9 and afterwards have the sons of Judah gone down to fight against the Canaanite, inhabiting the hill-country, and the south, and the low country; 10 and Judah goeth unto the Canaanite who is dwelling in Hebron (and the name of Hebron formerly 'is' Kirjath-Arba), and they smite Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

Othniel Conquers Debir and Receives Achsah

11 And he goeth thence unto the inhabitants of Debir (and the name of Debir formerly 'is' Kirjath-Sepher), 12 and Caleb saith, 'He who smiteth Kirjath-Sepher—and hath captured it—then I have given to him Achsah my daughter for a wife.' 13 And Othniel son of Kenaz, younger brother of Caleb, doth capture it, and he giveth to him Achsah his daughter for a wife. 14 And it cometh to pass in her coming in, that she persuadeth him to ask from her father the field, and she lighteth from off the ass, and Caleb saith to her, 'What—to thee?' 15 And she saith to him, 'Give to me a blessing; when the south land thou hast given me—then thou hast given to me springs of water; and Caleb giveth to her the upper springs and the lower springs.

The Extent of the Conquests of Judah and Benjamin

16 And the sons of the Kenite, father-in-law of Moses, have gone up out of the city of palms with the sons of Judah 'to' the wilderness of Judah, which 'is' in the south of Arad, and they go and dwell with the people. 17 And Judah goeth with Simeon his brother, and they smite the Canaanite inhabiting Zephath, and devote it; and 'one' calleth the name of the city Hormah. 18 And Judah captureth Gaza and its border, and Askelon and its border, and Ekron and its border; 19 and Jehovah is with Judah, and he occupieth the hill-country, but not to dispossess the inhabitants of the valley, for they have chariots of iron. 20 And they give to Caleb Hebron, as Moses hath spoken, and he dispossesseth thence the three sons of Anak.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 1:9-20

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.