Judges 1:23

23 And the house of Joseph spied out Bethel (the former name of the city was Luz).

Judges 1:23 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 1:23

And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel
To reconnoitre the place, to observe its passes and avenues, which were most accessible, and to examine the walls of it, where they were weakest and least defended:

now the name of the city before [was] Luz;
which signifies a "nut"; perhaps it was so called from large numbers of nut trees which grew near it; the Jews suggest as if it was like a nut, no entrance into it but through a cave or some subterraneous passage, see ( Genesis 28:19 ) .

Judges 1:23 In-Context

21 But the descendants of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived among the descendants of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

22 Likewise, the house of Joseph went up [against] Bethel, and Yahweh [was] with them.

23 And the house of Joseph spied out Bethel (the former name of the city was Luz).

24 And when the spies saw a man leaving the city, they said to him, "Please show us the entrance of the city, and we will deal kindly with you."

25 So he showed them the entrance of the city, and they struck the city with {the edge of the sword}, but they let go the man and all his family.