Judges 1:18

18 The men of Judah took Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron. They also took the territory that was around each of those cities.

Judges 1:18 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 1:18

Also Judah took Gaza, with the coast thereof
Which by lot fell to that tribe, ( Joshua 15:47 ) ; it was not till now subdued:

and Ashkelon with the coast thereof;
which, according to our countryman Sandys ^F17, was ten miles from Gaza:

and Ekron with the coast thereof;
this also is the lot that fell to Judah, but was afterwards given to the tribe of Dan, ( Joshua 15:45 ) ( 19:43 ) ; for whom Judah now fought and took it; but in a short time all these places were retaken, and possessed by the Philistines, and were three of their five principalities which they ever after retained, see ( Judges 3:3 ) ( 1 Samuel 6:16 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Travels, p. 118. Ed. 5.

Judges 1:18 In-Context

16 Moses' father-in-law was a Kenite. His family went up from Jericho. They went up with the people of Judah to the Desert of Judah. They went there to live among its people. Those people were living in the Negev Desert near Arad. Jericho was also known as The City of Palm Trees.

17 The men of Judah went with their fellow Israelites, the men of Simeon. They attacked the people of Canaan who were living in Zephath. They set the city apart to the LORD in a special way to be destroyed. That's why the city was called Hormah.

18 The men of Judah took Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron. They also took the territory that was around each of those cities.

19 The LORD was with the men of Judah. They took over the central hill country. But they weren't able to drive the people out of the flatlands. That's because those people used chariots that had some iron parts.

20 Moses had promised to give Hebron to Caleb. So Hebron was given to Caleb. He drove the three sons of Anak out of it.