---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Judges 1"
description: "CHAPTER 1   :-. THE ACTS
OF JUDAH AND
SIMEON. 1. Now after the death of
Joshua—probably not a long period, for the Canaanites seem to
have taken advantage"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/judges/1"
---

CHAPTER 1

. THE ACTS
OF JUDAH AND
SIMEON.

**1. Now after the death of
Joshua**—probably not a long period, for the Canaanites seem to
have taken advantage of that event to attempt recovering their lost
position, and the Israelites were obliged to renew the war.
**the children of Israel asked
the Lord**—The divine counsel on this, as on other occasions, was
sought by Urim and Thummim, by applying to the high priest, who,
according to JOSEPHUS, was
Phinehas.
**saying, Who shall go up for
us against the Canaanites first**—The elders, who exercised the
government in their respective tribes, judged rightly, that in
entering upon an important expedition, they should have a leader
nominated by divine appointment; and in consulting the oracle, they
adopted a prudent course, whether the object of their inquiry related
to the choice of an individual commander, or to the honor of
precedency among the tribes.

**2. the Lord said, Judah shall go
up**—The predicted pre-eminence () was thus conferred upon Judah by divine direction, and its
appointment to take the lead in the ensuing hostilities was of great
importance, as the measure of success by which its arms were crowned,
would animate the other tribes to make similar attempts against the
Canaanites within their respective territories.
**I have delivered the land
into his hand**—not the whole country, but the district assigned
for his inheritance.

**3. Judah said unto Simeon his
brother, Come up with me . . ., that we may fight against the
Canaanites**—Being conterminous tribes ([Joshua 19:1](../../../kjv/joshua/19/1);
[Joshua 19:2](../../../kjv/joshua/19/2)), they had a common
interest, and were naturally associated in this enterprise.
[Joshua 19:2](../../../kjv/joshua/19/2). ADONI-BEZEK
JUSTLY REQUITED.

**5, 6. Bezek**—This place lay
within the domain of Judah, about twelve miles south of Jerusalem.
**found Adoni-bezek**—that
is, "lord of Bezek"—he was "found," that is,
surprised and routed in a pitched battle, whence he fled; but being
taken prisoner, he was treated with a severity unusual among the
Israelites, for they "cut off his thumbs and great toes."
Barbarities of various kinds were commonly practised on prisoners of
war in ancient times, and the object of this particular mutilation of
the hands and feet was to disable them for military service ever
after. The infliction of such a horrid cruelty on this Canaanite
chief would have been a foul stain on the character of the Israelites
if there were not reason for believing it was done by them as an act
of retributive justice, and as such it was regarded by Adoni-bezek
himself, whose conscience read his atrocious crimes in their
punishment.

**7. Threescore and ten kings**—So
great a number will not appear strange, when it is considered that
anciently every ruler of a city or large town was called a king. It
is not improbable that in that southern region of Canaan, there
might, in earlier times, have been even more till a turbulent chief
like Adoni-bezek devoured them in his insatiable ambition.

**8. Now the children of Judah had
fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it**—The capture of this
important city, which ranks among the early incidents in the war of
invasion ([Joshua 15:63](../../../kjv/joshua/15/63)), is here
noticed to account for its being in the possession of the Judahites;
and they brought Adoni-bezek thither [[Joshua 15:63](../../../kjv/joshua/15/63)], in order, probably, that his fate being rendered so public,
might inspire terror far and wide. Similar inroads were made into the
other unconquered parts of Judah's inheritance [[Joshua 15:63](../../../kjv/joshua/15/63)]. The story of Caleb's acquisition of Hebron is here
repeated ([Joshua 15:16-19](../../../kjv/joshua/15/16-19)).
[See on [Joshua 15:16-6](../../../kjv/joshua/15/16-6).]

**16. the children of the Kenite,
Moses' father-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the
children of Judah**—called "the Kenite," as probably
descended from the people of that name ([Numbers 24:21](../../../kjv/numbers/24/21);
[Numbers 24:22](../../../kjv/numbers/24/22)). If he might not
himself, his posterity did accept the invitation of Moses ([Numbers 24:22](../../../kjv/numbers/24/22)) to accompany the Israelites to Canaan. Their first
encampment was in the "city of palm trees"—not Jericho,
of course, which was utterly destroyed, but the surrounding district,
perhaps En-gedi, in early times called Hazezon-tamar ([Numbers 24:22](../../../kjv/numbers/24/22)), from the palm-grove which sheltered it. Thence they
removed for some unknown cause, and associating themselves with
Judah, joined in an expedition against Arad, in the southern part of
Canaan ([Numbers 21:1](../../../kjv/numbers/21/1)). On the
conquest of that district, some of this pastoral people pitched their
tents there, while others migrated to the north ([Numbers 21:1](../../../kjv/numbers/21/1)).

**17-29. And Judah went with Simeon
his brother**—The course of the narrative is here resumed from
[Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9), and an account given of
Judah returning the services of Simeon ([Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9)), by aiding in the prosecution of the war within the
neighboring tribes.
**slew the Canaanites that
inhabited Zephath**—or Zephathah ([Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9)), a valley lying in the southern portion of Canaan.
**Hormah**—destroyed in
fulfilment of an early vow of the Israelites (see on [Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9)). The confederate tribes, pursuing their incursions in that
quarter, came successively to Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron, which they
took. But the Philistines seem soon to have regained possession of
these cities.

**19. the Lord was with Judah; . . .
but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley**—The
war was of the Lord, whose omnipotent aid would have ensured their
success in every encounter, whether on the mountains or the plains,
with foot soldiers or cavalry. It was distrust, the want of a simple
and firm reliance on the promise of God, that made them afraid of the
iron chariots (see on ).

**17-29. And Judah went with Simeon
his brother**—The course of the narrative is here resumed from
[Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9), and an account given of
Judah returning the services of Simeon ([Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9)), by aiding in the prosecution of the war within the
neighboring tribes.
**slew the Canaanites that
inhabited Zephath**—or Zephathah ([Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9)), a valley lying in the southern portion of Canaan.
**Hormah**—destroyed in
fulfilment of an early vow of the Israelites (see on [Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9)). The confederate tribes, pursuing their incursions in that
quarter, came successively to Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron, which they
took. But the Philistines seem soon to have regained possession of
these cities.

**21. the children of Benjamin did not
drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem**—Judah had
expelled the people from their part of Jerusalem (). The border of the two tribes ran through the
city—Israelites and natives must have been closely intermingled.
. SOME
CANAANITES LEFT.

**22, 23. the house of Joseph**—the
tribe of Ephraim, as distinguished from Manasseh ().

**24. the spies . . . said, . . . Show
us, . . . the entrance into the city**—that is, the avenues to
the city, and the weakest part of the walls.
**we will show thee mercy**—The
Israelites might employ these means of getting possession of a place
which was divinely appropriated to them: they might promise life and
rewards to this man, though he and all the Canaanites were doomed to
destruction ([Joshua 2:12-14](../../../kjv/joshua/2/12-14));
but we may assume the promise was suspended on his embracing the true
religion, or quitting the country, as he did. If they had seen him to
be firmly opposed to either of these alternatives, they would not
have constrained him by promises any more than by threats to betray
his countrymen. But if they found him disposed to be serviceable, and
to aid the invaders in executing the will of God, they might promise
to spare him.

**17-29. And Judah went with Simeon
his brother**—The course of the narrative is here resumed from
[Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9), and an account given of
Judah returning the services of Simeon ([Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9)), by aiding in the prosecution of the war within the
neighboring tribes.
**slew the Canaanites that
inhabited Zephath**—or Zephathah ([Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9)), a valley lying in the southern portion of Canaan.
**Hormah**—destroyed in
fulfilment of an early vow of the Israelites (see on [Judges 1:9](../../../kjv/judges/1/9)). The confederate tribes, pursuing their incursions in that
quarter, came successively to Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron, which they
took. But the Philistines seem soon to have regained possession of
these cities.

**26. Luz**—(See on ; ).

**27-36.** The same course of
subjugation was carried on in the other tribes to a partial extent,
and with varying success. Many of the natives, no doubt, during the
progress of this exterminating war, saved themselves by flight and
became, it is thought, the first colonists in Greece, Italy, and
other countries. But a large portion made a stout resistance and
retained possession of their old abodes in Canaan. In other cases,
when the natives were vanquished, avarice led the Israelites to spare
the idolaters, contrary to the express command of God; and their
disobedience to His orders in this matter involved them in many
troubles which this book describes.

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