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?
• New International Version (NIV)After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?”
• 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?”

Context of Judges 1:1

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?” 2The Lord answered, “Judah, for I have given them victory over the land.” 3The 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.

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 this, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110.
• Judges 20:18Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?” The Lord answered, “Judah is to go first.”
• Exodus 28:30Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the Lord’s presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the Lord’s will for his people whenever he goes in before the Lord.
• Numbers 27:21When direction from the Lord is needed, Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will use the Urim—one of the sacred lots cast before the Lord—to determine his will. This is how Joshua and the rest of the community of Israel will determine everything they should do.”
• 1 Samuel 22:9Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing there with Saul’s men, spoke up. “When I was at Nob,” he said, “I saw the son of Jesse talking to the priest, Ahimelech son of Ahitub.
• 1 Samuel 23:9But David learned of Saul’s plan and told Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod and ask the Lord what he should do.

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