"Judah shall go up," answered the LORD. "Indeed, I have delivered the land into their hands." Judah shall go upThe phrase "Judah shall go up" signifies the tribe of Judah being chosen to lead the conquest of the land. In Hebrew, "Judah" (יְהוּדָה, Yehudah) is derived from the root word יָדָה (yadah), meaning "to praise." This reflects Judah's role as a leader and a tribe of praise and strength. Historically, Judah was one of the most prominent tribes of Israel, known for its leadership qualities and its central role in the history of the Israelites. The directive for Judah to "go up" indicates a divine appointment and a call to action, emphasizing the tribe's responsibility to lead the charge in fulfilling God's promise to Israel. Indeed, I have delivered the land into his hands
This phrase underscores God's sovereignty and faithfulness in delivering the land to the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "delivered" (נָתַן, natan) means "to give" or "to grant," indicating that the victory is assured by God's will and power, not by human strength alone. The "land" refers to the Promised Land, a central theme in the Old Testament, representing God's covenant and blessing to His people. The phrase "into his hands" signifies possession and control, highlighting the assurance of victory and the fulfillment of God's promises. This divine assurance serves as an encouragement and a reminder of God's faithfulness to His covenant with Israel. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORDThe covenant-keeping God of Israel, who guides and directs His people. 2. JudahOne of the twelve tribes of Israel, known for its leadership and strength. The tribe from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ descended. 3. The LandRefers to the Promised Land, Canaan, which God had promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 4. The CanaanitesThe inhabitants of the land that Israel was to conquer, representing opposition to God's people. 5. The ConquestThe event of Israel taking possession of the Promised Land, fulfilling God's promise to the patriarchs. Teaching Points Divine GuidanceGod directs His people in their endeavors. Just as He instructed Judah, we should seek His guidance in our decisions. Faith in God's PromisesThe assurance given to Judah reminds us to trust in God's promises, knowing He is faithful to fulfill them. Leadership and ResponsibilityJudah's role highlights the importance of stepping into leadership roles with courage and reliance on God. Spiritual WarfareThe physical conquest of Canaan symbolizes the spiritual battles we face. We are called to rely on God's strength to overcome spiritual opposition. Heritage and LegacyJudah's leadership foreshadows the coming of Christ, reminding us of the importance of our spiritual heritage and the legacy we leave. Bible Study Questions 1. How does God's choice of Judah to lead the conquest reflect His sovereignty and purpose for His people? 2. In what ways can we seek and discern God's guidance in our personal and communal decisions today? 3. How does the promise of victory given to Judah encourage us in facing our own battles and challenges? 4. What leadership qualities can we learn from Judah's role in this passage, and how can we apply them in our lives? 5. How does the connection between Judah and Jesus Christ deepen our understanding of God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 49:8-10This passage prophesies the leadership role of Judah among the tribes of Israel, which is fulfilled in Judges 1:2 as Judah is chosen to lead the conquest. Joshua 1:2-6God's promise to Joshua about giving the land to Israel parallels His assurance to Judah in Judges 1:2. Revelation 5:5Jesus is referred to as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah," connecting the leadership and victory of Judah to the ultimate victory in Christ. 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 Behold, Delivered, Hands, JudahDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 1:1-2 8605 prayer, and God's will Judges 1:1-20 7266 tribes of Israel 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 1:2 NIVJudges 1:2 NLTJudges 1:2 ESVJudges 1:2 NASBJudges 1:2 KJV
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