December 30, 2024

Judges 1:1-26 (HCSB)
Judah’s Leadership against the Canaanites
1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the Lord, “Who will be the first to fight for us against the Canaanites?” 2 The Lord answered, “Judah is to go. I have handed the land over to him.” 3 Judah said to his brother Simeon, “Come with me to my territory, and let us fight against the Canaanites. I will also go with you to your territory.” So Simeon went with him. 4 When Judah attacked, the Lord handed the Canaanites and Perizzites over to them. They struck down 10,000 men in Bezek. 5 They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek, fought against him, and struck down the Canaanites and Perizzites. 6 When Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, seized him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 7 Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. God has repaid me for what I have done.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there. 8 The men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire. 9 Afterward, the men of Judah marched down to fight against the Canaanites who were living in the hill country, the Negev, and the Judean foothills. 10 Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebron (Hebron was formerly named Kiriath-arba). They struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. 11 From there they marched against the residents of Debir (Debir was formerly named Kiriath-sepher). 12 Caleb said, “Whoever strikes down and captures Kiriath-sepher, I will give my daughter Achsah to him as a wife.” 13 So Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as his wife. 14 When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?” 15 She answered him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water also.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs. 16 The descendants of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, had gone up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms to the Wilderness of Judah, which was in the Negev of Arad. They went to live among the people.  17 Judah went with his brother Simeon, struck the Canaanites who were living in Zephath, and completely destroyed the town. So they named the town Hormah. 18 Judah captured Gaza and its territory, Ashkelon and its territory, and Ekron and its territory. 19 The Lord was with Judah and enabled them to take possession of the hill country, but they could not drive out the people who were living in the valley because those people had iron chariots. 20 Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, just as Moses had promised. Then Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak who lived there. Benjamin’s Failure 21 At the same time the Benjaminites did not drive out the Jebusites who were living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites have lived among the Benjaminites in Jerusalem to this day. Success of the House of Joseph 22 The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 23 They sent spies to Bethel (the town was formerly named Luz). 24 The spies saw a man coming out of the town and said to him, “Please show us how to get into town, and we will treat you well.” 25 When he showed them the way into the town, they put the town to the sword but released the man and his entire family. 26 Then the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a town, and named it Luz. That is its name to this day.

Dwayne Koelling
The book of Judges tells the story of God's people after entering the Promised Land and before the establishment of a monarchy under Saul. (Another term that is used for the judges of this book and maybe a better description in our language is that of deliverers. We'll get back to that later this week). The Hebrews' faith in God has led them into the Promised Land and given them victories under the leadership of Joshua but there are battles still to be fought. There are pockets of various Canaanites that God has instructed the Hebrews to remove.  God, in His wisdom, has ordered this because He knows they will be stumbling blocks for the Hebrews. His people will need to continue to walk in faith and obedience to accomplish this and enjoy the blessings of the Promised Land. As believers, we have entered our earthly version of the promised land. It has taken faith and obedience to enter, and it is those actions that need to continue to allow us to enjoy the blessings of God's presence and pleasure with us. We have pockets of resistance in our lives as well that we are instructed by God to remove. Unfortunately, the Hebrews weren't completely faithful or obedient. Let's learn from their mistakes as we continue the study this week.