Judges 1 1

Judges 1:1 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?

Judges 1:1 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?"

Judges 1:1 niv

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, "Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?"

Judges 1:1 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?"

Judges 1:1 nlt

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, "Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?"

Judges 1 verses

Judges 1 1 Meaning

Judges 1:1 marks a pivotal transition in Israel's history following the death of Joshua, God's appointed leader. It opens the period known as the time of the Judges, characterized by fragmented leadership and ongoing struggles. The verse depicts the immediate challenge facing the twelve tribes: who would take the lead in continuing the divinely commanded task of dispossessing the remaining Canaanite inhabitants from the promised land. It highlights their initial reliance on the LORD for guidance, even as they grappled with a new era without a central figure like Joshua or Moses.

Judges 1 1 Context

Judges chapter 1 verse 1 sets the scene for the entire book of Judges. It immediately establishes that the glorious, unified conquest detailed in the Book of Joshua has ended with Joshua's death. While Joshua provided significant victories and allocated tribal territories, the task of fully dispossessing the inhabitants from those lands remained incomplete. This verse portrays the tribes, in the initial aftermath of Joshua's departure, recognizing the ongoing mandate to clear the land. It represents a brief moment of unity and divine reliance, asking the LORD for direction on who should lead the charge against the remaining Canaanites. The historical context is crucial: Israel is no longer a tightly organized military force under a divinely appointed central leader but a confederation of tribes. Culturally, they were surrounded by pagan nations practicing idolatry, human sacrifice, and immorality, whose presence God strictly commanded to remove for Israel's spiritual purity. The inability or unwillingness to fully obey this command leads to the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, cry, and deliverance that defines the subsequent chapters of Judges.

Judges 1 1 Word analysis

• Now after the death of Joshua: This phrase immediately establishes a chronological marker and a thematic break. "After the death" (Hebrew: 'aḥărē mōt) signifies the close of the Joshua era, characterized by unified conquest under strong central leadership, and ushers in a new, uncertain period. Joshua's departure created a significant leadership vacuum, directly impacting Israel's ability to maintain unity and complete the conquest.

• it came to pass: A common transitional phrase in Hebrew narrative (Hebrew: wayĕhî). It functions to advance the story, often signaling an important event or turning point without attributing causality directly. Here, it simply means "and it happened" or "and so it was."

• that the children of Israel: (Hebrew: bĕnê Yiśrā'ēl) This term refers to the entire Israelite nation, descended from Jacob (Israel). Its use here suggests a collective action, indicating a degree of national unity, at least initially, in facing the post-Joshua challenge. It emphasizes their identity as God's covenant people.

• asked the LORD: (Hebrew: wayyišʾalû baYahweh) "Asked" (šāʾal) means to inquire or seek counsel. The preposition ba- before "LORD" (Yahweh) indicates inquiring of or in the LORD, often implying a formal, divine consultation through recognized means (like the Urim and Thummim or through a priest). This action demonstrates an initial recognition of God's sovereignty and their dependence on His guidance, a sharp contrast to later periods in Judges where they act independently of divine instruction. This act is a strong theological statement, affirming YHWH as the supreme authority and source of wisdom, especially concerning warfare.

• saying: Introduces the direct question posed to the LORD.

• Who shall go up for us first: (Hebrew: mî yaʿăleh lānû rîšōn)

  • "Who" (mî): Reveals a central concern: the leadership vacuum. They are seeking divine appointment for a successor to lead military endeavors, rather than deciding on their own.
  • "shall go up" (yaʿăleh): From the verb 'ālāh, meaning to ascend, go up. In military contexts, it signifies going up to battle, often implying geographical ascent to stronger positions held by enemies or preparing for combat.
  • "for us" (lānû): Emphasizes that this leader would act on behalf of the entire nation, not just one tribe.
  • "first" (rîšōn): Implies both a priority (who begins this renewed phase of conquest) and a leadership role (who takes the lead in the fight). It reflects a need for immediate direction and coordination.

• against the Canaanites, to fight against them?: (Hebrew: ʾel-hak-kĕnaʿănî lĕhilḥēm bō)

  • "Canaanites" (hak-kĕnaʿănî): Refers to the various indigenous peoples inhabiting the land of Canaan whom Israel was commanded to dispossess. They represent a composite of various tribal groups (e.g., Jebusites, Amorites, Hivites, Perizzites). The persistent presence of the Canaanites underscores the incomplete nature of the conquest detailed in Joshua.
  • "to fight against them" (lĕhilḥēm bō): Reinforces the purpose of the inquiry: active warfare for dispossession, fulfilling the divine command given repeatedly since the time of Moses. This phrase highlights that the nation understood their mandate remained unfinished.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass": This phrase functions as a narrative hinge, explicitly transitioning from the unified, successful era of Joshua's leadership to the fragmented, often challenging period of the Judges. It signals a shift in national identity and operation, highlighting the absence of a central figure.
  • "that the children of Israel asked the LORD": This emphasizes a crucial initial action of collective spiritual integrity and dependence. Despite the absence of a visible human leader, the nation knew where to turn for guidance – to God Himself. This initial piety, however, stands in stark contrast to the increasing disobedience seen later in the book. It demonstrates a momentary national unity in purpose and devotion.
  • "Who shall go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?": This single question encapsulates the core dilemma facing Israel. It simultaneously reveals: (1) The urgent need for divinely appointed leadership, (2) the understanding that the divine mandate to conquer Canaan was not yet complete, and (3) an initial willingness to resume the battle collectively. The focus on "first" implies an anticipation of sequential, tribal efforts that would follow, once a precedent-setting leader was identified.

Judges 1 1 Bonus section

• The opening phrase of Judges, "Now after the death of Joshua," directly parallels the opening of the Book of Joshua, "Now after the death of Moses" (Jos 1:1). This literary device signals a change in era and leadership dynamics, setting up an immediate comparison between Moses-Joshua's strong, unified command and the subsequent period of fragmented, often temporary leadership. This contrast foreshadows the decline that will characterize the book.
• The act of "asking the LORD" for military guidance demonstrates the ideal theocratic relationship where God is the true King and Commander of Israel. However, the subsequent chapters show this reliance becoming less consistent and eventually being largely forsaken, illustrating a core problem of the Judges period: Israel's increasing disregard for God's explicit counsel.
• The very first action recorded for post-Joshua Israel is a military inquiry. This signifies that despite earlier victories, the primary national preoccupation remained the ongoing battle for the promised land, directly connecting this era to God's original covenant promise to Abraham and His specific commands through Moses regarding the land's inhabitants.
• This verse represents a fleeting moment of national solidarity before the tribes begin to act more independently (as seen from Jdg 1:3 onwards with Judah's request to Simeon). It marks the peak of initial unity and obedience that gradually disintegrates throughout the book.

Judges 1 1 Commentary

Judges 1:1 serves as a crucial prologue, marking the dawn of a new, complex era in Israelite history. Far from presenting a seamless transition, the verse immediately confronts the reality of a leaderless nation still grappling with the incomplete task of territorial conquest. The inquiry "Who shall go up for us first...?" underscores the prevailing leadership vacuum after Joshua, reflecting both a moment of confusion and a genuine desire to remain obedient to God's command to dispossess the Canaanites. This initial, unified consultation with the LORD highlights a lingering faith and reliance on divine direction that would sadly erode throughout the Judges period. The phrase "after the death of Joshua" implicitly warns the reader that the subsequent narrative will deal with the consequences of navigating an unsettled world without the steadfast leadership of Joshua, foreshadowing a time when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 17:6). It sets the stage for a period of both miraculous deliverance by God through individual judges and recurrent cycles of sin, oppression, and repentance due to Israel's increasing disobedience and spiritual decay. This verse thus lays the foundation for understanding why Israel descended into chaos, failing to secure their land and often intermingling with the very peoples they were commanded to expel.