From there they marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher). From there they marchedThis phrase indicates a continuation of movement and action by the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "marched" is "עָלָה" (alah), which means to go up or ascend. This suggests not only a physical movement but also a spiritual or moral ascent as the Israelites pursue their God-given inheritance. Historically, this reflects the ongoing conquest of Canaan, a land promised to them by God, emphasizing their obedience and determination to fulfill God's commands. against the inhabitants of Debir
The term "inhabitants" refers to the people living in Debir, a Canaanite city. The Hebrew word "יֹשֵׁב" (yoshev) implies those who dwell or sit, indicating a settled population. Debir, known for its fortified structures, represents the challenges and resistance the Israelites faced. Theologically, this can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual battles believers face, requiring faith and reliance on God's strength to overcome. (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher)
The parenthetical note provides historical context, indicating that Debir was previously called Kiriath-sepher, which means "City of Books" or "City of Scribes" in Hebrew. This suggests that Debir was a center of learning or record-keeping, possibly housing important Canaanite archives or religious texts. The renaming of the city signifies a transformation under Israelite control, symbolizing the triumph of God's people over pagan knowledge and practices. This can inspire believers to seek wisdom and understanding rooted in God's Word, overcoming worldly philosophies. Persons / Places / Events 1. Debir (Kiriath-sepher)A city in the hill country of Judah, previously known as Kiriath-sepher, which means "City of Books" or "City of the Scribe." It was a significant Canaanite city that the Israelites sought to conquer. 2. The IsraelitesThe people of God, specifically the tribe of Judah, who were tasked with conquering the land of Canaan as part of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 3. The Conquest of CanaanThis event refers to the Israelites' campaign to take possession of the Promised Land, as commanded by God, which involved driving out the existing Canaanite inhabitants. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandsThe Israelites' march against Debir exemplifies obedience to God's command to take possession of the land. Believers today are called to obey God's Word, trusting in His promises and guidance. The Importance of Faith in ActionThe conquest of Debir required faith and action. Similarly, Christians are encouraged to act on their faith, trusting God to lead them through challenges and into His promises. Spiritual Warfare and VictoryJust as the Israelites faced physical battles, Christians face spiritual battles. Ephesians 6:10-18 reminds believers to put on the full armor of God to stand firm against spiritual adversaries. God's Faithfulness to His PromisesThe successful conquest of Debir is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Believers can find assurance in God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His Word. Bible Study Questions 1. What does the conquest of Debir teach us about the importance of obedience to God's commands in our own lives? 2. How can the faith and actions of the Israelites in conquering Debir inspire us to face our own challenges today? 3. In what ways does the account of Debir's conquest illustrate the concept of spiritual warfare, and how can we apply this understanding to our daily lives? 4. How does the account of Debir's conquest demonstrate God's faithfulness, and how can this encourage us in times of doubt or uncertainty? 5. Reflecting on the parallel account in Joshua 15:15-17, what role does community and collaboration play in achieving God's purposes, and how can we foster this in our church or small group? Connections to Other Scriptures Joshua 15:15-17This passage provides a parallel account of the conquest of Debir, where Caleb offers his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever captures the city, and Othniel, Caleb's nephew, succeeds. Deuteronomy 7:1-2This scripture outlines God's command to the Israelites to conquer and utterly destroy the Canaanite nations, including the inhabitants of Debir, as part of His divine plan. Hebrews 11:30-31These verses in the New Testament reflect on the faith required to conquer the Promised Land, highlighting the role of faith in the Israelites' victories. People Abednego, Achsah, Adonibezek, Ahiman, Amalekites, Amorites, Anak, Anath, Arad, Arba, Asher, Asherites, Benjamin, Benjamites, Caleb, Canaanites, Dan, Danites, Debir, Edomites, Hittites, Hobab, Israelites, Jebusites, Joseph, Joshua, Kenaz, Manasseh, Naphtali, Naphtalites, Othniel, Perizzites, Rehob, Sheshai, Simeon, Simeonites, Talmai, Zebulun, ZidonPlaces Acco, Achzib, Ahlab, Aijalon, Akrabbim, Aphik, Arad, Ashkelon, Beth-anath, Bethel, Beth-shan, Beth-shemesh, Bezek, Debir, Dor, Ekron, Gaza, Gezer, Gibeah, Hebron, Helbah, Hormah, Ibleam, Jerusalem, Kiriath-arba, Kiriath-sepher, Kitron, Luz, Megiddo, Mount Heres, Nahalol, Negeb, Rehob, Sela, Shaalbim, Sidon, Taanach, ZephathTopics Beforetime, Debir, Earlier, Formerly, Inhabitants, Kiriath, Kiriath-sepher, Kir'iath-se'pher, Kirjathsepher, Kirjath-sepher, Sepher, ThenceDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 1:1-20 7266 tribes of Israel Judges 1:11-15 4293 water Library The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the BibleThe Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
"On the western shore" (of the Asphaltites) "dwell the Essenes; whom persons, guilty of any crimes, fly from on every side. A nation it is that lives alone, and of all other nations in the whole world, most to be admired; they are without any woman; all lust banished, &c. Below these, was the town Engadda, the next to Jerusalem for fruitfulness, and groves of palm-trees, now another burying-place. From thence stands Massada, a castle in a rock, and this castle not far from the Asphaltites." Solinus, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Beth-El. Beth-Aven.
Josephus thus describes the land of Benjamin; "The Benjamites' portion of land was from the river Jordan to the sea, in length: in breadth, it was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." Let these last words be marked, "The breadth of the land of Benjamin was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." May we not justly conclude, from these words, that Jerusalem and Beth-el were opposite, as it were, in a right line? But if you look upon the maps, there are some that separate these by a very large tract of land, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Tsippor
"Tsippor is the greatest city of Galilee, and built in a very strong place." "Kitron (Judg 1:29,30) is Tsippor: and why is it called Tsippor? Because it is seated upon a mountain as Tsippor, a bird." "Sixteen miles on all sides from Tsippor was a land flowing with milk and honey." This city is noted in Josephus for its warlike affairs; but most noted in the Talmudists for the university fixed there, and for the learning, which Rabbi Judah the Holy brought hither, as we have said before. He sat in …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
ISRAEL'S VICTORIES OVER THE CANAANITES.--Josh. 2-9; Judg. 1, 4, 5. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible II,1-4.1. Prin. of Politics X. That the leaders took the lead in Israel, That the people volunteered readily, Bless Jehovah! Zebulun was a people who exposed themselves to deadly peril, And Naphtali on the heights of the open field. Kings came, they fought; They fought, the kings of Canaan, At Taanach by the Waters of Megiddo, They took no booty of silver. Prom heaven fought the stars, From their …
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation The Place of the Old Testament in Divine Revelation
[Sidenote: Advent of the Hebrews] Modern discovery and research have demonstrated that the truth revealed through the Babylonians and with less definiteness through the people of the Nile was never entirely lost. Such a sad waste was out of accord with the obvious principles of divine economy. As the icy chill of ceremonialism seized decadent Babylonia and Egypt, there emerged from the steppes south and east of Palestine a virile, ambitious group of nomads, who not only fell heir to that which …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament The Prophet Jonah.
It has been asserted without any sufficient reason, that Jonah is older than Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah,--that he is the oldest among the prophets whose written monuments have been preserved to us. The passage in 2 Kings xiv. 25, where it is said, that Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, prophesied to Jeroboam the happy success of his arms, and the restoration of the ancient boundaries of Israel, and that this prophecy was confirmed by the event, cannot decide in favour of this assertion, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Scythopolis. Beth-Shean, the Beginning of Galilee.
The bonds of Galilee were, "on the south, Samaris and Scythopolis, unto the flood of Jordan." Scythopolis is the same with Beth-shean, of which is no seldom mention in the Holy Scriptures, Joshua 17:11; Judges 1:27; 1 Samuel 31:10. "Bethsaine (saith Josephus), called by the Greeks Scythopolis." It was distant but a little way from Jordan, seated in the entrance to a great valley: for so the same author writes, "Having passed Jordan, they came to a great plain, where lies before you the city Bethsane," …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 Jews and Gentiles in "The Land"
Coming down from Syria, it would have been difficult to fix the exact spot where, in the view of the Rabbis, "the land" itself began. The boundary lines, though mentioned in four different documents, are not marked in anything like geographical order, but as ritual questions connected with them came up for theological discussion. For, to the Rabbis the precise limits of Palestine were chiefly interesting so far as they affected the religious obligations or privileges of a district. And in this respect …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 1:11 NIVJudges 1:11 NLTJudges 1:11 ESVJudges 1:11 NASBJudges 1:11 KJV
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