August 8

Introduction

Judges 1:1–21: Today we begin reading excerpts from the book of Judges, which contains accounts from a lawless period in Israel’s history between the occupation of Canaan and the establishment of the monarchy. Most of these stories are about the exploits of national heroes called “judges,” who were usually military leaders. Israel’s survival depended on loyalty to God, but even when the nation was disloyal and disaster came, God was always ready to save the people when they repented and turned back to him. Today’s reading recounts Israel’s attempts to drive out the Canaanites after Joshua dies.

Today’s Key Verse: Judges 1:3a

The people of Judah said to the people of Simeon, “Go with us into the territory assigned to us, and we will fight the Canaanites together.”

Reading

1 After Joshua’s death the people of Israel asked the Lord, “Which of our tribes should be the first to go and attack the Canaanites?”

² The Lord answered, “The tribe of Judah will go first. I am giving them control of the land.”

³ The people of Judah said to the people of Simeon, “Go with us into the territory assigned to us, and we will fight the Canaanites together. Then we will go with you into the territory assigned to you.” So the tribes of Simeon ⁴ and Judah went into battle together. The Lord gave them victory over the Canaanites and the Perizzites, and they defeated ten thousand men at Bezek. ⁵ They found Adonibezek there and fought him. ⁶ He ran away, but they chased him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. ⁷ Adonibezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have picked up scraps under my table. God has now done to me what I did to them.” He was taken to Jerusalem, where he died.

⁸ The people of Judah attacked Jerusalem and captured it. They killed its people and set fire to the city. ⁹ After this they went on to fight the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the foothills, and in the dry country to the south. ¹⁰ They marched against the Canaanites living in the city of Hebron, which used to be called Kiriath Arba. There they defeated the clans of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

¹¹ From there the men of Judah marched against the city of Debir, at that time called Kiriath Sepher. ¹² One of them, called Caleb, said, “I will give my daughter Achsah in marriage to the man who succeeds in capturing Kiriath Sepher.” ¹³ Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz, captured the city, so Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah in marriage. ¹⁴ On the wedding day Othniel urged her to ask her father for a field. She got down from her donkey, and Caleb asked her what she wanted. ¹⁵ She answered, “I want some water holes. The land you have given me is in the dry country.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

¹⁶ The descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went on with the people of Judah from Jericho, the city of palm trees, into the barren country south of Arad in Judah. There they settled among the Amalekites. ¹⁷ The people of Judah went with the people of Simeon, and together they defeated the Canaanites who lived in the city of Zephath. They put a curse on the city, destroyed it, and named it Hormah. ^18-19 The Lord helped the people of Judah, and they took possession of the hill country. But they did not capture Gaza, Ashkelon, or Ekron, with their surrounding territories. These people living along the coast had iron chariots, and so the people of Judah were not able to drive them out. ²⁰ As Moses had commanded, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove out of the city the three clans descended from Anak. ²¹ But the people of the tribe of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem, and the Jebusites have continued to live there with the people of Benjamin ever since.

Reflect

Which tribe was chosen first to attack the Canaanites? With what tribe did they form an alliance? Verses 11–15 describe the success of Othniel in conquering the city of Debir. How was he rewarded for capturing the city? Othniel will later become one of Israel’s judges (see Judges 3:7–11). What were your thoughts as you read the book’s opening verses? What is new in verse 21?

Pray

Almighty God, lead us all in the way of reconciliation and help me to be an instrument of peace and healing to those who are hurting. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Judges 4:1–24: Deborah and Barak battle a Canaanite army.