Judges 1: Israel's Incomplete Obedience and Its Consequences
Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?
And the Lord said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.
And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
And Judah went up; and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
And they found Adoni–bezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
But Adoni–bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
And Adoni–bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten 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 mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjath–arba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.
And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath–sepher:
And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath–sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.
Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth–el: and the Lord was with them.
And the house of Joseph sent to descry Beth–el. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy.
And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.
And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.
Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Beth–shean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:
But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.
Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth–shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth–anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth–shemesh and of Beth–anath became tributaries unto them.
And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.
And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
Judges 1 marks the beginning of a new chapter in Israel's history, stepping out of the shadow of Joshua's leadership (Joshua 24:29–30) and into the era of the judges. This chapter details the initial efforts of each tribe to claim their inheritance in the Promised Land, specifically focusing on their success or failure in driving out the Canaanites, a task divinely ordained (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). The narrative reveals a mixed bag of victories and compromises, setting the stage for the cycles of disobedience and deliverance that define the book of Judges. This chapter provides a foundational understanding of the challenges Israel faced and the consequences of their incomplete obedience.
Seeking God's Guidance (Judges 1:1-2)
The chapter opens with a crucial question: "Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?" (Judges 1:1). This simple inquiry demonstrates Israel's initial dependence on God's guidance after Joshua's death. They wisely sought the Lord's direction, understanding that their success depended on His favor. God's response, designating Judah to lead the charge and promising victory, underscores the importance of seeking divine counsel, especially during times of transition and uncertainty. Just as the Israelites approached God with specific prayers, so too should we, trusting that He will provide specific answers.
Judah's Initial Successes and Moral Lapses (Judges 1:3-10)
Judah, accompanied by Simeon, experiences early victories, capturing Bezek and defeating its leader, Adoni-bezek. However, the narrative takes a disturbing turn when the Israelites mutilate Adoni-bezek, cutting off his thumbs and big toes (Judges 1:6-7). This act, reminiscent of Canaanite practices, reveals a dangerous tendency to adopt the very behaviors God commanded them to eradicate. While they experienced military success, they were already beginning to compromise their moral integrity. Fire, often used in Scripture as a means of judgment to remove all evil, was used when the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem, captured it, put it to the sword, and set the city on fire (Judges 1:8).
Caleb's Faith and Inheritance (Judges 1:11-15)
The account shifts to Caleb, one of the faithful spies from Moses' time, who had survived and was permitted to enter the promised land (Numbers 13-14). Caleb's story, also recounted in Joshua 15:13-19, highlights his unwavering faith and commitment to God's promises. He offers his daughter Achsah in marriage to the one who conquers Kiriath-sepher (also known as Debir), a city holding the Canaanites' records of their history and culture. This act reveals Caleb's high standards for his daughter's future husband and emphasizes the importance of fathers seeking godly men for their daughters – leaders and providers committed to loving their wives and future children. Othniel, Caleb's nephew, rises to the challenge, captures the city, and becomes both his son-in-law and, eventually, Israel's first judge (Judges 3:9).
The Significance of Debir
Destroying Debir would be to destroy the Canaanites' history and their culture. The Canaanites would defend this city vigorously.
Partial Obedience and Its Consequences (Judges 1:19-36)
Despite initial successes, Judah's victory is incomplete. They are unable to drive out the inhabitants of the plains because of their iron chariots (Judges 1:19). While God was with Judah, they allowed what seemed to them an insurmountable problem in the valley to limit their faith in God. This sets a concerning pattern of partial obedience that plagues the other tribes as well.
The subsequent verses detail the failures of Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan to fully dispossess the Canaanites. In some cases, they even resorted to forced labor instead of complete removal (Judges 1:27-36). This compromise, driven by pragmatism and a lack of faith, directly contradicted God's command to completely remove the Canaanites and destroy their idols (Deuteronomy 7:1-6).
The Israelites' faith on the hill outmatched their faith in the valley (Judges 1:19). God was with them in both places, but they allowed what seemed to them an insurmountable problem in the valley to limit their faith in God.
When you’re following the will of God, don’t despair when circumstances are daunting. The God on the hill is the same God in the valley.
The Seeds of Future Troubles
Judges 1 serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of partial obedience and the consequences of compromising with evil. The Israelites' failure to fully obey God's command to remove the Canaanites planted the seeds of future idolatry, moral decay, and divine judgment, as detailed in the subsequent chapters of Judges.
This chapter teaches us that obedience is not a matter of convenience or personal preference, but a matter of trusting God's wisdom and acting on His commands, even when they seem difficult or counterintuitive. Just as a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough (1 Corinthians 5:6), the presence of even a small amount of sin or disobedience can corrupt the entire community. We must strive for complete obedience, trusting that God's way is always best, even when we cannot fully understand it. We can be assured of the outcome, but we still have to fight. God promises us spiritual victory—provided we fight in the power of the Spirit with the Word of God as our sword.
Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?
And the Lord said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.
And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
And Judah went up; and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
And they found Adoni–bezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
But Adoni–bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
And Adoni–bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten 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 mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjath–arba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.
And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath–sepher:
And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath–sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.
Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth–el: and the Lord was with them.
And the house of Joseph sent to descry Beth–el. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy.
And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.
And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.
Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Beth–shean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:
But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.
Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth–shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth–anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth–shemesh and of Beth–anath became tributaries unto them.
And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.
And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
Judges 1 marks the beginning of a new chapter in Israel's history, stepping out of the shadow of Joshua's leadership (Joshua 24:29–30) and into the era of the judges. This chapter details the initial efforts of each tribe to claim their inheritance in the Promised Land, specifically focusing on their success or failure in driving out the Canaanites, a task divinely ordained (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). The narrative reveals a mixed bag of victories and compromises, setting the stage for the cycles of disobedience and deliverance that define the book of Judges. This chapter provides a foundational understanding of the challenges Israel faced and the consequences of their incomplete obedience.
Seeking God's Guidance (Judges 1:1-2)
The chapter opens with a crucial question: "Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?" (Judges 1:1). This simple inquiry demonstrates Israel's initial dependence on God's guidance after Joshua's death. They wisely sought the Lord's direction, understanding that their success depended on His favor. God's response, designating Judah to lead the charge and promising victory, underscores the importance of seeking divine counsel, especially during times of transition and uncertainty. Just as the Israelites approached God with specific prayers, so too should we, trusting that He will provide specific answers.
Judah's Initial Successes and Moral Lapses (Judges 1:3-10)
Judah, accompanied by Simeon, experiences early victories, capturing Bezek and defeating its leader, Adoni-bezek. However, the narrative takes a disturbing turn when the Israelites mutilate Adoni-bezek, cutting off his thumbs and big toes (Judges 1:6-7). This act, reminiscent of Canaanite practices, reveals a dangerous tendency to adopt the very behaviors God commanded them to eradicate. While they experienced military success, they were already beginning to compromise their moral integrity. Fire, often used in Scripture as a means of judgment to remove all evil, was used when the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem, captured it, put it to the sword, and set the city on fire (Judges 1:8).
Caleb's Faith and Inheritance (Judges 1:11-15)
The account shifts to Caleb, one of the faithful spies from Moses' time, who had survived and was permitted to enter the promised land (Numbers 13-14). Caleb's story, also recounted in Joshua 15:13-19, highlights his unwavering faith and commitment to God's promises. He offers his daughter Achsah in marriage to the one who conquers Kiriath-sepher (also known as Debir), a city holding the Canaanites' records of their history and culture. This act reveals Caleb's high standards for his daughter's future husband and emphasizes the importance of fathers seeking godly men for their daughters – leaders and providers committed to loving their wives and future children. Othniel, Caleb's nephew, rises to the challenge, captures the city, and becomes both his son-in-law and, eventually, Israel's first judge (Judges 3:9).
The Significance of Debir
Destroying Debir would be to destroy the Canaanites' history and their culture. The Canaanites would defend this city vigorously.
Partial Obedience and Its Consequences (Judges 1:19-36)
Despite initial successes, Judah's victory is incomplete. They are unable to drive out the inhabitants of the plains because of their iron chariots (Judges 1:19). While God was with Judah, they allowed what seemed to them an insurmountable problem in the valley to limit their faith in God. This sets a concerning pattern of partial obedience that plagues the other tribes as well.
The subsequent verses detail the failures of Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan to fully dispossess the Canaanites. In some cases, they even resorted to forced labor instead of complete removal (Judges 1:27-36). This compromise, driven by pragmatism and a lack of faith, directly contradicted God's command to completely remove the Canaanites and destroy their idols (Deuteronomy 7:1-6).
The Israelites' faith on the hill outmatched their faith in the valley (Judges 1:19). God was with them in both places, but they allowed what seemed to them an insurmountable problem in the valley to limit their faith in God.
When you’re following the will of God, don’t despair when circumstances are daunting. The God on the hill is the same God in the valley.
The Seeds of Future Troubles
Judges 1 serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of partial obedience and the consequences of compromising with evil. The Israelites' failure to fully obey God's command to remove the Canaanites planted the seeds of future idolatry, moral decay, and divine judgment, as detailed in the subsequent chapters of Judges.
This chapter teaches us that obedience is not a matter of convenience or personal preference, but a matter of trusting God's wisdom and acting on His commands, even when they seem difficult or counterintuitive. Just as a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough (1 Corinthians 5:6), the presence of even a small amount of sin or disobedience can corrupt the entire community. We must strive for complete obedience, trusting that God's way is always best, even when we cannot fully understand it. We can be assured of the outcome, but we still have to fight. God promises us spiritual victory—provided we fight in the power of the Spirit with the Word of God as our sword.