Judah and Simeon Capture Adoni-bezek

11 A time came after the death of Joshua when the People of Israel asked God, "Who will take the lead in going up against the Canaanites to fight them?" 2 And God said, "Judah will go. I've given the land to him." 3 The men of Judah said to those of their brother Simeon, "Go up with us to our territory and we'll fight the Canaanites. Then we'll go with you to your territory." And Simeon went with them. 4 So Judah went up. God gave them the Canaanites and the Perizzites. They defeated them at Bezek - ten military units! 5 They caught up with My-Master-Bezek there and fought him. They smashed the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 6 My-Master-Bezek ran, but they gave chase and caught him. They cut off his thumbs and big toes. 7 My-Master-Bezek said, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to crawl under my table, scavenging. Now God has done to me what I did to them." They brought him to Jerusalem and he died there.

Judah Conquers Jerusalem and Hebron

8 The people of Judah attacked and captured Jerusalem, subduing the city by sword and then sending it up in flames.

9 After that they had gone down to fight the Canaanites who were living in the hill country, the Negev, and the foothills. 10 Judah had gone on to the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba) and brought Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai to their knees.

Othniel Conquers Debir and Receives Achsah

11 From there they had marched against the population of Debir (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher). 12 Caleb had said, "Whoever attacks Kiriath Sepher and takes it, I'll give my daughter Acsah to him as his wife." 13 Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it, so Caleb gave him his daughter Acsah as his wife. 14 When she arrived she got him to ask for farm land from her father. As she dismounted from her donkey Caleb asked her, "What would you like?" 15 She said, "Give me a marriage gift. You've given me desert land; Now give me pools of water!" And he gave her the upper and the lower pools.

The Extent of the Conquests of Judah and Benjamin

16 The people of Hobab the Kenite, Moses' relative, went up with the people of Judah from the City of Palms to the wilderness of Judah at the descent of Arad. They settled down there with the Amalekites. 17 The people of Judah went with their kin the Simeonites and struck the Canaanites who lived in Zephath. They carried out the holy curse and named the city Curse-town. 18 But Judah didn't manage to capture Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron with their territories. 19 God was certainly with Judah in that they took over the hill country. But they couldn't oust the people on the plain because they had iron chariots. 20 They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had directed. Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak.

21 But the people of Benjamin couldn't get rid of the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. Benjaminites and Jebusites live side by side in Jerusalem to this day.

Joseph Conquers Beth-el

22 The house of Joseph went up to attack Bethel. God was with them. 23 Joseph sent out spies to look the place over. Bethel used to be known as Luz. 24 The spies saw a man leaving the city and said to him, "Show us a way into the city and we'll treat you well." 25 The man showed them a way in. They killed everyone in the city but the man and his family. 26 The man went to Hittite country and built a city. He named it Luz; that's its name to this day.

The Extent of the Conquests of Manasseh and Ephraim

27 But Manasseh never managed to drive out Beth Shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, and Megiddo with their territories. The Canaanites dug in their heels and wouldn't budge. 28 When Israel became stronger they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they never got rid of them. 29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. The Canaanites stuck it out and lived there with them.

The Extent of the Conquests of the Other Tribes

30 Nor did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites in Kitron or Nahalol. They kept living there, but they were put to forced labor.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 1:1-30

Commentary on Judges 1:1-8

(Read Judges 1:1-8)

The Israelites were convinced that the war against the Canaanites was to be continued; but they were in doubt as to the manner in which it was to be carried on after the death of Joshua. In these respects they inquired of the Lord. God appoints service according to the strength he has given. From those who are most able, most work is expected. Judah was first in dignity, and must be first in duty. Judah's service will not avail unless God give success; but God will not give the success, unless Judah applies to the service. Judah was the most considerable of all the tribes, and Simeon the least; yet Judah begs Simeon's friendship, and prays for aid from him. It becomes Israelites to help one another against Canaanites; and all Christians, even those of different tribes, should strengthen one another. Those who thus help one another in love, have reason to hope that God will graciously help both. Adoni-bezek was taken prisoner. This prince had been a severe tyrant. The Israelites, doubtless under the Divine direction, made him suffer what he had done to others; and his own conscience confessed that he was justly treated as he had treated others. Thus the righteous God sometimes, in his providence, makes the punishment answer the sin.

Commentary on Judges 1:9-20

(Read Judges 1:9-20)

The Canaanites had iron chariots; but Israel had God on their side, whose chariots are thousands of angels, Joshua 15:16-19. The Kenites had settled in the land. Israel let them fix where they pleased, being a quiet, contented people. They that molested none, were molested by none. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Commentary on Judges 1:21-36

(Read Judges 1:21-36)

The people of Israel were very careless of their duty and interest. Owing to slothfulness and cowardice, they would not be at the pains to complete their conquests. It was also owing to their covetousness: they were willing to let the Canaanites live among them, that they might make advantage of them. They had not the dread and detestation of idolatry they ought to have had. The same unbelief that kept their fathers forty years out of Canaan, kept them now out of the full possession of it. Distrust of the power and promise of God deprived them of advantages, and brought them into troubles. Thus many a believer who begins well is hindered. His graces languish, his lusts revive, Satan plies him with suitable temptations, the world recovers its hold; he brings guilt into his conscience, anguish into his heart, discredit on his character, and reproach on the gospel. Though he may have sharp rebukes, and be so recovered that he does not perish, yet he will have deeply to lament his folly through his remaining days; and upon his dying bed to mourn over the opportunities of glorifying God and serving the church he has lost. We can have no fellowship with the enemies of God within us or around us, but to our hurt; therefore our only wisdom is to maintain unceasing war against them.