Jueces 1

1 Judá y Simeón conquistan la tierra
Después de la muerte de Josué, los israelitas le preguntaron al Señor
:
—¿Cuál de las tribus debe ser la primera en atacar a los cananeos?

2 El Señor
contestó:
—Judá, porque yo le he dado la victoria sobre la tierra.

3 Entonces los hombres de Judá les dijeron a sus parientes de la tribu de Simeón: «Vengan con nosotros a luchar contra los cananeos que viven en el territorio que se nos asignó. Después nosotros los ayudaremos a ustedes a conquistar su territorio». Así que los hombres de Simeón fueron con los de Judá.

4 Cuando los hombres de Judá atacaron, el Señor
les dio la victoria sobre los cananeos y los ferezeos, y mataron a diez mil guerreros enemigos en la ciudad de Bezec.

5 Mientras estaban en Bezec, se toparon con el rey Adoni-bezec y lucharon contra él, y derrotaron a los cananeos y a los ferezeos.

6 Adoni-bezec escapó, pero los israelitas pronto lo capturaron y le cortaron los pulgares de las manos y los dedos gordos de los pies.

7 Adoni-bezec dijo: «Una vez yo tuve setenta reyes sin los pulgares de las manos y los dedos gordos de los pies, comiendo migajas debajo de mi mesa. Ahora Dios me devolvió lo que les hice». Y se lo llevaron a Jerusalén, donde murió.

8 Los hombres de Judá atacaron a Jerusalén y la tomaron; mataron a todos sus habitantes y prendieron fuego a la ciudad.

9 Luego descendieron para combatir contra los cananeos que vivían en la zona montañosa, en el Neguev y en las colinas occidentales.

10 Judá marchó contra los cananeos en Hebrón (antiguamente llamada Quiriat-arba) y derrotó a las fuerzas de Sesai, Ahimán y Talmai.

11 De allí salieron a luchar contra los habitantes de la ciudad de Debir (antiguamente llamada Quiriat-sefer).

12 Caleb dijo: «Daré a mi hija Acsa en matrimonio al que ataque y tome Quiriat-sefer».

13 Otoniel, hijo de Cenaz, un hermano menor de Caleb, fue quien conquistó la ciudad; así que Acsa pasó a ser esposa de Otoniel.

14 Cuando Acsa se casó con Otoniel, ella insistió
en que le pidiera un campo a Caleb, su padre. Mientras ella se bajaba de su burro, Caleb le preguntó:
—¿Qué te pasa?

15 Ella contestó:
—Concédeme otro obsequio. Ya me regalaste tierras en el Neguev; ahora te ruego que también me des manantiales.
Entonces Caleb le entregó tanto los manantiales de la parte alta como los de la parte baja.

16 Cuando los miembros de la tribu de Judá salieron de Jericó —la ciudad de las palmeras—, los ceneos (que eran descendientes del suegro de Moisés) los acompañaron al desierto de Judá y se establecieron entre la gente del lugar, cerca de la ciudad de Arad, en el Neguev.

17 Luego Judá se unió con Simeón para luchar contra los cananeos que vivían en Sefat, y destruyeron la ciudad por completo.
Por eso la ciudad fue llamada Horma.

18 Además Judá tomó las ciudades de Gaza, Ascalón y Ecrón, junto con los territorios vecinos.

19 Israel no conquista toda la tierra
El Señor
estaba con los de Judá, y ellos tomaron posesión de la zona montañosa; pero no lograron expulsar a los habitantes de las llanuras, quienes tenían carros de guerra hechos de hierro.

20 Caleb recibió la ciudad de Hebrón, tal como Moisés le había prometido, y expulsó a todos sus habitantes, que eran descendientes de los tres hijos de Anac.

21 Sin embargo, la tribu de Benjamín no logró expulsar a los jebuseos, quienes vivían en Jerusalén. Por eso, hasta el día de hoy, los jebuseos viven en Jerusalén junto con el pueblo de Benjamín.

22 Los descendientes de José atacaron la ciudad de Betel, y el Señor
estuvo con ellos.

23 Enviaron espías a Betel (antes conocida como Luz),

24 quienes abordaron a un hombre que salía del poblado y le dijeron: «Muéstranos cómo entrar en la ciudad, y tendremos compasión de ti».

25 Entonces él les mostró una vía de acceso, y ellos mataron a todos en la ciudad, menos a ese hombre y a su familia.

26 Más tarde, el hombre se trasladó a la tierra de los hititas, donde estableció una ciudad a la que llamó Luz. Este nombre lo conserva hasta el día de hoy.

27 La tribu de Manasés no logró expulsar a la gente que vivía en Bet-sán,
Taanac, Dor, Ibleam, Meguido y en todos los asentamientos vecinos, porque los cananeos estaban decididos a quedarse en esa región.

28 Con el tiempo, cuando los israelitas se fortalecieron, obligaron a los cananeos a trabajar como esclavos, pero nunca los expulsaron de la tierra por completo.

29 La tribu de Efraín no logró expulsar a los cananeos que vivían en Gezer, así que los cananeos siguieron viviendo allí, en medio de los de Efraín.

30 La tribu de Zabulón no logró expulsar a los habitantes de Quitrón y de Naalal, así que los cananeos siguieron viviendo en medio de los de Zabulón, pero los cananeos fueron obligados a trabajar como esclavos para ellos.

31 La tribu de Aser no logró expulsar a los habitantes de Aco, Sidón, Ahlab, Aczib, Helba, Afec ni Rehob.

32 Así que los de Aser se establecieron entre los cananeos, quienes controlaban la tierra, debido a que no lograron expulsarlos.

33 Asimismo, la tribu de Neftalí no logró expulsar a los habitantes de Bet-semes ni a los de Bet-anat. Así que Neftalí se estableció entre los cananeos, quienes controlaban la tierra. Sin embargo, los habitantes de Bet-semes y los de Bet-anat fueron obligados a trabajar como esclavos para la gente de Neftalí.

34 En cuanto a la tribu de Dan, los amorreos los obligaron a retirarse a la zona montañosa y no los dejaban descender a las llanuras.

35 Los amorreos estaban decididos a quedarse en el monte Heres, en Ajalón y en Saalbim; pero cuando los descendientes de José aumentaron en fuerza, obligaron a los amorreos a trabajar como esclavos.

36 La frontera de los amorreos iba desde el paso de los Escorpiones
hasta Sela y desde allí se extendía 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.

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.