Juízes 1

A Guerra contra os Cananeus Restantes

1 Depois da morte de Josué, os israelitas perguntaram ao SENHOR: “Quem de nós será o primeiro a atacar os cananeus?”

2 O SENHOR respondeu: “Judá será o primeiro; eu entreguei a terra em suas mãos”.

3 Então os homens de Judá disseram aos seus irmãos de Simeão: “Venham conosco ao território que nos foi designado por sorteio, e lutemos contra os cananeus. Iremos juntos para o território”. E os homens de Simeão foram com eles.

4 Quando os homens de Judá atacaram, o SENHOR entregou os cananeus e os ferezeus nas mãos deles, e eles mataram dez mil homens em Bezeque.

5 Foi lá que encontraram Adoni-Bezeque, lutaram contra ele e derrotaram os cananeus e os ferezeus.

6 Adoni-Bezeque fugiu, mas eles o perseguiram e o prenderam, e lhe cortaram os polegares das mãos e dos pés.

7 Então Adoni-Bezeque disse: “Setenta reis com os polegares das mãos e dos pés cortados apanhavam migalhas debaixo da minha mesa. Agora Deus me retribuiu aquilo que lhes fiz”. Eles o levaram para Jerusalém, onde morreu.

8 Os homens de Judá atacaram também Jerusalém e a conquistaram. Mataram seus habitantes ao fio da espada e a incendiaram.

9 Depois disso eles desceram para lutar contra os cananeus que viviam na serra, no Neguebe e na Sefelá.^[a]

10 Avançaram contra os cananeus que viviam em Hebrom, anteriormente chamada Quiriate-Arba, e derrotaram Sesai, Aimã e Talmai.

11 Dali avançaram contra o povo que morava em Debir, anteriormente chamada Quiriate-Sefer.

12 E disse Calebe: “Darei minha filha Acsa em casamento ao homem que atacar e conquistar Quiriate-Sefer”.

13 Otoniel, filho de Quenaz, irmão mais novo de Calebe, conquistou a cidade; por isso Calebe lhe deu sua filha Acsa por mulher.

14 Um dia, quando já vivia com Otoniel, ela o persuadiu^[b] a pedir um campo ao pai dela. Assim que ela desceu do jumento, Calebe lhe perguntou: “O que você quer?”

15 Ela respondeu: “Dê-me um presente. Já que o senhor me deu terras no Neguebe, dê-me também fontes de água”. E Calebe lhe deu as fontes superiores e as inferiores.

16 Os descendentes do sogro de Moisés, o queneu, saíram da Cidade das Palmeiras^[c] com os homens de Judá e passaram a viver no meio do povo do deserto de Judá, no Neguebe, perto de Arade.

17 Depois os homens de Judá foram com seus irmãos de Simeão e derrotaram os cananeus que viviam em Zefate e destruíram totalmente a cidade. Por essa razão ela foi chamada Hormá.^[d]

18 Os homens de Judá também conquistaram^[e] Gaza, Ascalom e Ecrom, com os seus territórios.

19 O SENHOR estava com os homens de Judá. Eles ocuparam a serra central, mas não conseguiram expulsar os habitantes dos vales, pois estes possuíam carros de guerra feitos de ferro.

20 Conforme Moisés havia prometido, Hebrom foi dada a Calebe, que expulsou de lá os três filhos de Enaque.

21 Já os benjamitas deixaram de expulsar os jebuseus que estavam morando em Jerusalém. Os jebuseus vivem ali com os benjamitas até o dia de hoje.

22 Os homens das tribos de José, por sua vez, atacaram Betel, e o SENHOR estava com eles.

23 Enviaram espias a Betel, anteriormente chamada Luz.

24 Quando os espias viram um homem saindo da cidade, disseram-lhe: “Mostre-nos como entrar na cidade, e nós pouparemos a sua vida”.

25 Ele mostrou como entrar, e eles mataram os habitantes da cidade ao fio da espada, mas pouparam o homem e toda a sua família.

26 Ele foi, então, para a terra dos hititas, onde fundou uma cidade e lhe deu o nome de Luz, que é o seu nome até o dia de hoje.

27 Manassés, porém, não expulsou o povo de Bete-Seã, o de Taanaque, o de Dor, o de Ibleã, o de Megido, nem tampouco o dos povoados ao redor dessas cidades, pois os cananeus estavam decididos a permanecer naquela terra.

28 Quando Israel se tornou forte, impôs trabalhos forçados aos cananeus, mas não os expulsou completamente.

29 Efraim também não expulsou os cananeus que viviam em Gezer, mas os cananeus continuaram a viver entre eles.

30 Nem Zebulom expulsou os cananeus que viviam em Quitrom e em Naalol, mas estes permaneceram entre eles e foram submetidos a trabalhos forçados.

31 Nem Aser expulsou os que viviam em Aco, Sidom, Alabe, Aczibe, Helba, Afeque e Reobe,

32 e, por esse motivo, o povo de Aser vivia entre os cananeus que habitavam naquela terra.

33 Nem Naftali expulsou os que viviam em Bete-Semes e em Bete-Anate; mas o povo de Naftali também vivia entre os cananeus que habitavam a terra, e aqueles que viviam em Bete-Semes e em Bete-Anate passaram a fazer trabalhos forçados para eles.

34 Os amorreus confinaram a tribo de Dã à serra central, não permitindo que descessem ao vale.

35 E os amorreus igualmente estavam decididos a resistir no monte Heres, em Aijalom e em Saalbim, mas, quando as tribos de José ficaram mais poderosas, eles também foram submetidos a trabalhos forçados.

36 A fronteira dos amorreus ia da subida de Acrabim^[f] até Selá, e mais adiante.

Juízes 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Pequena faixa de terra de relevo variável entre a planície costeira e as montanhas.
• [b]. Conforme o Texto Massorético. A Septuaginta e a Vulgata dizem "ele a persuadiu."
• [c]. Isto é, Jericó.
• [d]. "Hormá " significa "destruição."
• [e]. A Septuaginta diz "Judá não conquistaram."
• [f]. Isto é, dos Escorpiões.

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.