Judges 1:1-19
After <0310> [Now.]
asked <07592> [asked.]
Simeon ............................ Simeon <08095> [Simeon.]
went <01980> [I likewise.]
Lord <03068> [Lord.]
Bezek <0966> [Bezek.]
Eusebius and Jerome mention two villages of this name, near each other, about seventeen miles from Shechem, towards Scythopolis.
thumbs ... big toes <0931> [their thumbs. Heb. the thumbs of their hands and of their feet.]
This was not an unusual act of cruelty in ancient times towards enemies.--’lian informs us, that in after ages "the Athenians, at the instigation of Cleon, son of Cleoenetus, made a decree that all the inhabitants of the island of ’gina should have the thumb cut off from the right hand, so that they might ever after be disabled from holding a spear, yet might handle an oar." It was a custom among those Romans who did not like a military life, to cut off their thumbs, that they might be incapable of serving in the army; and for the same reason, parents sometimes cut off the thumbs of their children.
lick up <03950> [gathered. or, gleaned. as I have.]
Later <0310> [afterward.]
lowlands <08219> [valley. or, low country.]
Kiriath Arba <07153> [Kirjath-arba.]
Sheshai <08344> [Sheshai.]
Debir Debir <01688> [Debir.]
Caleb <03612> [And Caleb.]
The whole of this account is found in Jos 15:13-19, and seems to be inserted here by way of recapitulation.
give <05414> [to him.]
In ancient times fathers assumed an absolute right over their children, especially in disposing of them in marriage; and it was customary for a king or great man to promise his daughter in marriage to him who should take a city, etc.
came <0935> [And it came.]
got down <06795> [and she lighted.]
{Watitznach,} "she hastily or suddenly alighted," as if she had forgotten something, or was about to return.
special present <01293> [a blessing.]
land .... Negev <0776 05045> [a south land.]
Which was probably dry, or very ill watered.
give ......... given ........ give ... springs ... water .... gave ........ springs <05414 01543 04325 03051> [give me also springs of water.]
Let me have some fields with brooks, or wells already digged.
Kenite <07017> [the Kenite.]
Moses <04872> [Moses.]
City ... Date <05892 08558> [city of palm.]
Negev <05045> [which.]
<03212> [they went.]
Judah <03063> [And Judah.]
Zephath <06857> [Zephath.]
[Zephathah. Hormah.]
Judah <03063> [Also Judah.]
There is the following remarkable variation here in the Septuagint: [Kai ouk ekl‚ronom‚sen Ioudas t‚n Gazan, oude ta horia aut‚s; oude t‚n Askal¢na, oude ta horia aut‚s; kai t‚n Akkar¢n, oude ta horia aut‚s; t‚n Az¢ton, oude ta perisporia aut‚s.] "But Judah did not possess Gaza, nor the coasts thereof; nor Askelon, nor the coasts thereof; nor Ekron, nor the coasts thereof; nor Ashdod, nor the coasts thereof." Procopius and Augustine read the same; and Josephus (Ant. 1. v. c. 2) says that the Israelites only took Askelon and Ashdod, but not Gaza or Ekron; and from ch. 3:3, and the whole succeeding history, it appears that these cities were not in the possession of the Israelites, but of the Philistines.
Gaza <05804> [Gaza.]
[See on]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
conquered ......... conquer <03423> [he drave, etc. or he possessed the mountain. but could.]
Not because the iron chariots were too strong for Omnipotence, or because he refused to help them; but because their courage and faith failed when they saw them.
chariots <07393> [chariots.]
