SERIES H --- THE JUDGES --- LESSON 01

INCOMPLETE OBEDIENCE

SEVENTY THUMBS AND SEVENTY TOES

From Judges 1:1-36

Which tribe should go to fight the Canaanites first? The people of Israel asked Adonai when Joshua had died. Judah will be first, Adonai answered. I have already arranged for them to win. The tribe of Judah made an agreement with the tribe of Simeon. Come and help us defeat the Canaanites in our territory, they said. Then we will help you capture the land given you. The tribe of Simeon agreed and went with the tribe of Judah. Adonai gave them victory over the Canaanites and the Perizzites; they killed about ten thousand of these people at Bezek. King Adoni-bezek ran away from them, but the people of Judah and Simeon captured him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. I have done the same to seventy kings, said King Adoni-bezek and made them eat scraps under my table; therefore, YHVH has given me what I deserved. King Adoni-bezek was then brought to Jerusalem, where he died. This battle against the Canaanites began after Judah had destroyed Jerusalem, killing its people and burning the city. The attack against the Canaanites followed in this order: first the attack against the Canaanites in the hill country, the Negev and the plains near the sea; then the battle went against the Canaanites at Hebron, known previously as Kiriath-arba, where Sheshai, Ahinian and Talmai were defeated. The battle against Debir, formerly Kiriath-sepher, was next. It was at this time that Caleb made his strange offer: The man who captures Kiriath-sepher may marry my daughter Achsah, he said. And Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz, captured the city and married Achsah. After talking with her new husband about her father’s wedding gift, Achsah went to see Caleb. What would you like? Caleb asked as she got off her donkey. You have given me land in the wilderness of the Negev, Achsah said to her father. But we also need some springs of water to go with this land. Then Caleb gave his daughter both the upper and the lower springs of water. When some of the people of Judah had occupied the land south of Arad, in the wilderness country of the Negev, the Kenites, descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, left their homes in Jericho, The City of Palm Trees and went to live there with them. Later the people of Judah and Simeon joined in a campaign against the Canaanites in Zephath, killing all the people of the city. They renamed the city Hormah. The soldiers of Judah defeated the cities of Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron along with the surrounding territory. Adonai was with the forces of Judah, helping them to conquer the people of the hill country. But because of the iron chariots of the enemy, Judah could not conquer the people in the plains. Caleb was able to drive out the three sons of Anak from Hebron, but the people of Benjamin could not drive the Jebusites from Jerusalem. Therefore, the Jebusites still live in Jerusalem with the people of Benjamin at the time it is written. Joseph’s descendants set out to conquer Bethel, which had previously been called Luz. When they approached the city, they sent spies, who captured a man from Bethel. Show us the way into the city and we will spare you, they said to their captive. To save his life, the man showed them the way into the city. They destroyed all of the people of Bethel, except for this man and his family. Later, the man moved his family into the land of the Hittites, which became Syria and founded a new city called Luz. The people of Manasseh never did drive out the Canaanites who lived in Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, Gezer and the territory around these cities. Years later however, Israel grew strong enough to force these Canaanites to work for them as slaves; but the Israelites and the Canaanites continued to live together in the land. The people of Zebulun never drove out the people of Kitron or Nahalol, but they too, later made them slaves. The people of Asher failed to drive out the people of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbab, Aplik and Rehob; but they lived in these cities with the Canaanites. Naphtali failed to drive out the people of Beth-shemesh or Beth-anath, but made them slaves instead. The Amorites forced the people of Dan to live in the hill country, refusing to let them live with them in the plains. But later, when the Amorites had occupied Har-heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, the people of Joseph forced them to become their slaves. The Amorite border began at the ascent of Scorpion Pass, from Sela and upward.

COMMENTARY

THE CANAANITES

YHVH promised Israel the land of Canaan. So YHVH delivered the Hebrews from four hundred years of slavery in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land. Under Joshua, that land was conquered and divided among the twelve tribes. The coming generations would have to continue to drive out more of the old inhabitants as Israel grew and required more land. The new generation did not completely obey. They defeated the Canaanites in battle, but did not drive them out of the land. Canaan, a small land strip with the Mediterranean Sea on one side and a vast desert on the other, was the only path between Egypt and the lands to the north and east for thousands of years. Because of this, Canaan became a meeting place for people of many countries and cultures. When the Israelites migrated there, they found at least nine distinct groups. They called all of them {Canaanites.} Most were farmers who settled in Canaan because of its rich soil. Wealthy princes ruled small areas and constantly fought for control. These were the rulers the Israelites would face during their battles of conquest.