Judges 1 — Tyndale Study Notes
Judg.1.1
Two prologues (1:1–2:5 and 2:6–3:6) preface the body of the book. Both begin with the death of Joshua (1:1; cp. 2:8), thus connecting Judges with the preceding narrative (Josh 24:29-33; cp. Josh 1:1; 2 Sam 1:1).
Judg.1.1-2.5
The first prologue describes the unfaithfulness of the tribes in their failure to carry out Joshua’s farewell charge (Josh 23).
Judg.1.1
The request for divine guidance (see Exod 28:30; Num 27:21; 1 Sam 14:41; 28:6; cp. Josh 7:14) is a reminder that the Lord’s covenant with Israel included the taking of the land.
Judg.1.2
This verse, which is paralleled in the epilogues (20:18), shows the primacy of Judah. This tribe did not figure in the downward cycles of the judges (cp. 15:9-13) after Othniel, the model judge who was linked to Judah through Caleb (Josh 14:6; 15:13, 17).
Judg.1.3
The tribe of Simeon virtually disappeared within the land assigned to Judah (Josh 19:1).
fight against the Canaanites . . . help you conquer: See Josh 16:10; 17:13; 23:4-13.
Judg.1.10
Hebron was the city nearest to Abraham’s dwelling by the oaks of Mamre (Gen 13:18); the patriarchs later lived and were buried there (Gen 23:19; 35:27; 49:29-32). It was originally called Kiriath-arba (“City of Arba”), after the legendary Arba, who was “a great hero of the descendants of Anak” and “Anak’s ancestor” (Josh 14:15; 15:13). The Anakites, in turn, are identified with the dreaded Nephilites (Num 13:33; see Gen 6:4).
Judg.1.11
Debir or Kiriath-sepher (“City of the Book”): This major Anakite town of the hill country (Josh 11:21) is not firmly identified but is traditionally understood as being either southwest or east of Hebron.
Judg.1.14
she urged him: See study note on Josh 15:18-19.
Judg.1.16
The Kenites were a southern desert tribe associated with Moses’ in-laws, who were also called Midianites (Exod 18:1; Num 10:29). Moses offered them a share in the covenant blessing (Num 10:29-32). At least one clan of Kenites accepted the offer and was adopted into Judah, though members of the clan later shifted allegiance to King Jabin of Hazor (Judg 4:11, 17).
Judg.1.17
completely destroyed: See Lev 27:28-29.
Hormah: See study note on Num 21:2-3.
Judg.1.18
Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron, with Gath and Ashdod, later made up the five main cities of the Philistines (3:3).
Judg.1.19-20
Despite the Lord’s presence, the conquest was not completed because of iron chariots and lack of obedience (see Josh 23:12-13; 24:14).
Judg.1.21-36
The tribes of Israel failed to keep the covenant; their complacency was rebellion against the Lord, as the rest of the book of Judges shows.
Judg.1.21
Though the tribe of Benjamin produced more than its share of heroes (e.g., Ehud, Saul), it was also the nadir of covenant unfaithfulness, in contrast to Judah (see 20:18). Like Judah in its first battle (1:4-8), Benjamin faced challenges from a great people dwelling in a great city, but Benjamin settled for sharing the city with them. Reference to the Lord’s personal presence is absent (cp. 1:19, 22). The Jebusite city remained in Canaanite hands until David’s day.
The phrase to this day highlights either ongoing historical circumstances (here and 6:24) or the survival of certain customs to a later time (1:26; 10:4; 15:19; 18:12).
Judg.1.22-36
Two references to the descendants of Joseph (1:22, 35) frame this litany of the northern tribes’ failures to drive out the enemy.
Judg.1.22
The Lord was with the descendants of Joseph (the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh), but only in their united attack on Bethel, a place sacred to Israelite memories from the days of Jacob (Gen 28:19). They failed in attacks made separately (Judg 1:27-29).
Bethel is associated with the battle against Ai (Josh 7:2) and is listed in the summary statement of kings that Israel had defeated (Josh 12:16).
Judg.1.24
To have mercy (Hebrew khesed) has the overtones of making a covenant (see also 8:35, “loyalty”).
Judg.1.26
The land of the Hittites was probably a general name for North Syria, not the Hittite Kingdom of Anatolia (now Turkey). Nothing is known of the new Luz.
Judg.1.27
This chain of Canaanite cities stretched from Dor on the Mediterranean to Beth-shan in the Jordan Valley and effectively cut off the northern tribes from those south of the Jezreel Valley. Likewise, a number of the cities listed in the south (1:35) probably cut Judah off from the northern tribes.
Judg.1.34
Dan’s failure to take the land represents total infidelity and led to the complete abandonment of a portion of the Promised Land (chs 17–18).