did not take possession of Gaza, nor the borders thereof, nor of Askelon,” etc. But this may have been an alteration made by the Greek translators to get rid of a difficulty, as we find those cities shortly afterwards in the hands of the Philistines, who probably soon reconquered them.

19 but could not, etc. Rather, “for he could not” (R.V.). They possessed only the mountain district.

chariots of iron. Wooden chariots, studded with iron.

20. Sons of Anak. i.e., the Anakim, “the giants.”

24 the entrance into the city. Not the principal gate, but some unguarded point where they might enter unresisted.

26 the land of the Hittites. We find Hittites in different parts of Palestine, but their chief settlement at this time was probably on the north-east near the borders of Syria.

27. Beth-shean, etc. All the places mentioned in this verse lay near the valley of Jezreel.—Taanach, now Ta-annek, has been recently explored (see Driver, Schweich Lectures, 1909, pp. 80-96).

28 to tribute. Or, “to task work.” This course appeared more easy and more profitable; but it was opposed to the Divine command, and it soon brought its own punishment, causing the Israelites great disquiet and suffering. See 1 Kings ix. 15-17.

29. Gezer. Explored by Professor Macalister in 1902. See note on Lev. xviii. 21.

31. Accho. An ancient Phoenician city near Mount Carmel, afterwards named Ptolemais (Acts xxi. 7), and now called Akka by the natives.

34 into the mountain. That is, into the mountainous parts, which were the smallest portion of their lot. The same slothfulness, cowardice, and unbelief, which had kept their fathers forty years out of Canaan, now deprived them of its full possession.

35 the house of Joseph. Ephraim’s portion lying close to Dan, the Ephraimites aided the Danites.

36 the going up to Akrablim. i.e., “The ascent of scorpions,” so called from the great numbers of these animals which infest the country south of the Dead Sea, where the ground rises into a range of cliffs crossing the Arabah.

from the rock. “To Sela.”