Judges Chapter 1
After Joshua passed away, Israel entered an unusual period of time in which there was not one strong leader directed by God, and there was not yet a monarchy. This period lasted for about 340 years. This period is sometimes referred to as the “dark ages” of Israel. Instead of their being one strong leader for the people to follow, God raised up judges to lead for a particular project and once completed the judge would go back into obscurity. This meant that the people really needed to trust the LORD God.
When this book uses the term judge, it does not refer to a judge sitting in a court and making legal decisions. The Hebrew word shaphat has more the idea of a heroic leader. “The Hebrew word Shophetim is derived from a word meaning to put right, and so to rule, and this is exactly what these men did.” [Morgan]
“There is, however, one light in which the whole book may be viewed, which renders it invaluable; it is a most remarkable history of the long-suffering of God towards the Israelites, in which we find the most signal instances of his justice and mercy alternately displayed; the people sinned, and were punished; they repented, and found mercy. Something of this kind we meet within every page. And these things are written for our warning. None should presume, for God is just; none need despair, for God is merciful.” [Clarke]
The other thing we need to keep in mind is the names of the 12 tribes of Israel, so we know which names are being spoken of in the attempts to take conquest of all their various territories. Also keep in mind that the original 13 sons of Jacob are no longer alive, but the tribes are named after those sons. When the Bible says that “Judah said to Simeon his brother,” it refers to a member of the tribe of Judah speaking to a member of the Simeon tribe.
The sons of Jacob were Reuben, Simeon, Levi [but they did not receive a large allotment of land nor were they counted in the 12 tribes], Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, Dan, Naphtali, Joseph [but it was Joseph’s two sons Manasseh and Ephraim for which tribes 10 and 11 were named], and Benjamin.
Let's Reflect
1. There was an agreement made between the tribes of Judah and Simeon. What was the agreement?
2. According to verse 4 God kept a promise that he had made to the people that was given to them before Joshua had passed away. What promise did God keep?
3. There was a king captured by the name of Adoni-bezek who used to abuse people in a terrible manner, and so the men of Israel did to him the same thing he had done to others. What did they do to this king?
4. What did the men of the tribe of Judah do to the city of Jerusalem once they captured the inhabitants?
5. In verses 12-15 we read of the account of a challenge put forth by Caleb to conquer the inhabitants of the land that had been allotted to him and his family. What was the challenge and the reward that Caleb offered to the brave man who followed through with the challenge?
6. The daughter of Caleb boldly went to her father and asked for what? This is an example of how we should pray to our heavenly Father – to come boldly to the throne of grace.
7. Were the tribes of Israel victorious in conquering all the cities of their various territories?
8. You have to believe that the Israelites were tired of fighting, and the Canaanites were a difficult opponent. There are times when we get tired of fighting the good fight and we let the enemy win. Has there been a time when you stopped trusting in God and just kind of gave up?
