What is happening in this passage after the death of Joshua?

This passage shows what life was like for Israel after Joshua died. There was still land to be taken and enemies living among them. Without Joshua, the people did not know who should lead the fighting, so they asked God. God chose Judah to go first, and other tribes followed in their own areas. At first there are strong wins, like the defeat of Adoni-bezek and the taking of Jerusalem and other cities, but by the end many tribes stop short and leave Canaanites in the land.

Why did God choose Judah to go up first against the Canaanites?

God’s answer, “Judah shall go up,” shows that He Himself chooses leaders and gives success. Judah was a large and strong tribe, so it made sense that they would carry heavy responsibility. God also said, “I have delivered the land into his hand,” which means the outcome depended on His promise, not just Judah’s strength. This reminds us that when God gives a task, He also gives help. Those who have more strength or gifts are often called to serve more for the good of others.

Who was Adoni-bezek, and why were his thumbs and toes cut off?

Adoni-bezek was a Canaanite ruler who had been very cruel. He said he had treated seventy kings by cutting off their thumbs and big toes and making them gather food under his table. When he was captured, the same thing was done to him, and he recognized it as God’s payback, saying, “As I have done, so God hath requited me.” This shows a clear picture of God’s justice. The punishment fits his own actions and warns that pride and harsh treatment of others will not be ignored by God.

What is the significance of Caleb, Othniel, and Achsah in this chapter?

Caleb, Othniel, and Achsah show a bright spot of faith and courage in this chapter. Caleb promises his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever takes Kirjath-sepher. Othniel, a younger relative, trusts God, attacks, and takes the city. Caleb keeps his word, and Achsah boldly asks her father for springs of water in addition to the land she already has. Caleb gladly gives her both upper and lower springs. Together they picture courage, faith, and wise asking, and how God’s promises can be worked out in family life.

Why did Judah succeed in some battles but fail against the people with chariots of iron?

The passage says the Lord was with Judah and they drove out many in the mountains, but they “could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.” On the surface, it looks like stronger weapons stopped them. Yet earlier victories came only because God helped them, not because enemies were weak. The problem seems to be fear and a shrinking faith. When they looked at iron chariots instead of God’s promise, they held back. It warns us not to let visible obstacles quiet our trust in God.

Why did so many tribes not drive out the Canaanites completely?

As the chapter goes on, the tone shifts from early victories to repeated failure. Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan all leave Canaanites in the land. Some make them pay tribute instead of removing them. This looks wise and useful at first, but it disobeys God’s command to clear out the people and their ways. The passage shows how partial obedience leads to long-term trouble. The tribes choose comfort, gain, or fear over full trust, and the Canaanites stay and later become a snare to Israel.

What does this passage teach about God’s guidance and justice?

Two strong truths appear together. First, God guides His people. When Israel asks who should go up, God answers clearly, sends Judah, and gives real help in battle. He also keeps His earlier promise by giving Hebron to Caleb. Second, God’s justice is seen in how Adoni-bezek is treated. Even that cruel king admits that God has paid him back for what he did to others. So we see a God who leads those who seek Him, and who also sees evil and answers it in His way and time.

Why is this passage hard to read with all the war and judgment?

The chapter can feel heavy because it speaks of battles, cities burned, and a harsh act against Adoni-bezek. It also shows Israel failing to do all God said. This can be hard for modern readers, but the passage is honest about a broken world where evil has to be dealt with. It shows that God is patient but also holy, and that sin and cruelty have real consequences. At the same time, the chapter shows God’s care for His people, His guidance when they ask, and His faithfulness to earlier promises.

How can this passage apply to believers today?

This passage is not telling us to fight physical battles, but it does picture our spiritual struggles. Israel is called to trust God’s word, work together, and not settle for half obedience. When they seek God, He answers. When they fear or look for easy gain, they leave enemies in place. In our lives, it is easy to let certain sins or habits remain because they seem useful or safe. This chapter gently pushes us to keep trusting God, to lean on others for help, and to take obedience seriously.

Judg.1.1

Judges 1:1

KJV

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?

The Conquest of Canaan Proceeds

Jerusalem Is Captured

1 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.

The Capture of Jerusalem and Hebron

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.

Capture of Other Cities

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.

The Failure to Complete the Conquest

Places Not Conquered

¶ 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.

Cross References

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