Judges 1 Commentary

After many years as leader of the twelve tribes of Israel, Joshua dies. Though they now live in the Promised Land, the Israelites are still in the process of establishing their control of the region.

The sons of Judah capture Jerusalem, defeating its inhabitants and setting the city on fire. They then continue their campaign against the Canaanites in various regions, ultimately conquering Hebron and defeating its notable inhabitants, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

Caleb offers his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever captures Kiriath-sepher. Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, successfully captures the city and marries Achsah. Achsah then asks Caleb for a field and additional water resources, and Caleb grants her the upper and lower springs.

The descendants of the Kenite join the tribe of Judah in their territory. Despite the Lord’s presence, Judah fails to drive out the inhabitants of the valley, beginning to show the start of their failures. Caleb is given Hebron and drives out the Anakim, but the tribe of Benjamin also fails in their war efforts.

The tribes Ephraim and Manasseh, with the Lord's assistance, goes up against Bethel, previously known as Luz. They use a local man to find the city’s entrance, conquer Bethel, and spare the man's family. The man then relocates to the land of the Hittites, where he builds a new city and names it Luz.

The tribe of Manasseh fails to fully take possession of several key cities and their surrounding villages, allowing the Canaanites to remain in the land. Additionally, when Israel became strong, they subjected the Canaanites to slavery instead of completely driving them out. The tribe of Ephraim also failed to expel the Canaanites living in Gezer, resulting in the Canaanites living among them.

The rest of the tribes of Israel fail to fully drive out the Canaanite inhabitants from their territories. Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali allow the Canaanites to live among them, subjecting them to slavery. The Amorites force the tribe of Dan into the hill country, but the house of Joseph eventually subjugates the Amorites to forced labor as well.