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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J U D G E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. I.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter gives us a particular account what sort of progress the
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several tribes of Israel made in the reducing of Canaan after the death
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of Joshua. He did (as we say) break the neck of that great work, and
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put it into such a posture that they might easily have perfected it in
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due time, if they had not been wanting to themselves; what they did in
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order hereunto, and wherein they came short, we are told.
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I. The united tribes o Judah and Simeon did bravely.
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1. God appointed Judah to begin,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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2. Judah took Simeon to act in conjunction with him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:3">ver. 3</A>.
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3. They succeeded in their enterprises against Bezek
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:4-7">ver. 4-7</A>),
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Jerusalem,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:8">ver. 8</A>.
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Hebron and Debir
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:9-15">ver. 9-15</A>),
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Hormah, Gaza, and other places,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:17-19">ver. 17-19</A>.
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4. Yet where there were chariots of iron their hearts failed them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:19">ver. 19</A>.
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Mention is made of the Kenites settling among them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:16">ver. 16</A>.
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II. The other tribes, in comparison with these, acted a cowardly part.
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1. Benjamin failed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:21">ver. 21</A>.
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2. The house of Joseph did well against Beth-el
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:22-26">ver. 22-26</A>),
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but in other places did not improve their advantages, nor Manasseh
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:27,28">ver. 27, 28</A>),
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nor Ephraim,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:29">ver. 29</A>.
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3. Zebulun spared the Canaanites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:30">ver. 30</A>.
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4. Asher truckled worse than any of them to the Canaanites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:31,32">ver. 31, 32</A>.
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5. Naphtali was kept out of the full possession of several of his
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cities,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:33">ver. 33</A>.
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6. Dan was straitened by the Amorites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:34">ver. 34</A>.
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No account is given of Issachar, nor of the two tribes and a half on
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the other side Jordan.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Jud1_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud1_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud1_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud1_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud1_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud1_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud1_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud1_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Judah Attacks the Canaanites; The Punishment of Adoni-bezek.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1425.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the
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children of Israel asked the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, saying, Who shall go up for us
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against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?
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2 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have
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delivered the land into his hand.
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3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into
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my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise
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will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
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4 And Judah went up; and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> delivered the Canaanites and
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the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek
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ten thousand men.
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5 And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek: and they fought against
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him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
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6 But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught
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him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
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7 And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their
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thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered <I>their meat</I> under
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my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they
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brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
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8 Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and
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had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set
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the city on fire.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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I. The children of Israel consult the oracle of God for direction which
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of all the tribes should first attempt to clear their country of the
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Canaanites, and to animate and encourage the rest. It was <I>after the
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death of Joshua.</I> While he lived he directed them, and all the
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tribes were obedient to him, but when he died he left no successor in
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the same authority that he had; but the people must consult the
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breast-plate of judgment, and thence receive the word of command; for
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God himself, as he was their King, so he was the Lord of their hosts.
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The question they ask is, <I>Who shall go up first?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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By this time, we may suppose, they were so multiplied that the places
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they were in possession of began to be too strait for them, and they
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must thrust out the enemy to make room; now they enquire who should
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first take up arms. Whether each tribe was ambitious of being first,
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and so strove for the honour of it, or whether each was afraid of being
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first, and so strove to decline it, does not appear; but by common
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consent the matter was referred to God himself, who is the fittest both
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to dispose of honours and to cut out work.</P>
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<P>
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II. God appointed that Judah should go up first, and promised him
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success
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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"<I>I have delivered the land into his hand,</I> to be possessed, and
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therefore will deliver the enemy into his hand, that keeps him out of
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possession, to be destroyed." And why must Judah be first in this
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undertaking?
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1. Judah was the most numerous and powerful tribe, and therefore let
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Judah venture first. Note, God appoints service according to the
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strength he has given. Those that are most able, from them most work is
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expected.
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2. Judah was first in dignity, and therefore must be first in duty. He
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it is whom <I>his brethren must praise,</I> and therefore he it is who
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must lead in perilous services. Let the burden of honour and the
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burden of work go together.
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3. Judah was first served; the lot came up for Judah first, and
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therefore Judah must first fight.
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4. Judah was the tribe out of which our Lord was to spring: so that in
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Judah, Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, went before them. Christ
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engaged the powers of darkness first, and foiled them, which animates
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us for our conflicts; and it is in him that we are <I>more than
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conquerors.</I> Observe, The service and the success are put together:
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"Judah shall go up; let him do his part, and then he shall find that
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<I>I have delivered the land into his hand.</I>" His service will not
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avail unless God give the success; but God will not give the success
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unless he vigorously apply himself to the service.</P>
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<P>
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III. Judah hereupon prepares to go up, but courts his brother and
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neighbour the tribe of Simeon (the lot of which tribe fell within that
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of Judah and was assigned out of it) to join forces with him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Observe here,
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1. That the strongest should not despise but desire the assistance even
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of those that are weaker. Judah was the most considerable of all the
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tribes, and Simeon the least considerable, and yet Judah begs Simeon's
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friendship, and prays an aid from him; the head cannot say to the foot,
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<I>I have no need of thee,</I> for we are <I>members one of
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another.</I>
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2. Those that crave assistance must be ready to give assistance:
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<I>Come with me into my lot,</I> and then <I>I will go with thee into
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thine.</I> It becomes Israelites to help one another against
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Canaanites; and all Christians, even those of different tribes, should
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strengthen one another's hands against the common interests of Satan's
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kingdom. Those who thus help one another in love have reason to hope
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that God will graciously help them both.</P>
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<P>
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IV. The confederate forces of Judah and Simeon take the field: <I>Judah
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went up</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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and Simeon with him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Caleb, it is probable, was commander-in-chief of this expedition; for
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who so fit as he who had both an old man's head and a young man's hand,
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the experience of age and the vigour of youth?
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+14:10,11">Josh. xiv. 10, 11</A>.
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It should seem too, by what follows
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>),
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that he was not yet in possession of his own allotment. It was happy
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for them that they had such a general as, according to his name, was
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all heart. Some think that the Canaanites had got together into a body,
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a formidable body, when Israel consulted who should go and <I>fight
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against them,</I> and that they then began to stir when they heard of
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the death of Joshua, whose name had been so dreadful to them; but, if
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so, it proved they did but meddle to their own hurt.</P>
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<P>
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V. God gave them great success. Whether they invaded the enemy, or the
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enemy first gave them the alarm, <I>the Lord delivered them into their
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hand,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Though the army of Judah was strong and bold, yet the victory is
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attributed to God: he <I>delivered the Canaanites into their hand;</I>
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having given them authority, he here gives them ability to destroy
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them--put it in their power, and so tried their obedience to his
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command, which was <I>utterly to cut them off.</I> Bishop Patrick
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observes upon this that we meet not with such religious expressions in
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the heathen writers, concerning the success of their arms, as we have
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here and elsewhere in this sacred history. I wish such pious
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acknowledgments of the divine providence had not grown into disuse at
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this time with many that are called Christians. Now,
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1. We are told how the army of the Canaanites was routed in the field,
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in or near Bezek, the place where they drew up, which afterwards Saul
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made the place of a general rendezvous
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:8">1 Sam. xi. 8</A>);
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they slew 10,000 men, which blow, if followed, could not but be a very
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great weakening to those that were already brought so very low.
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2. How their king was taken and mortified. His name was Adoni-bezek,
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which signifies, <I>lord of Bezek.</I> There have been those that
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called their lands by <I>their own names</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+49:11">Ps. xlix. 11</A>),
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but here was one (and there has been many another) that called himself
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by his land's name. He was taken prisoner after the battle, and we are
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here told how they used him; they cut off his thumbs, to disfit him for
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fighting, and his great toes, that he might not be able to run away,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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It had been barbarous thus to triumph over a man in misery, and that
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lay at their mercy, but that he was a devoted Canaanite, and one that
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had in like manner abused others, which probably they had heard of.
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Josephus says, "They cut off his hands and his feet," probably
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supposing those more likely to be mortal wounds than only the cutting
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off of his thumbs and his great toes. But this indignity which they did
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him extorted from him an acknowledgment of the righteousness of God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Here observe,
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(1.) What a great man this Adoni-bezek had been, how great in the
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field, where armies fled before him, how great at home, where kings
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were <I>set with the dogs of his flock;</I> and yet now himself a
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prisoner, and reduced to the extremity of meanness and disgrace. See
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how changeable this world is, and how slippery its high places are. Let
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not the highest be proud, nor the strongest secure, for they know not
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how low they may be brought before they die.
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(2.) What desolations he had made among his neighbours: he had wholly
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subdued seventy kings, to such a degree as to have them his prisoners;
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he that was the chief person in a city was then called a <I>king,</I>
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and the greatness of their title did but aggravate their disgrace, and
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fired the pride of him that insulted over them. We cannot suppose that
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Adoni-bezek had seventy of these petty princes at once his slaves; but
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first and last, in the course of his reign, he had thus deposed and
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abused so many, who perhaps were many of them kings of the same cities
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that successively opposed him, and whom he thus treated to please his
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own imperious barbarous fancy, and for a terror to others. It seems the
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Canaanites had been wasted by civil wars, and those bloody ones, among
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themselves, which would very much facilitate the conquest of them by
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Israel. "Judah," says Dr. Lightfoot, "in conquering Adoni-bezek, did,
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in effect, conquer seventy kings."
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(3.) How justly he was treated as he had treated others. Thus the
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righteous God sometimes, in his providence, makes the punishment to
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answer the sin, and observes an equality in his judgments; the spoiler
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shall be spoiled, and the <I>treacherous dealer dealt treacherously</I>
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with,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:1">Isa. xxxiii. 1</A>.
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And those that <I>showed no mercy</I> shall have <I>no mercy shown</I>
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+2:13">Jam. ii. 13</A>.
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See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+13:10,18:6">Rev. xiii. 10; xviii. 6</A>.
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(4.) How honestly he owned the righteousness of God herein: <I>As I
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have done, so God has requited me.</I> See the power of conscience,
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when God by his judgments awakens it, how it brings sin to remembrance,
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and subscribes to the justice of God. He that in his pride had set God
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at defiance now yields to him, and reflects with as much regret upon
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the kings under his table as ever he had looked upon them with pleasure
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when he had them there. He seems to own that he was better dealt with
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than he had dealt with his prisoners; for though the Israelites maimed
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him (according to the law of retaliation, an <I>eye for an eye,</I> so
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a thumb for a thumb), yet they did not put him <I>under the table</I>
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to be fed with the crumbs there, because, though the other might well
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be looked upon as an act of justice, this would have savoured more of
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pride and haughtiness than did become an Israelite.</P>
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<P>
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VI. Particular notice is taken of the conquest of Jerusalem,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Our translators judge it spoken of here as done formerly in Joshua's
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time, and only repeated on occasion of Adoni-bezek's dying there, and
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therefore read it, "they had fought against Jerusalem," and put this
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verse in a parenthesis; but the original speaks of it as a thing now
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done, and this seems most probable because it is said to be done by the
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children of Judah in particular, not by all Israel in general, whom
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Joshua commanded. Joshua indeed conquered and slew Adoni-zedek, king
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of Jerusalem
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+10:1-43">Josh. x.</A>),
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but we read not there of his taking the city; probably, while he was
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pursing his conquests elsewhere, this Adoni-bezek, a neighbouring
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prince, got possession of it, whom Israel having conquered in the
|
|
field, the city fell into their hands, and they slew the inhabitants,
|
|
except those who retreated into the castle and held out there till
|
|
David's time, and they <I>set the city on fire,</I> in token of their
|
|
detestation of the idolatry wherewith it had been deeply infected, yet
|
|
probably not so utterly as to consume it, but to leave convenient
|
|
habitations for as many as they had to put into the possession of
|
|
it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_20"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Conquests of Judah.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1425.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight
|
|
against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the
|
|
south, and in the valley.
|
|
10 And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron:
|
|
(now the name of Hebron before <I>was</I> Kirjath-arba:) and they slew
|
|
Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.
|
|
11 And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir:
|
|
and the name of Debir before <I>was</I> Kirjath-sepher:
|
|
12 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh
|
|
it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
|
|
13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took
|
|
it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
|
|
14 And it came to pass, when she came <I>to him,</I> that she moved
|
|
him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off <I>her</I>
|
|
ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
|
|
15 And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast
|
|
given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb
|
|
gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
|
|
16 And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went
|
|
up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into
|
|
the wilderness of Judah, which <I>lieth</I> in the south of Arad; and
|
|
they went and dwelt among the people.
|
|
17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the
|
|
Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And
|
|
the name of the city was called Hormah.
|
|
18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon
|
|
with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
|
|
19 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was with Judah; and he drave out <I>the
|
|
inhabitants of</I> the mountain; but could not drive out the
|
|
inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
|
|
20 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he
|
|
expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<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 HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:9,19"><I>v.</I> 9, 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
but those in the valley kept their ground against them, having
|
|
<I>chariots of iron,</I> such as we read of,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+17:16">Josh. xvii. 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 HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:17">Ps. lxviii. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
before whom these iron chariots would be but as stubble to the fire?
|
|
Had not God expressly promised by the oracle
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:2"><I>v.</I> 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 HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+5:7">Gal. v. 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 HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+2:20,21">Phil. ii. 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Yet now the men of Judah all came in to his assistance for the reducing
|
|
of Hebron
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
slew the sons of Anak, and put him in possession of it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:20"><I>v.</I> 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 HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Othniel bravely undertakes it, and wins the town and the lady
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
and by his wife's interest and management with her father gains a very
|
|
good inheritance for himself and his family,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
We had this passage before,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+15:16-19">Josh. xv. 16-19</A>,
|
|
|
|
where it was largely explained and improved.
|
|
|
|
3. Simeon got ground of the Canaanites in his border,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:17,18"><I>v.</I> 17, 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
In the eastern part of Simeon's lot, they destroyed the Canaanites in
|
|
Zephath, and called it <I>Hormah--destruction,</I> adding this to some
|
|
other devoted cities not far off, which they had some time ago, with
|
|
good reason, called by that name,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+21:2,3">Num. xxi. 2, 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
And this perhaps was the complete performance of the vow they them made
|
|
that they would utterly destroy these cities of the Canaanites in the
|
|
south. In the western part they took Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron, cities
|
|
of the Philistines; they gained present possession of the cities, but,
|
|
not destroying the inhabitants, the Philistines in process of time
|
|
recovered the cities, and proved inveterate enemies to the Israel of
|
|
God, and no better could come of doing their work by the halves.
|
|
|
|
4. The Kenites gained a settlement in the tribe of Judah, choosing it
|
|
there rather than in any other tribe, because it was the strongest, and
|
|
there they hoped to be safe and quiet,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
These were the posterity of Jethro, who either went with Israel when
|
|
Moses invited them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+10:29">Num. x. 29</A>)
|
|
|
|
or met them about the same place when they came up from their
|
|
wanderings in the wilderness thirty-eight years after, and went with
|
|
them then to Canaan, Moses having promised them that they should fare
|
|
as Israel fared,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+10:32">Num. x. 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
They had at first seated themselves in the <I>city of palm-trees,</I>
|
|
that is, Jericho, a city which never was to be rebuilt, and therefore
|
|
the fitter for those who <I>dwelt in tents,</I> and did not mind
|
|
building. But afterwards they removed into the wilderness of Judah,
|
|
either out of their affection to that place, because solitary and
|
|
retired, or out of their affection to that tribe, which perhaps had
|
|
been in a particular manner kind to them. Yet we find the tent of Jael,
|
|
who was of that family, far north, in the lot of Naphtali, when Sisera
|
|
took shelter there,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+4:17"><I>ch.</I> iv. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
This respect Israel showed them, to let them fix where they pleased,
|
|
being a quiet people, who, wherever they were, were content with a
|
|
little. Those that molested none were molested by none. <I>Blessed are
|
|
the meek, for</I> thus <I>they shall inherit the earth.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud1_36"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Israelites Mixed with the Canaanites.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1425.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>21 And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites
|
|
that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the
|
|
children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
|
|
22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel:
|
|
and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>was</I> with them.
|
|
23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name
|
|
of the city before <I>was</I> Luz.)
|
|
24 And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they
|
|
said unto him, show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city,
|
|
and we will show thee mercy.
|
|
25 And when he showed them the entrance into the city, they
|
|
smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the
|
|
man and all his family.
|
|
26 And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a
|
|
city, and called the name thereof Luz: which <I>is</I> the name
|
|
thereof unto this day.
|
|
27 Neither did Manasseh drive out <I>the inhabitants of</I>
|
|
Beth-shean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the
|
|
inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam
|
|
and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but
|
|
the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
|
|
28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put
|
|
the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
|
|
29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in
|
|
Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
|
|
30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor
|
|
the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them,
|
|
and became tributaries.
|
|
31 Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor
|
|
the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of
|
|
Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:
|
|
32 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the
|
|
inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.
|
|
33 Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of
|
|
Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among
|
|
the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the
|
|
inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became tributaries
|
|
unto them.
|
|
34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the
|
|
mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the
|
|
valley:
|
|
35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and
|
|
in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so
|
|
that they became tributaries.
|
|
36 And the coast of the Amorites <I>was</I> from the going up to
|
|
Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We are here told upon what terms the rest of the tribes stood with the
|
|
Canaanites that remained.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Benjamin neglected to drive the Jebusites out of that part of the
|
|
city of Jerusalem which fell to their lot,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Judah had set them a good example, and gained them great advantages by
|
|
what they did
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
but they did not follow the blow for want of resolution.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The house of Joseph,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Bestirred themselves a little to get possession of Beth-el,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
That city is mentioned in the tribe of Benjamin,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:22">Josh. xviii. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Yet it is spoken of there
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>)
|
|
|
|
as a city in the borders of that tribe, and, it should seem, the line
|
|
went through it, so that one half of it only belonged to Benjamin, the
|
|
other half to Ephraim; and perhaps the activity of the Ephraimites at
|
|
this time, to recover it from the Canaanites, secured it entirely to
|
|
them henceforward, or at least the greatest part of it, for afterwards
|
|
we find it so much under the power of the ten tribes (and Benjamin was
|
|
none of them) that Jeroboam set up one of his calves in it. In this
|
|
account of the expedition of the Ephraimites against Beth-el
|
|
observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Their interest in the divine favour: <I>The Lord was with
|
|
them,</I> and would have been with the other tribes if they would have
|
|
exerted their strength. The Chaldee reads it here, as in many other
|
|
places, <I>The Word of the Lord was their helper,</I> namely, Christ
|
|
himself, the captain of the Lord's host, now that they acted
|
|
separately, as well as when they were all in one body.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The prudent measures they took to gain the city. They sent spies
|
|
to observe what part of the city was weakest, or which way they might
|
|
make their attack with most advantage,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
These spies got very good information from a man they providentially
|
|
met with, who showed them a private way into the town, which was left
|
|
unguarded because, being not generally known, no danger was suspected
|
|
on that side. And here,
|
|
|
|
[1.] He is not to be blamed for giving them this intelligence if he did
|
|
it from a conviction that <I>the Lord was with them,</I> and that by
|
|
his donation the land was theirs of right, any more than Rahab was for
|
|
entertaining those whom she knew to be enemies of her country, but
|
|
friends of God. Nor,
|
|
|
|
[2.] Are those to be blamed who <I>showed him mercy,</I> gave him and
|
|
his family not only their lives, but liberty to go wherever they
|
|
pleased: for one good turn requires another. But, it seems, he would
|
|
not join himself to the people of Israel, he feared them rather than
|
|
loved them, and therefore he removed after a colony of the Hittites,
|
|
which, it should seem, had gone into Arabia and settled there upon
|
|
Joshua's invasion of the country; with them this man chose to dwell,
|
|
and among them he built a city, a small one, we may suppose, such as
|
|
planters commonly build, and in the name of it preserved the ancient
|
|
name of his native city, <I>Luz, an almond-tree,</I> preferring this
|
|
before its new name, which carried religion in it,
|
|
<I>Bethel</I>--<I>the house of God.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) Their success. The spies brought or sent notice of the
|
|
intelligence they had gained to the army, which improved their
|
|
advantages, surprised the city, and put them all to the sword,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
But,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Besides this achievement, it seems, the children of Joseph did
|
|
nothing remarkable
|
|
|
|
(1.) Manasseh failed to drive out the Canaanites from several very
|
|
considerable cities in their lot, and did not make any attempt upon
|
|
them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
But the Canaanites, being in possession, were resolved not to quit it;
|
|
they would dwell in that land, and Manasseh had not resolution enough
|
|
to offer to dispossess them; as if there was no meddling with them
|
|
unless they were willing to resign, which it was not to be expected
|
|
they ever would be. Only as Israel got strength they got ground, and
|
|
served themselves, both by their contributions and by their personal
|
|
services,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:28,35"><I>v.</I> 28, 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Ephraim likewise, though a powerful tribe, neglected Gezer a
|
|
considerable city, and suffered the Canaanites to <I>dwell among
|
|
them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>),
|
|
|
|
which, some think, intimates their allowing them a quiet settlement,
|
|
and indulging them with the privileges of an unconquered people, not so
|
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much as making them tributaries.</P>
|
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<P>
|
|
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III. Zebulun, perhaps inclining to the sea-trade, for it was foretold
|
|
that it should be a haven for ships, neglected to reduce Kitron and
|
|
Nahalol
|
|
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>),
|
|
|
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and only made the inhabitants of those places tributaries to them.</P>
|
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|
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<P>
|
|
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IV. Asher quitted itself worse than any of the tribes
|
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|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:31,32"><I>v.</I> 31, 32</A>),
|
|
|
|
not only in leaving more towns than any of them in the hands of the
|
|
Canaanites, but in submitting to the Canaanites instead of making them
|
|
tributaries; for so the manner of expression intimates, that the
|
|
Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, as if the Canaanites were the
|
|
more numerous and the more powerful, would still be lords of the
|
|
country, and the Israelites must be only upon sufferance among
|
|
them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. Naphtali also permitted the Canaanites to live among them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
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|
|
|
only by degrees they got them so far under as to exact contributions
|
|
from them.</P>
|
|
|
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<P>
|
|
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|
VI. Dan was so far from extending his conquests where his lot lay that,
|
|
wanting spirit to make head against the Amorites, he was forced by them
|
|
to retire into the mountains and inhabit the cities there, but durst
|
|
not venture into the valley, where, it is probable, the chariots of
|
|
iron were,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
|
|
|
|
Nay, and some of the cities in the mountains were kept against them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus were they straitened in their possessions, and forced to seek for
|
|
more room at Laish, a great way off,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+18:1-31"><I>ch.</I> xviii. 1</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. In Jacob's blessing Judah is compared to a lion, Dan to a serpent;
|
|
now observe how Judah with his lion-like courage prospered and
|
|
prevailed, but Dan with all his serpenting subtlety could get no
|
|
ground; craft and artful management do not always effect the wonders
|
|
they pretend to. What Dan came short of doing, it seems, his neighbours
|
|
the Ephraimites in part did for him; they put the Amorites under
|
|
tribute,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Upon the whole matter it appears that the people of Israel were
|
|
generally very careless both of their duty and interest in this thing;
|
|
they did not what they might have done to expel the Canaanites and make
|
|
room for themselves. And,
|
|
|
|
1. It was owing to their slothfulness and cowardice. They would not be
|
|
at the pains to complete their conquests; like the sluggard, that
|
|
dreamed of a lion in the way, a lion in the streets, they fancied
|
|
insuperable difficulties, and frightened themselves with winds and
|
|
clouds from sowing and reaping.
|
|
|
|
2. It was owing to their covetousness; the Canaanites' labour and money
|
|
would do them more good (they thought) than their blood, and therefore
|
|
they were willing to let them live among them, that they might make a
|
|
hand of them.
|
|
|
|
3. They had not that dread and detestation of idolatry which they ought
|
|
to have had; they thought it a pity to put these Canaanites to the
|
|
sword, though the measure of their iniquity was full, thought it would
|
|
be no harm to let them live among them, and that they should be in no
|
|
danger from them.
|
|
|
|
4. The same thing that kept their fathers forty years out of Canaan
|
|
kept them now out of the full possession of it, and that was unbelief.
|
|
Distrust of the power and promise of God lost them their advantages,
|
|
and ran them into a thousand mischiefs.</P>
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