Jueces 1

Israel continúa su lucha contra los cananeos

1 Después de la muerte de Josué, los israelitas le preguntaron al SEÑOR:—¿Quién de nosotros será el primero en subir y pelear contra los cananeos?

2 El SEÑOR respondió:—Judá será el primero en subir, puesto que ya le he entregado el país en sus manos.

3 Entonces los de la tribu de Judá dijeron a sus hermanos de la tribu de Simeón: «Suban con nosotros al territorio que nos ha tocado, y pelearemos contra los cananeos; después nosotros iremos con ustedes al territorio que les tocó». Y los de la tribu de Simeón los acompañaron.

4 Cuando Judá atacó, el SEÑOR entregó en sus manos a los cananeos y a los ferezeos. En Bézec derrotaron a diez mil hombres.

5 Allí se toparon con Adoní Bézec y pelearon contra él, y derrotaron a los cananeos y a los ferezeos.

6 Adoní Bézec logró escapar, pero lo persiguieron hasta que lo alcanzaron, y le cortaron los pulgares de las manos y los dedos gordos de los pies.

7 Entonces Adoní Bézec exclamó: «¡Setenta reyes, cortados los pulgares de las manos y los dedos gordos de los pies, recogían migajas debajo de mi mesa! ¡Ahora Dios me ha pagado con la misma moneda!» Luego lo llevaron a Jerusalén, y allí murió.

8 Los de la tribu de Judá también atacaron a Jerusalén; la capturaron, matando a todos a filo de espada, y luego incendiaron la ciudad.

9 Después la tribu de Judá fue a pelear contra los cananeos que vivían en la región montañosa, en el Néguev y en la Sefelá.

10 Avanzaron contra los cananeos que vivían en Hebrón, ciudad que antes se llamaba Quiriat Arbá, y derrotaron a Sesay, Ajimán y Talmay.

11 Desde allí, avanzaron contra los habitantes de Debir, ciudad que antes se llamaba Quiriat Séfer.

12 Entonces Caleb dijo: «A quien derrote a Quiriat Séfer y la conquiste, yo le daré por esposa a mi hija Acsa».

13 Y fue Otoniel hijo de Quenaz, hermano menor de Caleb, quien la conquistó; así que Caleb le dio por esposa a su hija Acsa.

14 Cuando ella llegó, Otoniel la convenció^[a] de que le pidiera un terreno a su padre. Al bajar Acsa del asno, Caleb le preguntó:—¿Qué te pasa?

15 —Concédeme un gran favor —respondió ella—. Ya que me has dado tierras en el Néguev, dame también manantiales.Fue así como Caleb le dio a su hija manantiales en las zonas altas y en las bajas.

16 Los descendientes de Hobab^[b] el quenita, suegro de Moisés, acompañaron a la tribu de Judá desde la Ciudad de las Palmeras^[c] hasta el desierto de Judá, que está en el Néguev, cerca de Arad. Allí habitaron con la gente del lugar.

17 Después fueron los de la tribu de Judá con sus hermanos de la tribu de Simeón y derrotaron a los cananeos que vivían en Sefat, ciudad a la que destruyeron por completo. Desde entonces Sefat fue llamada Jormá.^[d]

18 Los hombres de Judá también conquistaron las ciudades de Gaza, Ascalón y Ecrón, cada una de ellas con su propio territorio.

19 El SEÑOR estaba con los hombres de Judá. Estos tomaron posesión de la región montañosa, pero no pudieron expulsar a los que vivían en las llanuras, porque esa gente contaba con carros de hierro.

20 Tal como lo había prometido Moisés, Caleb recibió Hebrón y expulsó de esa ciudad a los tres hijos de Anac.

21 En cambio, los de la tribu de Benjamín no lograron expulsar a los jebuseos, que vivían en Jerusalén. Por eso hasta el día de hoy los jebuseos viven con los benjaminitas en Jerusalén.

22 Los de la tribu de José, por su parte, subieron contra Betel, pues el SEÑOR estaba con ellos.

23 Enviaron espías a Betel, ciudad que antes se llamaba Luz,

24 y estos, al ver que un hombre salía de la ciudad, le dijeron: «Muéstranos cómo entrar en la ciudad, y seremos bondadosos contigo».

25 Aquel hombre les mostró cómo entrar en la ciudad, y ellos la conquistaron a filo de espada; pero al hombre y a toda su familia les perdonaron la vida.

26 Y ese hombre se fue a la tierra de los hititas, donde fundó una ciudad a la que llamó Luz, nombre que conserva hasta el día de hoy.

27 Pero los de la tribu de Manasés no pudieron expulsar a los de Betseán y de Tanac con sus respectivas aldeas, ni tampoco a los habitantes de Dor, Ibleam y Meguido con sus respectivas aldeas, porque los cananeos estaban decididos a permanecer en esa tierra.

28 Solo cuando Israel se hizo fuerte pudo someter a los cananeos a trabajos forzados, aunque nunca pudo expulsarlos del todo.

29 Los de la tribu de Efraín tampoco pudieron expulsar a los cananeos que vivían en Guézer, de modo que los cananeos siguieron viviendo entre ellos.

30 Los de la tribu de Zabulón, por su parte, tampoco pudieron expulsar a los cananeos que vivían en Quitrón y Nalol, y estos siguieron viviendo entre ellos, aunque fueron sometidos a trabajos forzados.

31 Tampoco los de la tribu de Aser pudieron expulsar a los habitantes de Aco, Sidón, Ajlab, Aczib, Jelba, Afec y Rejob.

32 Por eso, como no pudieron expulsarlos, el pueblo de la tribu de Aser vivió entre los cananeos que habitaban en aquella región.

33 Tampoco los de la tribu de Neftalí pudieron expulsar a los habitantes de Bet Semes y Bet Anat, sino que vivieron entre los cananeos que habitaban en aquella región. Sin embargo, sometieron a trabajos forzados a los que vivían en Bet Semes y Bet Anat.

34 Los amorreos hicieron retroceder a los de la tribu de Dan hasta la región montañosa, y no les permitieron bajar a la llanura.

35 Los amorreos también estaban decididos a permanecer en el monte Heres, en Ayalón y en Salbín. Pero cuando se acrecentó el poder de la tribu de José, los amorreos también fueron sometidos a trabajos forzados.

36 La frontera de los amorreos iba desde la cuesta de los Escorpiones hasta Selá, e incluso más 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]. "Otoniel la convenció " (LXX y Vulgata); "lo convenció " (TM).
• [b]. "Hobab" . Véase 4:11.
• [c]. "la Ciudad de las Palmeras" . Es decir, Jericó.
• [d]. En hebreo, "Jormá " significa "destrucción" .

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.