Judges 1:1-26

1:1-3:6 | The book of Judges begins with a double introduction that reports Israel’s failure to remove the Canaanites from the land through warfare (1:1-2:5) and Israel’s all into idolatry (2:6-3:6). These failures are mirrored in the double conclusion at the end of the book (Judg. 17-21).

1:1 | Judges covers the period between Joshua and Samuel – some 300 to 400 years – and introduces a new period of leadership (Josh. 24:29). Rather than major national figures for long durations, lesser-known “judges” would locally lead Israel for shorter periods of time. They did not fulfill a judicial role by settling internal disputes (except for Deborah in 4:5). Rather, they functioned as deliverers and military leaders who rescued the people of Israel from external enemies.

1:5-7 | As the first Canaanite introduced in Judges, Adoni-Bezek represents the kind of evil that God intended for His people to remove from the Promised Land (1 Sam. 11:8). Cutting off a person’s thumbs and big toes was an act of humiliation that reduced him or her to the status of beggar in that era.

1:8 | Apparently, the Jebusites moved in from the north shortly after the victory described here. They remained in control of Jerusalem until King David drove them out many years later (2 Sam. 5:6-10).

1:12-15 | This account first appears in Joshua 15:13-19. The author of Judges repeats it here to remind readers that God honors such courage, initiative, and determination when His people pursue what He has asked them to do.

1:21-36 | In repeatedly failing to drive out all the Canaanites from the Promised Land, the Israelites directly disobeyed the Lord’s instructions (Deut. 7), which were intended to protect His chosen people from corrupting influences. Where evil is tolerated, it will be accepted and then imitated.

1:22-25 | Historically, Bethel was where God met with His people (Gen. 13:3-4; 31:13). While the Israelites were initially faithful to recapture this important city, they spared some of the inhabitants, who established another city where they worshiped Canaanite gods. Such incomplete or halfhearted obedience opens the door to failure and sin (Josh. 23:13).