Judges (book of)

Prologue: Incomplete Conquest and Apostasy (1:1—3:6) First Episode: Israel’s Failure to Purge the Land (1:1—2:5) Second Episode: God’s Dealings with Israel’s Rebellion (2:6—3:6) Oppression and Deliverance (3:7—16:31) Othniel Defeats Aram Naharaim (3:7–11) Ehud Defeats Moab (3:12–30) Shamgar (3:31) Deborah Defeats Canaan (chs. 4–5) Gideon Defeats Midian (chs. 6–8) (Abimelech, the anti-judge, ch. 9), Tola (10:1–2) Jair (10:3–5) Jephthah Defeats Ammon (10:6—12:7) Ibzan (12:8–10) Elon (12:11–12) Abdon (12:13–15) Samson Checks Philistia (chs. 13–16) Epilogue: Religious and Moral Disorder (chs. 17–21) First Episode (chs. 17–18; see 17:6; 18:1) Micah’s corruption of religion (ch. 17) The Danites’ departure from their tribal territory (ch. 18) Second Episode (chs. 19–21; see 19:1; 21:25) Gibeah’s corruption of morals (ch. 19) The Benjamites’ near removal from their tribal territory (chs. 20–21)

Judges Judah Takes the Lead 1:1 After Joshua died, the Israelites asked the LORD, “Who should lead the invasion against the Canaanites and launch the attack?” 1:2 The LORD said, “The men of Judah should take the lead. Be sure of this! I am handing the land over to them.” 1:3 The men of Judah said to their relatives, the men of Simeon, “Invade our allotted land with us and help us attack the Canaanites. Then we will go with you into your allotted land.” So the men of Simeon went with them. 1:4 The men of Judah attacked, and the LORD handed the Canaanites and Perizzites over to them. They killed ten thousand men at Bezek. 1:5 They met Adoni-Bezek at Bezek and fought him. They defeated

THE BOOK OF JUDGES. Commentary by Robert Jamieson   CHAPTER 1 Jud 1:1-3. The Acts of Judah and Simeon. 1. Now after the death of Joshua--probably not a long period, for the Canaanites seem to have taken advantage of that event to attempt recovering their lost position, and the Israelites were obliged to renew the war. the children of Israel asked the Lord--The divine counsel on this, as on other occasions, was sought by Urim and Thummim, by applying to the high priest, who, according to Josephus, was Phinehas. saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first--The elders, who exercised the government in their respective tribes, judged rightly, that in entering upon an important expedition, they should have a leader nominated by divine appointment; and in consulting the