Judges 1:23

23 The house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)

Judges 1:23 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 1:23

And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel
To reconnoitre the place, to observe its passes and avenues, which were most accessible, and to examine the walls of it, where they were weakest and least defended:

now the name of the city before [was] Luz;
which signifies a "nut"; perhaps it was so called from large numbers of nut trees which grew near it; the Jews suggest as if it was like a nut, no entrance into it but through a cave or some subterraneous passage, see ( Genesis 28:19 ) .

Judges 1:23 In-Context

21 The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

22 The house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel; and Yahweh was with them.

23 The house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)

24 The watchers saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said to him, Show us, we pray you, the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with you.

25 He shown them the entrance into the city; and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man go and all his family.