Judges 1:1

Judges 1:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?
• English Standard Version (ESV)After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, "Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?”
• New Living Translation (NLT)After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?”

Context of Judges 1:1

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?” 2The Lord answered, “Judah shall go up; I have given the land into their hands.” 3The men of Judah then said to the Simeonites their fellow Israelites, “Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours.” So the Simeonites went with them.

Judges 1:1 word by word

וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ מ֣וֹת יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ וַֽיִּשְׁאֲלוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בַּיהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר מִ֣י יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֧נוּ אֶל־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛י בַּתְּחִלָּ֖ה לְהִלָּ֥חֶם בּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Now afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• the deathמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194
• of Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
• it came to pass, that the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• askedשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Who shall go upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• for us against the Canaanitesכְּנַעֲנִיkena‛anîy · CanaaniteH3669
• firstתְּחִלָּהtechillâh · beginningH8462
• to fightלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898

Cross-references for Judges 1:1

• Joshua 24:29After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten.
• Judges 20:18The Israelites went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They said, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” The Lord replied, “Judah shall go first.”
• Exodus 28:30Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.
• Numbers 27:21He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”
• 1 Samuel 22:9But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob.
• 1 Samuel 23:9When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

Commentaries on Judges 1:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Now after the death of Joshua - How long after the death of Joshua this happened we cannot tell; it is probable that it was not long. The enemies of the Israelites, finding their champion dead, would naturally avail themselves of their unsettled state, and make incursions on the country. Who shall go up - Joshua had left no successor, and every thing relative to the movements of this people must be determined either by caprice, or an especial direction of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1After the death of Joshua - But from Judges 1:1 to Judges 2:9 is a consecutive narrative, ending with the death of Joshua. Hence, the events in this chapter and in Judges 2:1-6 are to be taken as belonging to the lifetime of Joshua. See Judges 2:11 note. Asked the Lord - The phrase is only found in Judges and Samuel. It was the privilege of the civil ruler, to apply to the high priest to consult for him the Urim and Thummim (marginal reference). (Compare…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The book of Judges is the history of Israel during the government of the Judges, who were occasional deliverers, raised up by God to rescue Israel from their oppressors, to reform the state of religion, and to administer justice to the people. The state of God's people does not appear in this book so prosperous, nor their character so religious, as might have been expected; but there were many believers among them, and the tabernacle service was attended…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Two introductions (Judges 1:1–2:5 and 2:6–3:6) come before the main part of the book. Both start with Joshua's death (Judges 1:1; see also 2:8), linking Judges to the earlier story (Joshua 24:29–33; compare Joshua 1:1; 2 Samuel 1:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-3Commentary by Robert Jamieson 1. Now after the death of Joshua--probably not a long period, for the Canaanites seem to have taken advantage of that event to attempt recovering their lost position, and the Israelites were obliged to renew the war. the children of Israel asked the Lord--The divine counsel on this, as on other occasions, was sought by Urim and Thummim, by applying to the high priest, who, according to Josephus, was Phinehas. saying, Who…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 1:1

• Armies
• Canaanites
• Judah
• Urim and Thummim

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Joshua
• Children of Israel
• Agag
• Descry
• Entrance
• Jerusalem
• Thummim
• Army
• Bible, the

Commentaries on Judges 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings