11 Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord , saying , "Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites , to fight against them?" 2 The Lord said , " Judah shall go up; behold , I have given the land into his hand ." 3 Then Judah said to Simeon his brother , "Come up with me into [1]the territory allotted me, that we may fight against the Canaanites ; and [2]I in turn will go with you into [3]the territory allotted you." So Simeon went with him. 4 Judah went up, and the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands , and they [4]defeated ten thousand men at Bezek . 5 They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek and fought against him, and they [5]defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites . 6 But Adoni-bezek fled ; and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his [6]thumbs and big toes e . 7 Adoni-bezek said , "Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes e cut off used to gather up scraps under my table ; as I have done , so God has repaid me." So they brought him to Jerusalem and he died there .
8 Then the sons of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire .
9 Afterward the sons of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country and in the [7]Negev and in the lowland . 10 So Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba ); and they struck Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai .
11 Then from there he went against the inhabitants of Debir (now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher ). 12 And Caleb said , "The one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will even give him my daughter Achsah for a wife ." 13 Othniel the son of Kenaz , Caleb's younger brother , captured it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah for a wife . 14 Then it came about when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field . Then she alighted from [8]her donkey , and Caleb said to her, "What [9]do you want?" 15 She said to him, "Give me a blessing , since you have given me the land of the [10]Negev , give me also springs of water ." So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs .
16 The [11]descendants of the Kenite , Moses' father-in-law , went up from the city of palms with the sons of Judah , to the wilderness of Judah which is in the south of Arad ; and they went and lived with the people .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 1:1-16
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.