Bible Commentary


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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?

2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

3 And Judah said to Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your lot. So Simeon went with him.

4 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.

5 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

6 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.

7 And Adonibezek said, Three score and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God has requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

8 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.

9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelled in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.

10 And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelled in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

11 And from there he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:

12 And Caleb said, He that smites Kirjathsepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

14 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 to her, What will you?

15 And she said to him, Give me a blessing: for you have given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.

16 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 lies in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelled among the people.

17 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.

18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.

19 And the LORD was with Judah; and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

20 And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled there the three sons of Anak.

21 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 to this day.

22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.

23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)

24 And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said to him, Show us, we pray you, the entrance into the city, and we will show you mercy.

25 And when he showed 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.

26 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 to this day.

27 Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean 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.

28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.

29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelled in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelled in Gezer among them.

30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelled among them, and became tributaries.

31 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:

32 But the Asherites dwelled among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.

33 Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelled among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries to them.

34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:

35 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.

36 And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.


Now: Jos 24:29, Jos 24:30

asked: Jdg 20:18, Jdg 20:28, Exo 28:30, Num 27:21, 1Sa 22:9, 1Sa 22:10, 1Sa 23:9, 1Sa 23:10

Reciprocal: Gen 49:8 - thy hand Num 2:3 - the standard Deu 33:7 - and bring Jos 5:1 - Canaanites Jos 9:14 - asked not Jdg 10:18 - What man 1Sa 9:9 - inquire 1Sa 10:22 - inquired 1Sa 14:37 - Shall I go 1Sa 23:2 - inquired 2Sa 2:1 - inquired 1Ki 8:44 - whithersoever 1Ki 22:5 - Inquire 2Ch 6:34 - by the way Pro 20:18 - and

Gen 49:8-10, Num 2:3, Num 7:12, Psa 78:68-70, Heb 7:14, Rev 5:5, Rev 19:11-16

Reciprocal: Gen 46:12 - Judah Jdg 1:19 - the Lord Jdg 20:18 - Judah Jdg 20:28 - Go up 1Ki 8:44 - whithersoever 1Ch 5:2 - Judah 2Ch 6:34 - by the way Pro 20:18 - and

Simeon: Gen 29:33, Jos 19:1

I likewise: Jdg 1:17, 2Sa 10:11

Reciprocal: Rev 7:7 - Simeon

Lord: Exo 23:28, Exo 23:29, Deu 7:2, Deu 9:3, Jos 10:8-10, Jos 11:6-8, 1Sa 14:6, 1Sa 14:10, 1Sa 17:46, 1Sa 17:47, 1Ki 22:6, 1Ki 22:15

Bezek: Eusebius and Jerome mention two villages of this name, near each other, about seventeen miles from Shechem, towards Scythopolis. 1Sa 11:8

Reciprocal: Exo 23:31 - deliver the Deu 2:33 - the Lord Jdg 11:32 - the Lord 1Sa 26:8 - God 2Ch 13:16 - God delivered

Reciprocal: 1Sa 11:8 - Bezek

Reciprocal: Exo 14:26 - the waters Exo 21:24 - General Jos 15:16 - General Est 8:12 - one day Psa 59:11 - Slay Psa 107:40 - contempt Psa 149:8 - General Jer 34:17 - behold Jer 50:15 - as she

their thumbs: Heb. the thumbs of their hands and of their feet, This was not an unusual act of cruelty in ancient times towards enemies. - Alian informs us, that in after ages "the Athenians, at the instigation of Cleon, son of Cleoenetus, made a decree that all the inhabitants of the island of Agina should have the thumb cut off from the right hand, so that they might ever after be disabled from holding a spear, yet might handle an oar." It was a custom among those Romans who did not like a military life, to cut off their thumbs, that they might be incapable of serving in the army; and for the same reason, parents sometimes cut off the thumbs of their children.

gathered: or, gleaned

as I have: Exo 21:23-25, Lev 24:19-21, 1Sa 15:33, Isa 33:1, Mat 7:1, Mat 7:2, Luk 6:37, Luk 6:38, Rom 2:15, Jas 2:13, Rev 13:10, Rev 16:6

Reciprocal: Gen 19:36 - General Gen 29:25 - wherefore Gen 42:21 - we saw Gen 44:16 - God hath Exo 14:26 - the waters Exo 21:24 - General 1Sa 11:11 - slew 2Sa 1:10 - slew 2Sa 10:19 - servants 1Ki 16:11 - he slew 1Ki 20:1 - Thirty and two 1Ki 21:19 - In the place 2Ki 11:16 - there was she slain 2Ch 12:6 - the Lord 2Ch 23:15 - they slew her there Est 8:12 - one day Psa 9:16 - known Psa 10:14 - to requite Psa 59:11 - Slay Psa 107:40 - contempt Psa 149:8 - General Pro 12:10 - but Jer 34:17 - behold Jer 50:15 - as she Jer 51:49 - As Babylon Lam 1:18 - Lord Eze 31:11 - he shall surely deal with him Dan 11:18 - he shall cause Joe 3:7 - and will Oba 1:15 - as Luk 7:29 - justified

Jdg 1:21, Jos 15:63

Reciprocal: Jos 15:8 - the Jebusite Jos 18:16 - Jebusi Jdg 19:10 - Jebus 2Sa 5:6 - Jerusalem

afterward: Jos 10:36, Jos 11:21, Jos 15:13-20

valley: or, low country

Reciprocal: Num 13:17 - the mountain

Kirjatharba: Jos 14:15

Sheshai: Jdg 1:20, Num 13:22, Num 13:33, Jos 15:13, Jos 15:14, Psa 33:16, Psa 33:17, Ecc 9:11, Jer 9:23

Reciprocal: Gen 23:2 - Kirjatharba Deu 1:28 - we have seen Jos 10:36 - Hebron Jos 11:21 - the Anakims Jos 21:11 - the city of Arba

Debir: Jos 10:38, Jos 10:39, Jos 15:15

Reciprocal: Jos 11:21 - the Anakims Jos 15:49 - Kirjathsannah

And Caleb: The whole of this account is found in Jos 15:13-19, and seems to be inserted here by way of recapitulation. Jos 15:16, Jos 15:17, 1Sa 17:25, 1Sa 18:23

to him: In ancient times fathers assumed an absolute right over their children, especially in disposing of them in marriage; and it was customary for a king or great man to promise his daughter in marriage to him who should take a city, etc.

Reciprocal: Deu 1:36 - Caleb 1Ch 4:15 - Caleb Est 6:3 - What honour Psa 60:9 - Who Jer 29:6 - take wives

Jdg 3:9

Reciprocal: Jos 15:16 - General Jos 15:17 - Othniel 1Ch 4:13 - Kenaz Est 6:3 - What honour

And it came: Jos 15:18, Jos 15:19

and she lighted: Watitznach, "she hastily or suddenly alighted," as if she had forgotten something, or was about to return.

Reciprocal: Gen 24:64 - lighted 1Sa 25:23 - lighted

a blessing: Gen 33:11, 1Sa 25:18, 1Sa 25:27, 2Co 9:5, *marg. Heb 6:7, 1Pe 3:9

a south land: Which was probably dry, or very ill watered.

give me also springs of water: Let me have some fields with brooks, or wells already digged.

Reciprocal: Gen 21:25 - reproved Num 13:17 - southward Jos 15:19 - Give me

the Kenite: Jdg 4:11, Jdg 4:17, Num 10:29-32, Num 24:21, Num 24:22, 1Sa 15:6, 1Ch 2:15, Jer 35:2

Moses’: Exo 3:1, Exo 4:18, Exo 18:1, Exo 18:7, Exo 18:12, Exo 18:14-17, Exo 18:27, Num 10:29

city of palm: Jdg 3:13, Deu 34:3, 2Ch 28:16

which: Num 21:1, Jos 12:14

they went: Num 10:29-32, 1Sa 15:6

Reciprocal: Num 10:32 - General 1Sa 27:10 - Kenites 1Sa 30:29 - Kenites 1Ch 2:55 - Kenites 2Ch 28:15 - the city

And Judah: Jdg 1:3

Zephath: 2Ch 14:10, Zephathah

Hormah: Num 14:45, Num 21:3, Jos 19:4

Reciprocal: Jos 15:30 - Hormah 1Sa 30:30 - Hormah

Jos 11:22, Jos 13:3, Jos 15:45-47, 1Sa 6:17

Also Judah: There is the following remarkable variation here in the Septuagint:

Και ουκ εκληρονομησεν Ιουδας την Γαζαν, ουδε τα ορια αυτης; ουδε την Ασκαλωνα, ουδε τα ορια αυτης; και την Ακκαρων, ουδε τα ορια αυτης; την Αζωτον, ουδε τα περισπορια αυτης. But Judah did not possess Gaza, nor the coasts thereof; nor Askelon, nor the coasts thereof; nor Ekron, nor the coasts thereof; nor Ashdod, nor the coasts thereof." Procopius and Augustine read the same; and Josephus - Ant. 1. v. c. 2 sec. 4says that the Israelites only took Askelon and Ashdod, but not Gaza or Ekron; and from Jdg 3:3, and the whole succeeding history, it appears that these cities were not in the possession of the Israelites, but of the Philistines.

Gaza: Jdg 3:3, Jdg 16:1, Jdg 16:2, Jdg 16:21, Exo 23:31

Reciprocal: 1Sa 5:10 - God to Ekron Oba 1:19 - the plain

the Lord: Jdg 1:2, Jdg 6:12, Jdg 6:13, Gen 39:2, Gen 39:21, Jos 1:5, Jos 1:9, Jos 14:12, 2Sa 5:10, 2Ki 18:7, Psa 46:7, Psa 46:11, Psa 60:12, Ecc 9:11, Isa 7:14, Isa 8:10, Isa 41:10, Isa 41:14, Isa 41:15, Mat 1:23, Rom 8:31

he drave: etc. or he possessed the mountain

but could: Not because the iron chariots were too strong for Omnipotence, or because he refused to help them; but because their courage and faith failed when they saw them. Jdg 1:27-32, Jos 7:12, Mat 14:30, Mat 14:31, Mat 17:19, Mat 17:20, Php 4:13

chariots: Exo 14:7-31, Jos 11:1-9, Jos 17:16-18, Psa 46:9

Reciprocal: Num 13:17 - the mountain Jdg 1:22 - the Lord Jdg 2:14 - could not Jdg 4:3 - chariots Psa 106:34 - did not Oba 1:19 - the plain

they gave: Num 14:24, Deu 1:36, Jos 14:9-14, Jos 15:13, Jos 15:14, Jos 21:11, Jos 21:12

the three sons: Jdg 1:10, Num 13:22

Reciprocal: Num 13:28 - saw the Deu 1:28 - we have seen Jos 11:21 - the Anakims Jos 14:12 - I shall Jos 14:13 - gave unto 1Ch 6:55 - Hebron

Jdg 19:10-12, Jos 15:63, Jos 18:11-28, 2Sa 5:6-9

Reciprocal: Gen 10:16 - Jebusite Num 33:55 - shall be pricks Deu 33:12 - The beloved Jos 15:8 - the Jebusite Jos 18:16 - Jebusi Jdg 1:8 - General Jdg 19:11 - the Jebusites 2Sa 24:16 - the Jebusite 1Ki 9:21 - left 1Ch 1:14 - Jebusite 1Ch 8:28 - dwelt 1Ch 11:4 - Jebus 2Ch 8:8 - whom the children Psa 106:34 - did not Jer 6:1 - O ye

the house: Num 1:10, Num 1:32, Jos 14:4, Jos 16:1-4, 1Ch 7:29, Rev 7:8

the Lord: Jdg 1:19, Gen 49:24, 2Ki 18:7

Reciprocal: Gen 28:19 - the name Gen 35:6 - Luz Num 14:9 - the Lord Jos 12:16 - Bethel Jos 16:2 - Bethel Jos 18:13 - side of Luz 1Sa 30:27 - Bethel 1Ki 11:28 - the house 1Ch 7:28 - Bethel Amo 5:6 - the house

sent: Jdg 18:2, Jos 2:1, Jos 7:2

Luz: Gen 28:19, Gen 35:6, Gen 48:3

Reciprocal: 1Sa 30:27 - Bethel 1Ki 11:28 - the house 1Ch 19:3 - to search Amo 5:6 - the house

we will: Jos 2:12-14, 1Sa 30:15

Reciprocal: Gen 42:9 - Ye are spies Deu 7:2 - make no Jos 2:14 - when the Lord Jos 6:25 - Rahab Jdg 8:14 - caught 1Sa 30:16 - when he 1Ch 19:3 - to search Psa 60:9 - Who Psa 116:8 - and my feet

they smote: Jos 6:22-25

Reciprocal: Jos 2:14 - when the Lord Jos 6:25 - Rahab Jdg 8:14 - caught 1Sa 30:16 - when he Psa 60:9 - Who

the land: 2Ki 7:6, 2Ch 1:17

Reciprocal: Jos 4:9 - and they are there 1Ch 4:43 - unto this day Mat 27:8 - unto

Manasseh: Jos 17:11-13

Taanach: Jdg 5:19, Jos 21:25

the Canaanites: Exo 23:32, Deu 7:2, 1Sa 15:9, Psa 106:34, Psa 106:35, Jer 48:10

Reciprocal: Jos 11:2 - Dor Jos 17:12 - General Jdg 1:19 - but could 1Sa 31:10 - Bethshan 1Ki 4:11 - Dor 1Ki 9:21 - left 2Ki 9:27 - Ibleam 2Ki 23:29 - Megiddo 1Ch 4:10 - enlarge 1Ch 6:70 - Bileam 1Ch 7:29 - Megiddo

Reciprocal: Gen 9:25 - a servant Deu 20:11 - tributaries Jos 17:12 - General Jos 17:13 - waxen strong 1Sa 14:24 - I may be 1Ki 9:21 - levy

Jos 16:10, 1Ki 9:16

Reciprocal: Jos 10:33 - Gezer Jdg 3:5 - dwelt 1Sa 27:8 - the Amalekites 1Ki 9:15 - Gezer

Kitron: The Talmudists say Kitron is "tzippor," that is, Sepphoris, or Diocesarea, a celebrated city of Galilee, now the village Safoury, situated in the plain of Esdraelon, twenty miles - north-westfrom Tiberias, according to Benjamin of Tudela.

Nahalol: Jos 19:15

Reciprocal: Deu 20:11 - tributaries Jos 17:13 - put the Jdg 1:33 - became

Asher: Jos 19:24-30

Accho: Accho, the Ptolemais of the Greeks and Romans, and called Saint John of Acre by the Crusaders, is situated on the Mediterranean, in a fine plain, at the north angle of a bay to which it gives name, and which extends in a semicircle of three leagues as far as Carmel, and nine leagues from Tyre.

Zidon: Another celebrated city of Phoenicia, now Saide, situated in a fine country on the Mediterranean, 400 stadia from Berytus, and 200 - northfrom Tyre, according to Strabo, one day’s journey from Paneas, according to Josephus, and sixty-six miles from Damascus, according to Abulfeda.

Achzib: Or, Ecdippa, now Zib, nine miles north, from Accho.

Reciprocal: Num 13:21 - Rehob Jos 19:28 - great Jos 19:29 - Achzib Jos 21:31 - Rehob 2Sa 10:8 - Rehob 1Ki 20:26 - Aphek Mat 15:21 - Tyre

Psa 106:34, Psa 106:35

Reciprocal: Jdg 1:33 - he dwelt

Naphtali: Jos 19:32-38

he dwelt: Jdg 1:32

became: Jdg 1:30, Jdg 1:35, Psa 18:24

Reciprocal: Jos 17:13 - put the

Jdg 18:1, Jos 19:47

Reciprocal: Jos 13:4 - the Amorites Jdg 2:14 - could not

Aijalon: Jdg 12:12, Jos 10:12

Shaalbim: Jos 19:42, 1Ki 4:9

prevailed: Heb. was heavy

Reciprocal: Jos 17:13 - put the Jos 19:47 - the coast Jdg 1:33 - became 1Ki 9:21 - levy

from the going: or, Maaleh-akrabbim, Num 34:4, Jos 15:2

Reciprocal: Jos 15:3 - Maalehacrabbim