Bible Commentaries

Now = And. Commencing with the same word as the preceding books; thus connecting them all together. The book of Joshua = the inheritance possessed: Judges = the inheritance despised. Records the failure of the People, and the faithfulness of Jehovah. The Epilogue (Judges 21:25) gives the key to the whole book. See note on Judges 17:6.

Joshua. Compare Joshua 24:29.

children = sons.

asked = enquired: i.e. by Urim and Thummim, as in Judges 18:5; Judges 20:18. See note on Exodus 28:30. Numbers 26:55.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Who . . . ? All had been commanded. Deuteronomy 20:17. Joshua 10:40.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6). Some codices. with three early printed editions, read "and behold".

Adoni-bezek = Lord of Bezek. Bezek was seventeen miles south of Shechem. Compare 1 Samuel 11:8. Compare Joshua 15:13-19.

Cut off. As he had done to others. See Judges 1:7.

gathered. i.e. [the pieces].

as = according as.

God Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Jerusalem. The first occurrence is in Joshua 10:1, in connection with Adoni-zedek's fear of its being "utterly destroyed" like Ai. Here, in Judges 1:8, we have a picture of its future history in miniature. See App-63. The Tel-el- Amarna tablets contain a long correspondence with Egypt about 1400 B.C.

taken it. The citadel not taken till 2 Samuel 5:6-9, by David.

mountain = hill country.

south. Hebrew. Negeb.

valley = lowlands

now. Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis (App-6), and compare with Judges 1:17.

Hebron. Compare Numbers 13:22. Joshua 14:13.

Kirjath-arba. Compare Genesis 23:2. Joshua 14:15; Joshua 20:7.

Sheshai. These are sons of Anak. Compare Judges 1:20.

Debir . . . Kirjath-sepher. See note on Joshua 11:21 and Judges 15:49.

Othniel Mentioned only here; and Judges 3:9-11. Joshua 15:17; and 1 Chronicles 4:13.

to him. Supply Fig, Ellipsis with "home".

a = the.

What Wilt thou? or, What aileth thee? Joshua 15:18, Joshua 15:19.

Kenite. A non-Israelite race (Genesis 15:19. Numbers 24:21, &c. 1 Samuel 27:10; 1 Samuel 30:29). See Saul's correspondence with them (1 Samuel 15:6). One branch in the north (Judges 4:11).

palm trees: i.e. Jeremiah 3:13. Deuteronomy 34:3.

the People: i.e. Israel.

destroyed = devoted.

Hormah = utter destruction.

took Gaza, &c. These were wholly or partially retaken by the enemy, Compare Judges 14:19; Judges 16:1. 1 Samuel 5:10. Perhaps this accounts for the Septuagint reading, "Judah too did not inherit".

coast = border.

he drave out = he possessed. (Omit italics.)

mountain = hill country.

valley = lowlands.

chariots of iron. Compare Judges 4:3.

as = accordingas. Compare Numbers 14:24. Joshua 14:13; Joshua 15:13.

three sons of Anak. See their names in Judges 1:10 and App-23and App-25.

did not drive out. Compare Joshua 15:63; Joshua 18:28. 2 Samuel 5:6-10.

Luz. Compare Genesis 28:19, and see Joshua 16:1, Joshua 16:2. Luz and Beth-el not two cities. 34

spies = sentries.

Hittites. A nation north of Syria, mentioned on Egyptian inscriptions from 1500 B.C.

Neither . . . nor. Note the Figure of speech Paradiastole (App-6) in verses: Judges 1:29-33. Emphasizing the unfaithfulness and disobedience, the cause of all subsequent trouble.

drive out = possess.

dwelt: i.e. in friendly relations. Psalms 133:1. 2 Kings 4:13. See note on 1 Kings 9:16, 1 Kings 9:17.

dwelt among = dwelt in the inside, as in the heart or bowels of the Canaanites; verses: Judges 1:27-30 are very different.

hand. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, by which the hand is put for the power exerted by it,

coast = border or boundary. Judges 2 gives a summary of events from Judges 3:1, Judges 3:16, Judges 3:31. The period it covers is therefore 1434-1100, i.e. 334 years.