Juízes 1

Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible

Juízes 1

NJB (MT versing) Jerusalem Is Captured The Continuing Conquest of Canaan The Period of the Judges (1:1-2:5) The Tribe of Judah and Simeon Capture Adonibezek The Settlement of Judah, Simeon, Caleb and the Kenites 1:1-7 1:1-7 1:1-7 1:1 1:1-8 1:2 1:3-7 The Tribe of Judah Conquers Jerusalem and Hebron 1:8-10 1:8-15 1:8-15 1:8-10 1:9-15 Capture of Other Cities Othniel Conquers the City of Debir 1:11-15 1:11-15 The Victories of the Tribe of Judah and Benjamin 1:16-21 1:16-21 1:16-21 1:16-21 1:16 1:17-19 1:20-21 The Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh Conquer Bethel The Capture of Bethel 1:22-26 1:22-26 1:22-26 1:22-26 1:22-26 Places Not Conquered Incomplete Conquest of the Land People Who Were Not Driven Out by the Israelites The Northern Tribes 1:27-28 1:27-28 1:27-28 1:27-28 1:27-35 1:29 1:29 1:29 1:29 1:30 1:30 1:30 1:30 1:31-32 1:31-32 1:31-32 1:31-32 1:33 1:33 1:33 1:33 1:34-36 1:34-36 1:34-36 1:34-35 1:36 1:36 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS The author gives the old and new names of the cities taken by the Israelites. This shows he lived after the events but close enough to know the Canaanite names. Old Name New Name 1. Kiriath-arba, Jdgs. 1:10 Hebron 2. Kiriath-sepher, Jdgs. 1:11 Debir 3. Zephath, Jdgs. 1:17 Hormah 4. Luz, Jdgs. 1:23,26 Bethel Judges 1:1-2:5 is a brief overview of the conquest of Canaan after Joshua. It highlights the disobedience in killing or driving out the Canaanites (ie., Jdgs. 1:28). Their pagan, idolatrous influence would eventually result in the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles (i.e., see Jdgs. 2:6-3:6). Judges 1:8-21 describes the southern conquest, while 1:21-36 describes the northern conquest. Only Judah is seen as successful and obedient to the covenant.

Juízes 1:1-7

1:1 "after the death of Joshua" This is recorded in Joshua 24. The book of Judges picks up immediately (i.e., soon, cf. Jdgs. 2:6-9) after Joshua's death. It documents the societal struggle from one powerful leader to future generations (i.e., Jos. 24:19-28). This chapter documents a southern campaign, Jdgs. 1:1-9, 16-19 a central campaign, Jdgs. 1:22-29 a northern campaign, Jdgs. 1:30-36 ▣ "inquired of the Lord" This VERB (BDB 981, KB 1371, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) is often used of Israel's leaders asking the High Priest about YHWH's desire concerning questions (usually about war, cf. Num. 27:21; Jos. 9:14; Jdgs. 18:5; 20:18, 27; 1 Sam. 14:41-42; 22:13, 15; 23:2). They used the Urim and Thummim. SPECIAL TOPIC: URIM AND THUMMIM ▣ "the Canaanites" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PRE-ISRAELITE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE. 1:2 "Judah shall go up" This shows the preeminent place of Judah (cf. Gen. 49:8-12; esp. 49:10). The tribe of Judah also included the tribe of Simeon Kenizzites (cf. Num. 32:12; Jos. 14:6, 14; i.e., Othniel [and Caleb]) Kenizzites (cf. Num. 24:21, 22; Jdgs. 1:16; 4:11, 17; 5:24; Moses' father-in-law) ▣ "I have given the land into his hand" This is a recurrent phrase that shows YHWH's ownership of Canaan YHWH's empowering of its conquest but, unlike the conquest of Joshua, each tribe must defeat the Canaanties living in their tribal inheritance "hand" SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND 1:3 "Simeon" The tribe of Simeon will lose its tribal and territorial identity and later merge with Judah (cf. Jos. 19:1, 9). ▣ "allotted" This refers to Joshua 13-19. The priests cast the lots (i.e., Urim and Thummim) to designate which tribes had which parts of Palestine. This tribal allocation was a God-given gift but even in times of difficulty the land had to be returned to its original owners at the year of Jubilee (cf. Leviticus 25; i.e., every 50th year, after seven sabbath years). 1:4 "the Perizzites" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PRE-ISRAELITE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE. ▣ "ten thousand" This is probably hyperbolic. SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph) SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE ▣ "at Bezek" Judges 1:4-7 records one of the encounters with a city-state in Palestine, north of the Dead Sea. See The MacMillan Bible Atlas, map #57, p. 52. 1:6 "cut off his thumbs and big toes" This was an ANE method of humbling a military opponent. They would not be able to carry a sword or bow. The IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 242, documents the mutilation of prisoners in Assyrian wall reliefs from Shalmaneser III (ninth century B.C.). 1:7 This comment expresses the theology of Lex Talionis (eye-for-an-eye) justice, cf. Exod. 21:23-24; Lev. 24:19-23; Deut. 19:21 "we reap what we sow" (cf. Job 34:11; Ps. 28:4; 62:12; Pro. 24:12; Eccl. 12:14; Jer. 17:10; 32:19; Matt. 16:27; 25:31-46; Rom. 2:6; 14:12; 1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:14; 1 Pet. 1:17; Rev. 2:23; 20:12; 22:12) ▣ "seventy kings" This would refer to leaders of the larger city-states in the area. It may be a hyperbole. SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, A., 8

Juízes 1:8-10

1:8 When one compares Jdgs. 1:8 with 1:21, and also Jos. 15:63 with 2 Sam. 5:6-10, it is obvious that Jdgs. 1:8 refers to the city itself but not the inner fortress, which was later captured by David (cf. 2 Sam. 5:6-10). 1:9 "Negev" This geographical area (BDB 616) refers to the dry, southern part of Palestine. ▣ "the lowlands" This geographical area (BDB 1050) is from the Mediterranean Sea to the hill country of Palestine. It is also called the Shephelah (see The MacMillan Bible Atlas, #7, p. 14, which shows the topological divisions of Palestine). 1:10-15 This retells what happened in Jos. 14:13-15; 15:13-19. 1:10 "Hebron" Caleb (i.e., one of the twelve spies, cf. Numbers 13-14) had already conquered Hebron (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 698-700) in Jos. 15:13-19 (cf. Jos. 14:6-15; Jdgs. 1:20). Judges 1:1-2:5 is a brief retelling of Joshua's conquest. The three people mentioned were part of the Anakim, cf. Jos. 11:26. SPECIAL TOPIC: TALL/POWERFUL WARRIORS OR PEOPLE GROUPS 1:10 "Kiriath-arba" Kiriath (BDB 900) means "city. Arba was the father of Anak (i.e., "long-necked," BDB 778 I; cf. Jos. 14:15; 15:13; 21:11) the number "four" (BDB 918), referring to a confederation of city-states the name of a Babylonian deity

Juízes 1:11-15

1:11 "Kiriath-sepher" This combination means "city of scribes" or "city of records" (cf. Jos. 15:15-16). 1:12 "Caleb" His name (BDB 477) meant "dog." He was the brother of the judge Othniel (cf. Jdgs. 3:7-11; 5:17). He was not an Israelite but a Kenizzite (cf. Num. 32:12; 1 Chr. 1:53) but was incorporated into the clan of Judah. ▣ "Bold" At this time in the ANE the price of a bride (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 526-530) may not be valuables but service (Gen. 29:15-30; Exod. 2:21) military victory (Jos. 15:16-17; and here) an assigned task (1 Sam. 17:25; 18:25) 1:15 "springs of water" This is possibly a set of place names (cf. Jos. 15:19). "Gulioth-mayim" (BDB 165 CONSTRUCT BDB 565) the upper springs, "Gulioth-illith" (BDB 165 CONSTRUCT BDB 751) the lower springs, "gulioth-Tahteth" (BDB 165 CONSTRUCT BDB 165 CONSTRUCT BDB 1066)

Juízes 1:16-21

1:16 "Moses' father-in-law" He goes by several names/titles. Hobab ‒ Num. 10:29; Jdgs. 4:11 Jethro ‒ Exod. 3:1; 4:18; 18:1 Reuel ‒ Exod. 2:18 priest of Midian ‒ Exod. 2:16; 3:1 However, in Num. 10:29, he is called "Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite." Names are often repeated within families. This makes it hard to document individuals with only a list of their parents or locality. ▣ "the city of palms" This was the earlier name for Jericho (cf. Deut. 34:3; Jdgs. 3:13; 2 Chr. 28:15), but in this context, it possibly refers to a city south of Arad (i.e., Tamar [lit. palm tree, BDB 1071 II] cf. 1 Kgs. 9:18; Ezek. 47:19; 48:28; see James Martin, The Book of Judges, p. 22). 1:17 "utterly destroyed" This VERB (BDB 365, KB 353, Hiphil IMPERFECT with waw) denotes a special kind of warfare (i.e., "holy war") where the city is given to God (i.e., Jericho in Jos. 6:18). Being under the "ban" (lit. herem, BDB 356) meant everything living in the city must die (animals and humans) no spoils of war must be taken (cf. Joshua 7) The city was dedicated to God and became too holy for humans to use. The new name, "Hormah," is from the same root (BDB 356, cf. Num. 21:3). SPECIAL TOPIC: CURSE (OT) 1:18 "Gaza. . .Ashkelon. . .Ekron" Here, these coastal city-states are captured by Judah but later they will become three of the five city-states of the Philistines. They were not fully conquered until David's day. The LXX states that Judah did not conquer these cities, probably because its translators saw the improbability of this so early in Israel's history, cf. Jdgs. 1:19. 1:19 "the valley" This refers to the Valley of Jezreel, which was south and west of the Sea of Galilee. ▣ "iron chariots" These weapons of war could only function on level ground. They were of no effect in the hill country. However, on the coast and in the valleys, they were ultimate weapons (cf. Jos. 17:16; Jdgs. 4:13. The Canaanite people had vastly superior weapons (i.e., iron age technology, cf. 1 Sam. 13:19-21; NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 741-743). SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARIOTS 1:20 "they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had promised" See Num. 14:24; Deut. 1:36; Jos. 14:6-15. ▣ "the three sons of Anak" See Num. 13:22, where they are first mentioned. SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS USED FOR TALL/POWERFUL WARRIORS OR PEOPLE GROUPS 1:21 "Jebus" See SPECIAL TOPIC: JEBUS. ▣ "Benjamin" Jerusalem was in the tribal allocation of Benjamin (cf. Jos. 18:28), but right on the border of Judah (cf. Jos. 15:63). ▣ "to this day" This phrase occurs in Jdgs. 1:21 and 26. It shows that Judges has gone through an editorial process, as have all the OT books. The exact nature and time of this process is unknown. It must be assumed that the OT editors were as inspired as the original authors. SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION

Juízes 1:22-26

1:22 "the house of Joseph" At this time in OT history, this refers to the tribe of Ephraim and the western half-tribe of Manasseh. ▣ "and the Lord was with them" One of the LXX MSS, A and L, and the Old Latin have "and Judah was with them" (cf. AB, p. 59). The alternative reading is possible because the second half of chapter 1 documents the failures of the northern campaign. Judah was successful and faithful to YHWH's commands about the Canaanite population (cf. Deut. 20:17; Jos. 16:10; 17:13), but not the northern tribes. What is a mystery is why Judah helped Ephraim. Judah and Ephraim were the two largest tribes. Joshua was of Ephraim. There was jealousy and competition between these clans. 1:23 "Bethel" This means "House of God," named by Jacob in Gen. 28:19. It is twelve miles north of Jerusalem (see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp, 440-41). 1:24-26 This is similar to the account of Rahab at Jericho. A person helped the Israelite invaders and was spared death, even given a reward (i.e., place to live). It is unstated why the defeated cities of Joshua are re-occupied by Canaanites and had to be taken again. 1:26 "Hittites" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PRE-ISRAELITE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE.

Juízes 1:27-28

1:27 The half-tribe of Manasseh did not successfully conquer their tribal allocation. This reinforces the truth that the conquest of Joshua was only partial (i.e., the main walled cities), but that each tribe had to, by faith, possess their own God-given land. Many did not! The presence of the Canaanite people corrupted the worship of YHWH and later brought judgment and exile (i.e., Exod. 34:10-17; Deut. 7:1-5; 20:17-18). ▣ "its villages" This is literally "daughter" (BDB 123 I) but it is often used of small, unwalled surrounding villages (cf. Num. 21:25; Jos. 15:45; Jer. 49:2). 1:28 Instead of killing the Canaanite population, as God directed them, they used them for forced labor (cf. Jdgs. 1:30, 33, 35). This is the first hint of the problems these idolatrous pagans would cause the Israelites. YHWH told them to totally remove them (cf. Exod. 34:10-17; Deut. 7:1-5; 20:17-18) but they did not, even when they were stronger and able to do so. ▣ "they did not drive them out completely" This is a grammatical form that shows intensity (i.e., an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and a PERFECT VERB from the same root (BDB 439, KB 441).

Juízes 1:31-32

1:31 "Ahlab" This location also goes by "Mahalah" (cf. Jos. 19:29, NJB). The UBS Text Project, p. 72, gives "Mahalah" a "C" rating (considerable doubt).

Juízes 1:33

1:33 "Beth-shemesh" This name (BDB 112) implies the worship of the sun, as does "Mount Heres" (BDB 249). This pagan worship was widespread in Canaan as another "Beth-shemesh" (i.e., Ir-shemesh, cf. Jos. 19:41) in Judah shows. Beth-anath (lit., "house of Anat") is another pagan name (i.e., the goddess of war). This was one of Ramasses II's favorite goddesses.

Juízes 1:34-36

1:34 "Amorites" See SPECIAL TOPIC: AMORITE. ▣ "Dan" The tribe of Dan had trouble conquering its allocation because of the Canaanite/Philistine presence along the southern coast of Palestine. They later relocated (i.e., Judges 18) to the far north of Palestine. 1:36 For geographical places see The MacMillan Bible Atlas. ▣ "Sela" This is the Hebrew term for "rock" or "stone" (BDB 701, cf. Jdgs. 20:45,47; 1 Sam. 23:28) or "cliff" (BDB 701 I). In the OT it can refer to several different cities. an Amorite border fortress, Jdgs. 6:35 Petra, a Nabatean capital, 2 Kgs. 14:7 a city in Moab, Isa. 16:1