Judges 1:3-20

1:3

Simeon ............................ Simeon <08095> [Simeon.]

went <01980> [I likewise.]

1:4

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.

1:7

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.]

1:8

1:9

Later <0310> [afterward.]

lowlands <08219> [valley. or, low country.]

1:10

Kiriath Arba <07153> [Kirjath-arba.]

Sheshai <08344> [Sheshai.]

1:11

Debir Debir <01688> [Debir.]

1:12

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.

1:13

1:14

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.

1:15

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.

1:16

Kenite <07017> [the Kenite.]

Moses <04872> [Moses.]

City ... Date <05892 08558> [city of palm.]

Negev <05045> [which.]

<03212> [they went.]

1:17

Judah <03063> [And Judah.]

Zephath <06857> [Zephath.]

[Zephathah. Hormah.]

1:18

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]

1:19

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.]

1:20

<05414> [they gave.]

three Anakites <01121 07969> [the three sons.]