Judges 1

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 1 of 21

1 And it happened after the death of Joshua, the sons of Israel inquired of Jehovah, saying, Who shall first go up for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?

2 And Jehovah said, Judah shall go up. Behold, I have given the land into his hand.

3 And Judah said to his brother Simeon, Go up with me into my lot, and we shall fight against the Canaanites. And I also will go with you into your lot. And Simeon went with him.

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Chapter Summary

The acts of Judah and Simeon. 8 Jerusalem taken. 10 Hebron taken. 13 Othniel marries Achsah. 17 Hormah, Gaza, Askelon and Ekron taken. 21 The acts of Benjamin. 22 Of the house of Joseph, who takes Bethel. 30 Of Zebulun. 31 Of Asher. 33 Of Naphtali. 34 Of Dan.

Key Hebrew Words

יָרַשׁ dispossess, drive out H3423 · TWOT 920
עָלָה go up (to war) H5927 · TWOT 1624
לָחַם to fight H3898 · TWOT 1104
לָכַד capture, seize H3920 · TWOT 1115
מַס forced labor, tribute H4522 · TWOT 1218
חֶ֫סֶד kindness H2617 · TWOT 698a

People & Context

Judah

The tribe Jehovah appoints to go up first; leads the conquest, taking Bezek, Jerusalem, Hebron, and the Negeb

Caleb

Leader of Judah given Hebron; offers his daughter Achsah to whoever captures the City of Sepher (Debir)

Othniel

Son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger kinsman, who captures Debir and wins Achsah as his wife

Achsah

Caleb's daughter, married to Othniel, who asks her father for the upper and lower springs of water

Adoni-bezek

Canaanite king of Bezek; mutilated and brought to Jerusalem, he confesses God repaid his cruelty to seventy kings

Simeon

Judah's brother-tribe who joins the campaign, sharing in the fight against the Canaanites at Zephath/Hormah

Timeline

Israel Inquires of Jehovah

After Joshua's death, the sons of Israel inquire of Jehovah to ask who shall go up first to fight the Canaanites.

Judges 1:1
Judah is Chosen

Jehovah declares that Judah shall go up first and gives the land into his hand.

Judges 1:2
Judah Enlists Simeon

Judah asks his brother Simeon to join him in his lot to fight the Canaanites, promising to return the favor.

Judges 1:3

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