Jdg Judges, chapter Book of Judges, chapter 1
The Conquest of Canaan Proceeds
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”Num 27:21; Jdg 20:18
“Judah shall go up,” answered the LORD. “Indeed, I have delivered the land into their hands.”Gen 49:8
Then the men of Judah said to their brothers the Simeonites, “Come up with us to our allotted territory, and let us fight against the Canaanites. And we likewise will go with you to your territory.” So the Simeonites went with them.Deu 33:7
When Judah attacked, the LORD delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek. 1Sa 11:8And there they found Adoni-bezek and fought against him, striking down the Canaanites and Perizzites. As Adoni-bezek
fled, they pursued him, seized him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 2Sa 4:12Then Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have gathered the scraps under my table. As I have done to them, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.Lev 24:20; Mat 7:2
The Capture of Jerusalem and Hebron
Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire. Jos 15:63; Jos 18:28Afterward, the men of Judah marched down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, in the Negev, and in the foothills.1:9 Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea
Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebron (formerly known as Kiriath-arba), and they struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.Jos 15:14
From there they marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher). Jos 12:13; Jos 15:15And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.” Jos 15:16So Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.1Ch 4:13
One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged him1:14 Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate and he urged her; see Joshua 15:18. to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?”Jos 15:18
“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.”
So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.Gen 33:11
Now the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms1:16 That is, Jericho to the Wilderness of Judah in the Negev near Arad. They went to live among the people.1Sa 15:6
Then the men of Judah went with their brothers the Simeonites, attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and devoted the city to destruction.1:17 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering. So it was called Hormah.1:17 Hormah means destruction. Deu 2:34; Num 14:45And Judah also captured1:18 Hebrew; LXX But Judah did not capture Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron — each with its territory. 2Ki 1:2The LORD was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plains because they had chariots of iron.Jos 17:16
Just as Moses had promised, Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, who drove out the descendants of the three sons of Anak.Num 14:24; Jos 14:13; Jos 15:13
The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.Jos 15:63; Jos 18:28
The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel, and the LORD was with them. Jos 16:1They sent spies to Bethel (formerly known as Luz), Gen 28:19and when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, “Please show us how to get into the city, and we will treat you kindly.”
So the man showed them the entrance to the city, and they put the city to the sword but released that man and all his family. Jos 6:25And the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called it Luz, which is its name to this day.Jos 16:2
The Failure to Complete the Conquest
At that time Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. Jos 17:11; Jos 21:25; 1Sa 31:10When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.
Ephraim also failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer; so the Canaanites continued to dwell among them in Gezer.Jos 16:10; Jos 21:21
Zebulun failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kitron and Nahalol; so the Canaanites lived among them and served as forced laborers.
Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob. Jos 15:44; Jos 19:29So the Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, because they did not drive them out.
Naphtali failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. So the Naphtalites also lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served them as forced laborers.
The Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to come down into the plain. Jdg 18:1And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, they pressed the Amorites into forced labor. Jos 19:42And the border of the Amorites extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim1:36 Or the Ascent of Scorpions or Scorpion Pass to Sela and beyond.