Shìshījì 1

1 Yuēshūyà sǐ hòu , Yǐsèliè rén qiú wèn Yēhéhuá shuō , wǒmen zhōngjiān shuí dāng shǒuxiān shàng qù gōngjī Jiānán rén , yǔ tāmen zhēng zhàn .

2 Yēhéhuá shuō , Yóudà dāng xiān shàng qù , wǒ yǐ jiāng nà dì jiāo zaì tā shǒu zhōng .

3 Yóudà duì tā gēge Xīmiǎn shuō , qǐng nǐ tóng wǒ dào niānjiū suǒ dé zhī dì qù , hǎo yǔ Jiānán rén zhēng zhàn . yǐhòu wǒ yĕ tóng nǐ dào nǐ niānjiū suǒ dé zhī dì qù . yúshì Xīmiǎn yǔ tā tóng qù .

4 Yóudà jiù shàng qù , Yēhéhuá jiāng Jiānán rén hé Bǐlìxǐrén jiāo zaì tāmen shǒu zhōng . tāmen zaì bǐ sè jī shā le yī wàn rén .

5 Yòu zaì nàli yùjiàn yà duō ní bǐ sè , yǔ tā zhēng zhàn , shā baì Jiānán rén hé Bǐlìxǐrén .

6 Yàduō ní bǐ sè taópǎo . tāmen zhuīgǎn , ná zhù tā , kǎn duàn tā shǒu jiǎo de dà mǔ zhǐ .

7 Yàduō ní bǐ sè shuō , cóng qián yǒu qī shí gè wáng , shǒu jiǎo de dà mǔ zhǐ dōu beì wǒ kǎn duàn , zaì wǒ zhuōzi dǐ xià shí qǔ língsuì shíwù . xiànzaì shén àn zhe wǒ suǒ xíng de bàoyìng wǒ le . yúshì tāmen jiāng yà duō ní bǐ sè daì dào Yēlùsǎlĕng , tā jiù sǐ zaì nàli .

8 Yóudà rén gōngdǎ Yēlùsǎlĕng , jiāng chéng gōng qǔ , yòng dāo shā le chéng neì de rén , bìngqiĕ fàng huǒshào chéng .

9 Hòulái Yóudà rén xià qù , yǔ zhù shān dì , nán dì , hé gāo yuán de Jiānán rén zhēng zhàn .

10 Yóudà rén qù gōngjī zhù Xībǎilún de Jiānán rén , shā le Shìshāi , Yàxīmàn , Tàmǎi . Xībǎilún cóng qián míng jiào Jīlièyàbā .

11 Tāmen cóng nàli qù gōngjī Dǐbì de jūmín . Dǐbì cóng qián míng jiào Jīlièxīfú .

12 Jiālè shuō , shuí néng gōngdǎ Jīlièxīfú , jiāng chéng duó qǔ , wǒ jiù bǎ wǒ nǚér Yēsǎ gĕi tā wèi qī .

13 Jiālè xiōngdi Jīnàsī de érzi Étuóniè duó qǔ le nà chéng , Jiālè jiù bǎ nǚér Yēsǎ gĕi tā wèi qī .

14 Yēsǎ guō mén de shíhou , quàn shàn fú xiàng tā fùqin qiú yī kuaì tián . Yēsǎ yī xià lü , Jiālè wèn tā shuō , nǐ yào shénme .

15 Tā shuō , qiú nǐ cì fú gĕi wǒ , nǐ jì jiāng wǒ ānzhì zaì nán dì , qiú nǐ yĕ gĕi wǒ shuǐ quán . Jiālè jiù bǎ shàng quán xià quán cìgĕi tā .

16 Móxī de neì xiōng ( huò zuò yuèfù ) shì Jīnírén , tāde zǐsūn yǔ Yóudà rén yītóng lí le zōng shù chéng , wǎng Yàlādéyǐ nán de Yóudà kuàngyĕ qù , jiù zhù zaì mín zhōng .

17 Yóudà hé tā gēge Xīmiǎn tóng qù , jī shā le zhù xǐ fǎ de Jiānán rén , jiāng chéng jǐn xíng huǐmiè , nà chéng de míng biàn jiào Héĕrmǎ .

18 Yóudà yòu qǔ le Jiāsà hé Jiāsà de sì jìng , Yàshíjīlún hé Yàshíjīlún de sì jìng , Yǐgélún hé Yǐgélún de sì jìng .

19 Yēhéhuá yǔ Yóudà tóng zaì , Yóudà jiù gǎn chū shān dì de jūmín , zhǐshì bùnéng gǎn chū píngyuán de jūmín , yīnwei tāmen yǒu tiĕ chē .

20 Yǐsèliè rén zhào Móxī suǒ shuō de , jiāng Xībǎilún gĕi le Jiālè . Jiālè jiù cóng nàli gǎn chū Yànà zú de sān gè zúzhǎng .

21 Biànyǎmǐn rén méiyǒu gǎn chū zhù Yēlùsǎlĕng de Yēbùsīrén . Yēbùsīrén réng zaì Yēlùsǎlĕng yǔ Biànyǎmǐn rén tóng zhù , zhídào jīnrì .

22 Yūesè jiā yĕ shàng qù gōngdǎ Bótèlì . Yēhéhuá yǔ tāmen tóng zaì .

23 Yūesè jiā dǎfa rén qù kuītàn Bótèlì . nà chéng qǐxiān míng jiào Lùsī .

24 Kuītàn de rén kànjian yī gèrén cóng chéng lǐ chūlai , jiù duì tā shuō , qiú nǐ jiāng jìn chéng de lù zhǐshì wǒmen , wǒmen bì ēn dāi nǐ .

25 Nà rén jiāng jìn chéng de lù zhǐshì tāmen , tāmen jiù yòng dāo jī shā le chéng zhōng de jūmín , dàn jiāng nà rén hé tā quán jiā fàng qù .

26 Nà rén wǎng Hèrén zhī dì qù , zhú le yī zuò chéng , qǐmíng jiào Lùsī . nà chéng dào rújīn hái jiào zhè míng .

27 Mǎnáxī méiyǒu gǎn chū bǎi shàn hé shǔ bǎi shàn xiāngcūn de jūmín , Tānà hé shǔ Tānà xiāngcūn de jūmín , Duōĕr hé shǔ Duōĕr xiāngcūn de jūmín , yǐ bǎi lián hé shǔ yǐ bǎi lián xiāngcūn de jūmín , Mǐjíduō hé shǔ Mǐjíduō xiāngcūn de jūmín . Jiānán rén què zhí yì zhù zaì nàxiē dìfang .

28 Jízhì Yǐsèliè qiángshèng le , jiù shǐ Jiānán rén zuò kǔ gōng , méiyǒu bǎ tāmen quán rán gǎn chū .

29 Yǐfǎlián méiyǒu gǎn chū zhù jī sè de Jiānán rén . yúshì Jiānán rén réng zhù zaì jī sè , zaì Yǐfǎlián zhōngjiān .

30 Xībùlún méiyǒu gǎn chū jī lún de jūmín hé Náha lā de jūmín . yúshì Jiānán rén réng zhù zaì Xībùlún zhōngjiān , chéng le fù kǔ de rén .

31 Yàshè méiyǒu gǎn chū yà kē hé Xīdùn de jūmín , yà hēi lā hé yà gé xī de jūmín , hēi bā , Yàfú gé yǔLìhé de jūmín .

32 Yúshì , Yàshè yīnwei méiyǒu gǎn chū nà dì de Jiānán rén , jiù zhù zaì tāmen zhōngjiān .

33 Náfútālì méiyǒu gǎn chū Bǎishìmaì hé bǎi Yànà de jūmín , yúshì Náfútālì jiù zhù zaì nà dì de Jiānán rén zhōngjiān . ránér Bǎishìmaì hé bǎi Yànà de jūmín chéng le fù kǔ de rén .

34 Yàmólìrén qiǎngbī dàn rén zhù zaì shān dì , bùróng tāmen xià dào píngyuán .

35 Yàmólìrén què zhí yì zhù zaì xī liè shān hé Yàyǎlún bìng shā bīn . ránér Yūesè jiā shēng le tāmen , shǐ tāmen chéng le fù kǔ de rén .

36 Yàmólìrén de jìngjiè , shì cóng Yàkèlābāng pō , cóng Xīlā ér shàng .

Shìshījì 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

The book of Judges is the history of Israel during the government of the Judges, who were occasional deliverers, raised up by God to rescue Israel from their oppressors, to reform the state of religion, and to administer justice to the people. The state of God's people does not appear in this book so prosperous, nor their character so religious, as might have been expected; but there were many believers among them, and the tabernacle service was attended to. The history exemplifies the frequent warnings and predictions of Moses, and should have close attention. The whole is full of important instruction.

Proceedings of the tribes of Judah and Simeon. (1-8) Hebron and other cities taken. (9-20) The proceedings of other tribes. (21-36)

Verses 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.

Verses 9-20 The Canaanites had iron chariots; but Israel had God on their side, whose chariots are thousands of angels, ( Psalms 68:17 ) . Yet they suffered their fears to prevail against their faith. About Caleb we read in ( 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.

Verses 21-36 The people of Israel were very careless of their duty and interest. Owing to slothfulness and cowardice, they would not be at the pains to complete their conquests. It was also owing to their covetousness: they were willing to let the Canaanites live among them, that they might make advantage of them. They had not the dread and detestation of idolatry they ought to have had. The same unbelief that kept their fathers forty years out of Canaan, kept them now out of the full possession of it. Distrust of the power and promise of God deprived them of advantages, and brought them into troubles. Thus many a believer who begins well is hindered. His graces languish, his lusts revive, Satan plies him with suitable temptations, the world recovers its hold; he brings guilt into his conscience, anguish into his heart, discredit on his character, and reproach on the gospel. Though he may have sharp rebukes, and be so recovered that he does not perish, yet he will have deeply to lament his folly through his remaining days; and upon his dying bed to mourn over the opportunities of glorifying God and serving the church he has lost. We can have no fellowship with the enemies of God within us or around us, but to our hurt; therefore our only wisdom is to maintain unceasing war against them.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES

The title of this book in the Hebrew copies is Sepher Shophetim, the Book of Judges; but the Syriac and Arabic interpreters call it,

``the Book of the Judges of the Children of Israel;''

and the Septuagint only Judges; so called, not because it was written by them, though some think it was compiled out of annals and diaries kept by them; but it seems to be the work of one person only: the true reason of its name is, because it treats of the judges of Israel, gives an account of their lives and actions, and especially such as concerned their office; which office was different from that of kings, and seems only to have been occasional, and chiefly lay in delivering the people out of the hands of their enemies, when oppressed, distressed, or carried captive by them; in protecting them in the enjoyment of their country, rights, and liberties; in leading out their armies against their enemies when needful; and in settling differences, judging law suits, and administering justice. The government of the nation, during their time, was a theocracy. It is not certain who was the penman of this book; some ascribe it to King Hezekiah, others to Ezra; but the Jewish writers {a} are generally of opinion that it was written by Samuel, which is most likely, who was the last of the judges; and it seems plainly to be written before the times of David, us appears from a speech of Joab, 2Sa 11:21; and from some passages in Ps 68:8,9 Ps 97:5, which seem to refer or allude to Jud 5:4,5; and from Jerusalem being called Jebus, which shows it to be inhabited by the Jebusites in the time of the writer of this book, whereas it was taken out of their hands by David; besides, Samuel himself refers to the annals of this book; 1Sa 12:9-11; and from whose testimonies, as well as from others in the New Testament, there is no doubt to be made of its being genuine and authentic, and written by divine inspiration; as is evident from the use the Apostle Paul, and the author of the epistle to the Hebrews, have made of it, Ac 13:20, Heb 11:32; it is useful as an history, and without which the history of the people of Israel would not be complete; it containing an account of all their judges, excepting the two last, Eli and Samuel, of whom an account is given in the following books, and of some facts incidental to those times, related in an appendix at the end of it, concerning the idol of Micah, and the war of Benjamin; and furnishes out many useful moral observations concerning God's displeasure at sin in his own people Israel, and his corrections for it; and about his providential care of them in raising up for them deliverers in their time of need, as well as points at various virtues and excellencies in great and good men, worthy of imitation. It contains, according to Piscator, Dr. Lightfoot, and others, an history of two hundred ninety and nine years.

\\INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 1\\

The children of Israel, after Joshua's death, inquiring of the Lord which tribes should first go up against the remaining Canaanites, Judah is ordered to go up, who with Simeon did, Jud 1:1-3; and had success against the Canaanites under Adonibezek, whom they brought to Jerusalem Jud 1:4-8; and against the Canaanites in Hebron, Debir, Zephath, Hormah, Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron, Jud 1:9-20; the Benjamites had not such good success as Judah against the Jebusites in Jerusalem, Jud 1:21; nor as the house of Joseph had against Bethel, Jud 1:22-26; nor could the tribes of Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali, drive out the Canaanites from several places which belonged unto them, though many of them became their tributaries, Jud 1:27-33; and as for the Amorites, they were too powerful for the tribe of Dan, though some of them became tributaries to the house of Joseph, Jud 1:34-36.

{a} T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 14. 2.