1A po Jóšuově smrti se stalo, že se Isráélovi synové na Hospodina s otázkou obrátili výrokem: Kdo mezi námi má jako první vystoupit na Kenáaního bojovat proti němu? 2A Hospodin řekl: Vystupovat bude Júdá; hle, vydal jsem tu zem v jeho ruku. 3A Júdá řekl Šimeónovi, svému bratru: Vystup se mnou v můj los, ať bojujeme proti Kenáanímu, a půjdu i já s tebou v tvůj los. Šimeón s ním tedy šel 4a Júdá vystoupil a Hospodin vydal Kenáaního a Perizzího v jejich ruku, takže je v Bezeku pobili, deset tisíc mužů. 5A v Bezeku přišli na Adóní-Bezeka a jali se proti němu bojovat a Kenáaního a Perizzího porazili; 6a Adóní-Bezek prchl, ale rozehnali se za ním a chytili ho a osekali palce jeho rukou a jeho nohou. 7A Adóní-Bezek řekl: Sedmdesát králů s osekanými palci svých rukou a svých nohou bývalo paběrkujících pod mým stolem; jak jsem činil, tak mi Bůh odplatil. I přivedli ho do Jerúsaléma a tam umřel. 8Neboť Júdovi synové se proti Jerúsalému byli jali bojovat a dobyli ho a vybili jej ostřím meče a vydali město v oheň; 9a potom Júdovi synové sestoupili bojovat proti Kenáanímu obývajícímu pohoří a Negev a nížinu. 10A když Júdá vyšel na Kenáaního, jenž bydlel v Chevrónu (a jméno Chevrónu bylo dříve Kirjath-Arba), pobili Šéšaje a Achímána a Talmáje. 11A odtamtud odešel k obyvatelům Deviru, a jméno Deviru bylo dříve Kirjath-séfer. 12A Kálév řekl: Kdo bude umět porazit Kirjath-séfer a dobude ho, věru mu dám Achsu, svou dceru, za ženu. 13I dobyl ho Othníél, syn Kenaze, bratra Kálévova, mladšího než on, a dal mu Achsu, svou dceru, za ženu. 14A při jejím příchodu se stalo, že ho pohnula žádat od jejího otce pole; pak slezla z osla a Kálév jí řekl: Co s tebou? 15I řekla mu: Dej mi požehnání; když jsi mi dal zem sucha, abys mi dal i zdroje vod. Dal jí tedy zdroje horní a zdroje dolní. 16A synové Kéního, švagra Mojžíšova, vystoupili se syny Júdovými od města palem v pustinu Júdy, jež je na jihu Arádu, i šlo se a usídlili se s lidem. 17A Júdá odešel se Šimeónem, svým bratrem, a pobili Kenáaního obývajícího Cefath a ten učinili odevzdaným, a jméno toho města nazvali Chormá. 18A Júdá dobyl Gazy a jejího území a Aškelónu a jeho území a Ekrónu a jeho území. 19A s Júdou byl Hospodin, takže se zmocnil pohoří, ale obyvatele údolí nebyl s to vypudit, neboť měli železné vozy. 20A Chevrón dali Kálévovi podle toho, co promluvil Mojžíš, i vypudil odtamtud tři syny Anákovy. 21Ale synové Benjámínovi nevypudili Jevúsího, obývajícího Jerúsalém, takže Jevúsí v Jerúsalémě s dětmi Benjámínovými až po tento den zůstal. 22A dům Josefův, i oni vystoupili - k Béth-Élu, a Hospodin byl s nimi; 23i vykonali, dům Josefův, v Béth-Élu průzkum; a jméno toho města bylo dříve Lúz. 24A strážcové uviděli muže z města vycházejícího a řekli mu: Nuže, ukaž nám vchod do města a uskutečníme vůči tobě milosrdenství. 25Ukázal jim tedy vchod do města, i vybili město ostřím meče, ale toho muže a všechnu jeho čeleď propustili; 26a ten muž odešel v zem Chittím a zbudoval město a jeho jméno nazval Lúz; to je jeho jméno až po tento den. 27Aniž zbavil Menaššé dědictví Béth-šeán a jeho osady a Taanách a jeho osady a obyvatele Dóru a jeho osad a obyvatele Jivleámu a jeho osad a obyvatele Megidda a jeho osad, takže Kenáaní nabyl smělosti v této zemi zůstat. 28Stalo se sice, kdykoli se Isráél vzmohl, že Kenáaního podřídil robotě, ale nikterak ho nevypudil. 29Aniž vypudil Efrájim Kenáaního, jenž bydlel v Gezeru, takže Kenáaní v Gezeru vprostřed něho zůstal. 30Zevúlún nevypudil obyvatel Kitrónu ani obyvatel Nahalólu, takže Kenáaní vprostřed něho zůstal a dostali se k robotě. 31Ášér nezbavil dědictví obyvatel Akka ani obyvatel Cídónu ani Achláv ani Achzív ani Chelbu ani Afík ani Rechóv, 32takže Ášérí zůstal vprostřed Kenáaního, neboť ho nevypudil. 33Naftálí nevypudil obyvatel Béth-šemeše ani obyvatel Béth-anáthu, takže zůstal vprostřed Kenáaního, obyvatel země, ale obyvatelé Béth-šemeše a Béth-anáthu jim byli k robotě. 34A Emórí, ti vytlačili děti Dánovy do hor, takže jim nedali sestupovat k údolí 35a Emórí nabyl smělosti zůstat v pohoří Cheresu, v Ajjálónu a v Šaalvím. Ale moci nabyla ruka domu Josefova, takže se dostali k robotě. 36A území Emórího bylo od vzestupu Akrabbím, od Sely a výše.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE ACTS OF JUDAH AND SIMEON. (
Judg 1:1-
Judg 1:3)
Now after the death of Joshua--probably not a long period, for the Canaanites seem to have taken advantage of that event to attempt recovering their lost position, and the Israelites were obliged to renew the war.
the children of Israel asked the Lord--The divine counsel on this, as on other occasions, was sought by Urim and Thummim, by applying to the high priest, who, according to JOSEPHUS, was Phinehas.
saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first--The elders, who exercised the government in their respective tribes, judged rightly, that in entering upon an important expedition, they should have a leader nominated by divine appointment; and in consulting the oracle, they adopted a prudent course, whether the object of their inquiry related to the choice of an individual commander, or to the honor of precedency among the tribes.
2 the Lord said, Judah shall go up--The predicted pre-eminence (
Gen 49:8) was thus conferred upon Judah by divine direction, and its appointment to take the lead in the ensuing hostilities was of great importance, as the measure of success by which its arms were crowned, would animate the other tribes to make similar attempts against the Canaanites within their respective territories.
I have delivered the land into his hand--not the whole country, but the district assigned for his inheritance.
3 Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me . . ., that we may fight against the Canaanites--Being conterminous tribes (
Josh 19:1-
Josh 19:2), they had a common interest, and were naturally associated in this enterprise.
5 ADONI-BEZEK JUSTLY REQUITED. (Jdg. 1:4-21)
Bezek--This place lay within the domain of Judah, about twelve miles south of Jerusalem.
found Adoni-bezek--that is, "lord of Bezek"--he was "found," that is, surprised and routed in a pitched battle, whence he fled; but being taken prisoner, he was treated with a severity unusual among the Israelites, for they "cut off his thumbs and great toes." Barbarities of various kinds were commonly practised on prisoners of war in ancient times, and the object of this particular mutilation of the hands and feet was to disable them for military service ever after. The infliction of such a horrid cruelty on this Canaanite chief would have been a foul stain on the character of the Israelites if there were not reason for believing it was done by them as an act of retributive justice, and as such it was regarded by Adoni-bezek himself, whose conscience read his atrocious crimes in their punishment.
7 Threescore and ten kings--So great a number will not appear strange, when it is considered that anciently every ruler of a city or large town was called a king. It is not improbable that in that southern region of Canaan, there might, in earlier times, have been even more till a turbulent chief like Adoni-bezek devoured them in his insatiable ambition.
8 Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it--The capture of this important city, which ranks among the early incidents in the war of invasion (
Josh 15:63), is here noticed to account for its being in the possession of the Judahites; and they brought Adoni-bezek thither [
Judg 1:7], in order, probably, that his fate being rendered so public, might inspire terror far and wide. Similar inroads were made into the other unconquered parts of Judah's inheritance [
Judg 1:9-
Judg 1:11]. The story of Caleb's acquisition of Hebron is here repeated (
Josh 15:16-
Josh 15:19). [See on
Josh 15:16.]
16 the children of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah--called "the Kenite," as probably descended from the people of that name (
Num 24:21-
Num 24:22). If he might not himself, his posterity did accept the invitation of Moses (
Num 10:32) to accompany the Israelites to Canaan. Their first encampment was in the "city of palm trees"--not Jericho, of course, which was utterly destroyed, but the surrounding district, perhaps En-gedi, in early times called Hazezon-tamar (
Gen 14:7), from the palm-grove which sheltered it. Thence they removed for some unknown cause, and associating themselves with Judah, joined in an expedition against Arad, in the southern part of Canaan (
Num 21:1). On the conquest of that district, some of this pastoral people pitched their tents there, while others migrated to the north (
Judg 4:17).
17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother--The course of the narrative is here resumed from
Judg 1:9, and an account given of Judah returning the services of Simeon (
Judg 1:3), by aiding in the prosecution of the war within the neighboring tribes.
slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath--or Zephathah (
2Chr 14:10), a valley lying in the southern portion of Canaan.
Hormah--destroyed in fulfilment of an early vow of the Israelites (see on
Num 21:2). The confederate tribes, pursuing their incursions in that quarter, came successively to Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron, which they took. But the Philistines seem soon to have regained possession of these cities.
19 the Lord was with Judah; . . . but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley--The war was of the Lord, whose omnipotent aid would have ensured their success in every encounter, whether on the mountains or the plains, with foot soldiers or cavalry. It was distrust, the want of a simple and firm reliance on the promise of God, that made them afraid of the iron chariots (see on
Josh 11:4-
Josh 11:9).
21 the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem--Judah had expelled the people from their part of Jerusalem (
Judg 1:8). The border of the two tribes ran through the city--Israelites and natives must have been closely intermingled.
22 SOME CANAANITES LEFT. (
Judg 1:22-
Judg 1:26)
the house of Joseph--the tribe of Ephraim, as distinguished from Manasseh (
Judg 1:27).
24 the spies . . . said, . . . Show us, . . . the entrance into the city--that is, the avenues to the city, and the weakest part of the walls.
we will show thee mercy--The Israelites might employ these means of getting possession of a place which was divinely appropriated to them: they might promise life and rewards to this man, though he and all the Canaanites were doomed to destruction (
Josh 2:12-
Josh 2:14); but we may assume the promise was suspended on his embracing the true religion, or quitting the country, as he did. If they had seen him to be firmly opposed to either of these alternatives, they would not have constrained him by promises any more than by threats to betray his countrymen. But if they found him disposed to be serviceable, and to aid the invaders in executing the will of God, they might promise to spare him.
26 Luz--(See on
Gen 12:7;
Gen 28:18).
27 The same course of subjugation was carried on in the other tribes to a partial extent, and with varying success. Many of the natives, no doubt, during the progress of this exterminating war, saved themselves by flight and became, it is thought, the first colonists in Greece, Italy, and other countries. But a large portion made a stout resistance and retained possession of their old abodes in Canaan. In other cases, when the natives were vanquished, avarice led the Israelites to spare the idolaters, contrary to the express command of God; and their disobedience to His orders in this matter involved them in many troubles which this book describes.