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<p>We have here a further account of that glorious and successful campaign which Judah and Simeon made. 1. The lot of Judah was pretty well cleared of the Canaanites, yet not thoroughly. Those that <i>dwelt in the mountain</i> (the mountains that were round about Jerusalem) were driven out (<a class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.9,Judg.1.19" href="/passage/?search=Judg.1.9,Judg.1.19"><span class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.9">Jdg. 1:9</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.19">19</span></a>), but those in the valley kept their ground against them, having <i>chariots of iron</i>, such as we read of, <a class="bibleref" title="Josh.17.16" href="/passage/?search=Josh.17.16">Josh. 17:16</a>. Here the men of Judah failed, and thereby spoiled the influence which otherwise their example hitherto might have had on the rest of the tribes, who followed them in this instance of their cowardice, rather than in all the other instances of their courage. They had iron chariots, and therefore it was thought not safe to attack them: but had not Israel God on their side, <i>whose chariots are thousands of angels</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.68.17" href="/passage/?search=Ps.68.17">Ps. 68:17</a>), before whom these iron chariots would be but as stubble to the fire? Had not God expressly promised by the oracle (<a class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.2" href="/passage/?search=Judg.1.2">Jdg. 1:2</a>) to give them success against the Canaanites in this very expedition, without excepting those that had iron chariots? Yet they suffered their fears to prevail against their faith, they could not trust God under any disadvantages, and therefore durst not face the iron chariots, but meanly withdrew their forces, when with one bold stroke they might have completed their victories; and it proved of pernicious consequence. They did run well, what hindered them? <a class="bibleref" title="Gal.5.7" href="/passage/?search=Gal.5.7">Gal. 5:7</a>. 2. Caleb was put in possession of Hebron, which, though given him by Joshua ten or twelve years before (as Dr. Lightfoot computes), yet being employed in public service, for the settling of the tribes, which he preferred before his own private interests, it seems he did not till now make himself master of; so well content was that good man to serve others, while he left himself to be served last; few are like-minded, for <i>all seek their own</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Phil.2.20,Phil.2.21" href="/passage/?search=Phil.2.20,Phil.2.21"><span class="bibleref" title="Phil.2.20">Phil. 2:20</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Phil.2.21">21</span></a>. Yet now the men of Judah all came in to his assistance for the reducing of Hebron (<a class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.10" href="/passage/?search=Judg.1.10">Jdg. 1:10</a>), slew the sons of Anak, and put him in possession of it, <a class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.20" href="/passage/?search=Judg.1.20">Jdg. 1:20</a>. They gave Hebron unto Caleb. And now Caleb, that he might return the kindness of his countrymen, is impatient to see Debir reduced and put into the hands of the men of Judah, to expedite which he proffers his daughter to the person that will undertake to command in the siege of that important place, <a class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.11,Judg.1.12" href="/passage/?search=Judg.1.11,Judg.1.12"><span class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.11">Jdg. 1:11</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.12">12</span></a>. Othniel bravely undertakes it, and wins the town and the lady (<a class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.13" href="/passage/?search=Judg.1.13">Jdg. 1:13</a>), and by his wife’s interest and management with her father gains a very good inheritance for himself and his family, <a class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.14,Judg.1.15" href="/passage/?search=Judg.1.14,Judg.1.15"><span class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.14">Jdg. 1:14</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Judg.1.15">15</span></a>. We had this passage before, <a class="bibleref" title="Josh.15.16-Josh.15.19" href="/passage/?search=Josh.15.16-Josh.15.19">Josh. 15:16-19</a>, where it was largely explained and improved. 3. Sim
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