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JUDG ES 1
page 217
book of Judges, we may well ask where we are today in this cycle—in the depths of personal
defeat, crying to God for help, or at the pinnacle of success, possibly forgetting that it was
God who brought us there. Or are we somewhere in between, on our way up or down?
The message of Judges is simple: Remember, acknowledge, and honor God, whether in
defeat or victory. He will rescue you from defeat. But he expects you to honor him in your
hour of victory. That will lead to greater victory, not a regression into another defeat.
Key verses in Judges
1:28 When the Israelites
grew stronger, they forced the
Canaanites to work as slaves,
but they never did drive them
completely out of the land.
2:7 The Israelites served the
Lord throughout the lifetime
of Joshua.
2:18-19 Whenever the Lord
raised up a judge over Israel, he
was with that judge and rescued
the people from their enemies
throughout the judge’s lifetime.
For the Lord took pity on his
people, who were burdened by
oppression and suffering. But
when the judge died, the people
returned to their corrupt ways,
behaving worse than those who
had lived before them. They
went after other gods, serving
and worshiping them. And
they refused to give up their
evil practices and stubborn
ways.
Judah and Simeon Conquer the Land
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites
asked the Lord, “Which tribe should go first
to attack the Canaanites?”
2 The Lord answered, “Judah, for I have given
them victory over the land.”
3 The men of Judah said to their relatives from
the tribe of Simeon, “Join with us to fight against
the Canaanites living in the territory allotted to
us. Then we will help you conquer your territory.” So the men of Simeon went with Judah.
4 When the men of Judah attacked, the Lord
gave them victory over the Canaanites and Perizzites, and they killed 10,000 enemy warriors
at the town of Bezek. 5 While at Bezek they encountered King Adoni-bezek and fought against
him, and the Canaanites and Perizzites were defeated. 6 Adoni-bezek escaped, but the Israelites
soon captured him and cut off his thumbs and
big toes.
7 Adoni-bezek said, “I once had seventy kings
with their thumbs and big toes cut off, eating
scraps from under my table. Now God has paid
me back for what I did to them.” They took him
to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8 The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and
captured it, killing all its people and setting the
city on fire. 9 Then they went down to fight the
Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev,
1
1:9 Hebrew the Shephelah. 1:14 Greek version and Latin
Vulgate read he urged her. 1:17a The Hebrew term used here
refers to the complete consecration of things or people to
the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them as an
offering. 1:17b Hormah means “destruction.”
4:14 Then Deborah said to Barak,
“Get ready! This is the day the Lord
will give you victory . . . for the Lord
is marching ahead of you.”
6:12 “Mighty hero, the Lord is
with you!”
6:23 “It is all right,” the Lord
replied. “Do not be afraid.”
17:6 In those days Israel had
no king; all the people did
whatever seemed right in their
own eyes.
and the western foothills.* 10 Judah marched
against the Canaanites in Hebron (formerly
called Kiriath-arba), defeating the forces of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
11 From there they went to fight against the
people living in the town of Debir (formerly
called Kiriath-sepher). 12 Caleb said, “I will give
my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who
attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.” 13 Othniel,
the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz, was
the one who conquered it, so Acsah became
Othniel’s wife.
14 When Acsah married Othniel, she urged
him* to ask her father for a field. As she got
down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What’s
the matter?”
15 She said, “Let me have another gift. You
have already given me land in the Negev; now
please give me springs of water, too.” So Caleb
gave her the upper and lower springs.
16 When the tribe of Judah left Jericho—the
city of palms—the Kenites, who were descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, traveled with
them into the wilderness of Judah. They settled
among the people there, near the town of Arad
in the Negev.
17 Then Judah joined with Simeon to fight
against the Canaanites living in Zephath, and
they completely destroyed* the town. So the
town was named Hormah.* 18 In addition, Judah captured the towns of Gaza, Ashkelon, and
Ekron, along with their surrounding territories.