1I stalo se po smrti Jozua, že se synové Izraele doptávali Hospodina: Kdo z nás vytáhne proti Kenaancům jako první, aby s nimi vedl válku? 2A Hospodin odpověděl: Vytáhne Juda. Hle, vydal jsem tu zemi do jeho ruky. 3Juda řekl svému bratru Šimeónovi: Vytáhni se mnou do území mého losu a bojujme proti Kenaancům. A já s tebou také půjdu do území tvého losu. Šimeón šel tedy s ním. 4Juda vytáhl a Hospodin vydal Kenaance a Perizejce do jejich rukou. Pobili je v Bezeku, deset tisíc mužů. 5Přitom nalezli v Bezeku Adoní-bezeka, bojovali proti němu a pobili Kenaance a Perizejce. 6Adoní-bezek však utekl a oni jej pronásledovali. Chytili ho a usekli mu palce na rukou i na nohou. 7Adoní-bezek nato řekl: Sedmdesát králů s useknutými palci na rukou a na nohou sbírávalo pod mým stolem. Jak jsem jednal já, tak mi Bůh odplatil. Přivedli ho do Jeruzaléma a tam zemřel. 8Synové Judovi bojovali proti Jeruzalému, dobyli jej, vybili ho ostřím meče a město podpálili. 9Potom synové Judovi sestoupili do boje s Kenaanci sídlícími na pohoří, v Negebu a v Šefele. 10Tak táhl Juda proti Kenaancům, sídlícím v Chebrónu (jméno Chebrónu bylo předtím Kirjat-arba) a pobili Šéšaje, Achímana a Talmaje. 11Odtud táhl proti obyvatelům Debíru (jméno Debíru bylo předtím Kirjat-sefer). 12Tehdy řekl Káleb: Kdo přepadne Kirjat-sefer a dobude ho, tomu dám svou dceru Aksu, za ženu. 13Dobyl ho Otníel, syn Kenazův, mladší bratr Káleba, a on mu dal svou dceru Aksu za ženu. 14I stalo se, když přišla, že jej navedla, aby žádal od jejího otce pole. Sesedla z osla a Káleb se jí zeptal: Jaké máš přání? 15Odpověděla mu: Dej mi požehnání, protože jsi mě provdal do jižní země, dej mi vodní nádrže. Káleb jí tedy dal horní i dolní nádrže. 16Synové Kénijce, Mojžíšova tchána, vytáhli z Ír-hatmarímu se syny Judovými do judské pustiny, která je na jih od Aradu, putovali a usadili se s tím lidem. 17A Juda šel se svým bratrem Šimeónem, pobili Kenaance sídlící v Sefatu a zasvětili je zkáze. Potom nazvali to město jménem Chorma. 18Juda také dobyl Gazu a její území, Aškalón a jeho území a Ekrón a jeho území. 19Hospodin byl s Judou a ten si podrobil pohoří. Ale nebyl schopen podrobit si obyvatele údolí, protože měli železné vozy. 20Kálebovi dali Chebrón, jak to Mojžíš vyhlásil, a on odtamtud vyhnal tři syny Anákovy. 21Avšak Jebúsejce, obyvatele Jeruzaléma, si synové Benjamínovi nepodrobili a Jebúsejci pobývali se syny Benjamínovými v Jeruzalémě až do tohoto dne. 22Také dům Josefův vystoupil k Bét-elu a Hospodin byl s nimi. 23Dům Josefův pak provedl v Bét-elu průzkum; jméno toho města bylo předtím Lúz. 24Průzkumníci viděli muže vycházejícího z města a řekli mu: Ukaž nám teď průchod do města a my ti prokážeme milosrdenství. 25Ukázal jim tedy průchod do města. Oni to město vybili ostřím meče, ale toho muže a celou jeho rodinu propustili. 26A ten muž šel do chetejské země, vystavěl město a nazval je jménem Lúz. To je jeho jméno až do tohoto dne. 27Manases si však nepodrobil Bét-šeán a jeho vesnice, Taanak a jeho vesnice, obyvatele Dóru a jeho vesnic, obyvatele Jibleámu a jeho vesnic a obyvatele Megida a jeho vesnic. Kenaanci si tedy umínili v této zemi zůstat. 28I stalo se, když se Izrael vzmohl, že uložil Kenaancům nucené práce, ale úplně si je nepodrobil. 29Ani Efrajim si nepodrobil Kenaance, sídlící v Gezeru a Kenaanci pobývali uprostřed něj v Gezeru. 30Zabulón si nepodrobil obyvatele Kitrónu a obyvatele Nahalólu. Kenaanci pobývali uprostřed nich a byli vydáni na nucené práce. 31Ašer si nepodrobil obyvatele Aka, obyvatele Sidónu, Achlábu, Akzíbu, Chelby, Afíku a Rechóbu. 32Ášerovci tak sídlili uprostřed Kenaanců usazených v zemi, protože si je nepodrobili. 33Neftalí si nepodrobil obyvatele Bét-šemeše a obyvatele Bét-anatu a pobýval mezi Kenaanci usazenými v té zemi. Obyvatelé Bét-šemeše a Bét-anatu jim byli vydáni na nucené práce. 34Emorejci zatlačili syny Danovy do pohoří, neboť jim nedovolili sestupovat do údolí. 35Emorejci si tedy umínili zůstat v Har-cheresu, v Ajalónu a v Šaalbímu. Těžce na ně dolehla ruka domu Josefova a byli vydáni na nucené práce. 36Emorejská hranice vedla od průsmyku Akrabim, od Sély až nahoru.
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.