Jueces 1

1 Después de la muerte de Josué, los hijos de Israel consultaron al SEÑOR, diciendo: ¿Quién de nosotros subirá primero contra los cananeos para pelear contra ellos?

2 Y el SEÑOR respondió: Judá subirá; he aquí, yo he entregado el país en sus manos.

3 Entonces Judá dijo a su hermano Simeón: Sube conmigo al territorio que me ha tocado, para que peleemos contra los cananeos; yo también iré contigo al territorio que te ha tocado. Y Simeón fue con él.

4 Subió Judá, y el SEÑOR entregó en sus manos a los cananeos y a los ferezeos, y derrotaron a diez mil hombres en Bezec.

5 Hallaron a Adoni-bezec en Bezec y pelearon contra él, y derrotaron a los cananeos y a los ferezeos.

6 Huyó Adoni-bezec, pero lo persiguieron, lo prendieron y le cortaron los pulgares de las manos y de los pies.

7 Y Adoni-bezec dijo: Setenta reyes, con los pulgares de sus manos y de sus pies cortados, recogían migajas debajo de mi mesa; como yo he hecho, así me ha pagado Dios. Lo llevaron a Jerusalén, y allí murió.

8 Y pelearon los hijos de Judá contra Jerusalén y la tomaron, la pasaron a filo de espada y prendieron fuego a la ciudad.

9 Después descendieron los hijos de Judá a pelear contra los cananeos que vivían en la región montañosa, en el Neguev ^[a] y en las tierras bajas.

10 Y Judá marchó contra los cananeos que habitaban en Hebrón (el nombre de Hebrón antes era Quiriat-arba); e hirieron a Sesai, a Ahimán y a Talmai.

11 De allí fue contra los habitantes de Debir (el nombre de Debir antes era Quiriat-séfer).

12 Y Caleb dijo: Al que ataque a Quiriat-séfer y la tome, yo le daré a mi hija Acsa por mujer.

13 Y Otoniel, hijo de Cenaz, hermano menor de Caleb, la tomó, y él le dio a su hija Acsa por mujer.

14 Y sucedió que cuando ella vino a él, éste la persuadió a que pidiera un campo a su padre. Ella entonces se bajó del asno, y Caleb le dijo: ¿Qué quieres?

15 Y ella le dijo: Dame una bendición, ya que me has dado la tierra del Neguev, dame también fuentes de agua. Y Caleb le dio las fuentes de arriba y las fuentes de abajo.

16 Y los descendientes del ceneo, suegro de Moisés, subieron de la ciudad de las palmeras con los hijos de Judá, al desierto de Judá que está al sur de Arad; y fueron y habitaron con el pueblo.

17 Entonces Judá fue con Simeón su hermano, y derrotaron a los cananeos que vivían en Sefat, y la destruyeron por completo. Por eso pusieron por nombre a la ciudad, Horma ^[b] .

18 Y Judá tomó a Gaza con su territorio, a Ascalón con su territorio y a Ecrón con su territorio.

19 El SEÑOR estaba con Judá, que tomó posesión de la región montañosa, pero no pudo expulsar a los habitantes del valle porque éstos tenían carros de hierro.

20 Entonces dieron Hebrón a Caleb, como Moisés había prometido; y él expulsó de allí a los tres hijos de Anac.

21 Pero los hijos de Benjamín no expulsaron a los jebuseos que vivían en Jerusalén; así que los jebuseos han vivido con los hijos de Benjamín en Jerusalén hasta el día de hoy.

22 De igual manera la casa de José subió contra Betel; y el SEÑOR estaba con ellos.

23 Y la casa de José envió espías a Betel (el nombre de la ciudad antes era Luz).

24 Y vieron los espías a un hombre que salía de la ciudad y le dijeron: Te rogamos que nos muestres la entrada de la ciudad y te trataremos con misericordia.

25 El les mostró la entrada de la ciudad; e hirieron la ciudad a filo de espada, mas dejaron ir al hombre y a toda su familia.

26 Y el hombre fue a la tierra de los heteos y edificó una ciudad a la que llamó Luz; y este es su nombre hasta hoy.

27 Pero Manasés no tomó posesión de Bet-seán y sus aldeas, ni de Taanac y sus aldeas, ni de los habitantes de Dor y sus aldeas, ni de los habitantes de Ibleam y sus aldeas, ni de los habitantes de Meguido y sus aldeas; y los cananeos persistían en habitar en aquella tierra.

28 Y sucedió que cuando Israel se hizo fuerte, sometieron a los cananeos a trabajos forzados, pero no los expulsaron totalmente.

29 Tampoco Efraín expulsó a los cananeos que habitaban en Gezer; y los cananeos habitaron en medio de ellos en Gezer.

30 Zabulón no expulsó a los habitantes de Quitrón, ni a los habitantes de Naalal; de manera que los cananeos habitaron en medio de ellos y fueron sometidos a trabajos forzados.

31 Aser no expulsó a los habitantes de Aco, ni a los habitantes de Sidón, ni de Ahalb, ni de Aczib, ni de Helba, ni de Afec, ni de Rehob.

32 Así que los de Aser habitaron entre los cananeos, los habitantes de aquella tierra, porque no los expulsaron.

33 Neftalí no expulsó a los habitantes de Bet-semes, ni a los habitantes de Bet-anat, sino que habitó entre los cananeos, los habitantes de aquella tierra; y los habitantes de Bet-semes y de Bet-anat fueron sometidos a trabajos forzados.

34 Entonces los amorreos forzaron a los hijos de Dan hacia la región montañosa, y no los dejaron descender al valle.

35 Y los amorreos persistieron en habitar en el monte de Heres, en Ajalón y en Saalbim; pero cuando el poder de la casa de José se fortaleció, fueron sometidos a trabajos forzados.

36 El límite de los amorreos fue desde la subida de Acrabim, desde Sela hacia arriba.

Jueces 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] I.e., regin del sur
• [b] I.e., destruccin

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.