Juízes 1

1 Depois da morte de Josué os filhos de Israel consultaram ao Senhor, dizendo: Quem dentre nós subirá primeiro aos cananeus, para pelejar contra eles?

2 Respondeu o Senhor: Judá subirá; eis que entreguei a terra na sua mão.

3 Então disse Judá a Simeão, seu irmão: sobe comigo � sorte que me coube, e pelejemos contra os cananeus, e eu também subirei contigo � tua sorte. E Simeão foi com ele.

4 Subiu, pois, Judá; e o Senhor lhes entregou nas mãos os cananeus e os perizeus; e bateram deles em Bezeque dez mil homens.

5 Acharam em Bezeque a Adoni-Bezeque, e pelejaram contra ele; e bateram os cananeus e os perizeus.

6 Mas Adoni-Bezeque fugiu; porém eles o perseguiram e, prendendo-o, cortaram-lhe os dedos polegares das mãos e dos pés.

7 Então disse Adoni-Bezeque: Setenta reis, com os dedos polegares das mãos e dos pés cortados, apanhavam as migalhas debaixo da minha mesa; assim como eu fiz, assim Deus me pagou. E o trouxeram a Jerusalém, e ali morreu.

8 Ora, os filhos de Judá pelejaram contra Jerusalém e, tomando-a, passaram-na ao fio da espada e puseram fogo � cidade.

9 Depois os filhos de Judá desceram a pelejar contra os cananeus que habitavam na região montanhosa, e no Negebe, e na baixada.

10 Então partiu Judá contra os cananeus que habitavam em Hebrom, cujo nome era outrora Quiriate-Arba; e bateu Sesai, Aimã e Talmai.

11 Dali partiu contra os moradores de Debir, que se chamava outrora Quiriate-Sefer.

12 Disse então Calebe: A quem atacar Quiriate-Sefer e a tomar, darei a minha filha Acsa por mulher.

13 E tomou-a Otniel, filho de Quenaz, o irmão mais moço de Calebe; e este lhe deu sua filha Acsa por mulher.

14 Estando ela em caminho para a casa de Otniel, persuadiu-o que pedisse um campo ao pai dela. E quando ela saltou do jumento, Calebe lhe perguntou: Que é que tens?

15 Ela lhe respondeu: Dá-me um presente; porquanto me deste uma terra no Negebe, dá-me também fontes d'água. Deu-lhe, pois, Calebe as fontes superiores e as fontes inferiores.

16 Também os filhos do queneu, sogro de Moisés, subiram da cidade das palmeiras com os filhos de Judá ao deserto de Judá, que está ao sul de Arade; e foram habitar com o povo.

17 E Judá foi com Simeão, seu irmão, e derrotaram os cananeus que habitavam em Zefate, e a destruíram totalmente. E chamou-se o nome desta cidade Horma.

18 Judá tomou também a Gaza, a Asquelom e a Ecrom, com os seus respectivos territórios.

19 Assim estava o Senhor com Judá, o qual se apoderou da região montanhosa; mas não pôde desapossar os habitantes do vale, porquanto tinham carros de ferro.

20 E como Moisés dissera, deram Hebrom a Calebe, que dali expulsou os três filhos de Anaque.

21 Mas os filhos de Benjamim não expulsaram aos jebuseus que habitavam em Jerusalém; pelo que estes ficaram habitando com os filhos de Benjamim em Jerusalém até o dia de hoje.

22 Também os da casa de José subiram contra Betel; e o Senhor estava com eles.

23 E a casa de José fez espiar a Betel (e fora outrora o nome desta cidade Luz);

24 e, vendo os espias a um homem que saía da cidade, disseram-lhe: Mostra-nos a entrada da cidade, e usaremos de bondade para contigo.

25 Mostrou-lhes, pois, a entrada da cidade, a qual eles feriram ao fio da espada; porém deixaram livre aquele homem e toda a sua família.

26 Então o homem se foi para a terra dos heteus, edificou uma cidade, e pôs-lhe o nome de Luz; este é o seu nome até o dia de hoje.

27 Manassés não expulsou os habitantes de Bete-Seã e suas vilas, nem os de Taanaque e suas virael aos levitas estas cidades e nem os de Ibleão e suas vilas, nem os de Megido e suas vilas; porém os cananeus persistiram em habitar naquela terra.

28 Mas quando Israel se tornou forte, sujeitou os cananeus a trabalhos forçados, porém não os expulsou de todo.

29 Também Efraim não expulsou os cananeus que habitavam em Gezer; mas os cananeus ficaram habitando no meio dele, em Gezer.

30 Também Zebulom não expulsou os habitantes de Quitrom, nem os de Naalol; porém os cananeus ficaram habitando no meio dele, e foram sujeitos a trabalhos forçados.

31 Também Aser não expulsou os habitantes de Aco, nem de Sidom, nem de Alabe, nem de Aczibe, nem de Helba, nem de Afeca, nem de Reobe;

32 porém os aseritas ficaram habitando no meio dos cananeus, os habitantes da terra, porquanto não os expulsaram.

33 Também Naftali não expulsou os habitantes de Bete-Semes, nem os de Bete-Anate; mas, habitou no meio dos cananeus, os habitantes da terra; todavia os habitantes de Bete-Semes e os de Bete-Anate foram sujeitos a trabalhos forçados.

34 Os amorreus impeliram os filhos de Dã até a região montanhosa; pois não lhes permitiram descer ao vale.

35 Os amorreus quiseram também habitar no monte Heres, em Aijalom e em Saalabim; contudo prevaleceu a mão da casa de José, de modo que eles ficaram sujeitos a trabalhos forçados.

36 E foi o termo dos amorreus desde a subida de Acrabim, desde Sela, e dali para cima.

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.

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.