Jueces 1

1 Y aconteció después de la muerte de Josué, que los hijos de Israel consultaron al SEÑOR, diciendo: ¿Quién subirá por nosotros el primero a pelear contra los cananeos?

2 Y el SEÑOR respondió: Judá subirá; he aquí que yo he entregado la tierra en sus manos.

3 Y Judá dijo a Simeón su hermano: Sube conmigo a mi suerte, y peleemos contra el cananeo, y yo también iré contigo a tu suerte. Y Simeón fue con él.

4 Y subió Judá, y el SEÑOR entregó en sus manos al cananeo y al ferezeo; y de ellos hirieron en Bezec a diez mil hombres.

5 Y hallaron a Adoni-bezec en Bezec, y pelearon contra él; e hirieron al cananeo y al ferezeo.

6 Mas Adoni-bezec huyó; y le siguieron, y le prendieron, y le cortaron los pulgares de las manos y de los pies.

7 Entonces dijo Adoni-bezec: Setenta reyes, cortados los pulgares de sus manos y de sus pies, cogían las migajas debajo de mi mesa; como yo hice, así me ha pagado Dios. Y le metieron en Jerusalén, donde murió.

8 Ya habían combatido los hijos de Judá a Jerusalén, y la habían tomado, y metido a cuchillo, y puesto a fuego la ciudad.

9 Después los hijos de Judá descendieron para pelear contra el cananeo que habitaba en las montañas, y al mediodía, y en los llanos.

10 Y partió Judá contra el cananeo que habitaba en Hebrón, la cual se llamaba antes Quiriat-arba; e hirieron a Sesai, a Ahiman, y a Talmai.

11 Y de allí fue a los que habitaban en Debir, que antes se llamaba Quiriat-sefer.

12 Y dijo Caleb: El que hiriere a Quiriat-sefer, y la tomare, yo le daré a Acsa mi hija por mujer.

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

14 Y cuando la llevaban, la persuadió que pidiese a su padre tierras para labrar. Y ella se bajó del asno, y Caleb le dijo: ¿Qué tienes?

15 Ella entonces le respondió: Dame una bendición; que pues me has dado tierra de secadal, me des también fuentes de aguas. Entonces Caleb le dio las fuentes de arriba y las fuentes de abajo.

16 Y los hijos del cineo, suegro de Moisés, subieron de la ciudad de las palmas con los hijos de Judá al desierto de Judá, que está al mediodía de Arad; y fueron y habitaron con el pueblo.

17 Y fue Judá a su hermano Simeón, e hirieron al cananeo que habitaba en Sefat, y la asolaron; y pusieron por nombre a la ciudad, Horma.

18 Tomó también Judá a Gaza con su término, y a Ascalón con su término, y a Ecrón con su término.

19 Y el SEÑOR estaba con Judá, quien echó a los de las montañas; mas no pudo echar a los que habitaban en los llanos, los cuales tenían carros herrados.

20 Y dieron Hebrón a Caleb, como Moisés había dicho; y él echó de allí tres hijos de Anac.

21 Mas al jebuseo que habitaba en Jerusalén, no lo echaron los hijos de Benjamín, y así el jebuseo habitó con los hijos de Benjamín en Jerusalén hasta hoy.

22 También los de la casa de José subieron a Bet-el; y el SEÑOR estaba con ellos.

23 Y los de la casa de José pusieron espías en Bet-el. (La ciudad antes se llamaba Luz.)

24 Y los que espiaban vieron un hombre que salía de la ciudad, y le dijeron: Muéstranos ahora la entrada de la ciudad, y haremos contigo misericordia.

25 Y él les mostró la entrada a la ciudad, y la hirieron a filo de espada; mas dejaron a aquel hombre con toda su familia.

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

27 Tampoco Manasés echó a los de Bet-seán, ni a los de sus aldeas, ni a los de Taanac y sus aldeas, ni a los que habitaban en Dor y en sus aldeas, ni a los que habitaban en Ibleam y en sus aldeas, ni a los que habitaban en Meguido y en sus aldeas; mas el cananeo quiso habitar en esta tierra.

28 Pero cuando Israel tomó fuerzas hizo al cananeo tributario, mas no lo echó.

29 Tampoco Efraín echó al cananeo que habitaba en Gezer; antes habitó el cananeo en medio de él en Gezer.

30 Tampoco Zabulón echó a los que habitaban en Quitrón y a los que habitaban en Naalal; mas el cananeo habitó en medio de él, y le fueron tributarios.

31 Tampoco Aser echó a los que habitaban en Aco, y a los que habitaban en Sidón, y en Ahlab, y en Aczib, y en Helba, y en Afec, y en Rehob;

32 antes moró Aser entre los cananeos que habitaban en la tierra; pues no los echó.

33 Tampoco Neftalí echó a los que habitaban en Bet-semes, y a los que habitaban en Bet-anat, sino que moró entre los cananeos que habitaban en la tierra; mas le fueron tributarios los moradores de Bet-semes, y los moradores de Bet-anat.

34 Los amorreos apretaron a los hijos de Dan hasta el monte; que no los dejaron descender a la campiña.

35 Y quiso el amorreo habitar en el monte de Heres, en Ajalón y en Saalbim; mas cuando la mano de la casa de José tomó fuerzas, los hicieron tributarios.

36 Y el término del amorreo fue desde la subida de Acrabim, desde la piedra, y 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.