Judges 1 10

Judges 1:10 kjv

And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

Judges 1:10 nkjv

Then Judah went against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron. (Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kirjath Arba.) And they killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

Judges 1:10 niv

They advanced against the Canaanites living in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath Arba) and defeated Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai.

Judges 1:10 esv

And Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba), and they defeated Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai.

Judges 1:10 nlt

Judah marched against the Canaanites in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath-arba), defeating the forces of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

Judges 1 verses

Judges 1 10 Meaning

Judges 1:10 describes a specific military campaign by the tribe of Judah to conquer Hebron, a significant city in their allotted territory. It clarifies that Hebron was previously known as Kirjath-arba and details the defeat of the three prominent Anakim, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, who were mighty, giant-like warriors. This verse highlights Judah's partial fulfillment of the command to dispossess the inhabitants of the land, specifically overcoming some of the most formidable foes mentioned in the earlier accounts of the spies. It underscores the continued efforts of the Israelites to take possession of the promised land after Joshua's initial campaigns.

Judges 1 10 Context

Judges chapter 1 serves as a bridge between the book of Joshua and the subsequent narratives in Judges. Following Joshua's death, the Israelites, having achieved significant but incomplete victories, seek divine guidance for continued conquest. The Lord designates the tribe of Judah, accompanied by Simeon, to spearhead the next phase of dispossessing the remaining Canaanites and securing their inherited territories. This verse specifically details Judah's actions in a key strategic location, Hebron, a formidable stronghold. Historically, this period reflects a transitional time where tribal alliances and individual initiative played a larger role in conquest, departing from the centralized leadership under Joshua. The continued presence of formidable foes like the Anakim underscores the ongoing challenge of complete obedience to God's command to eradicate the previous inhabitants.

Judges 1 10 Word analysis

• And Judah (וִיהוּדָה֙, wihiyhûdâ): "Judah" signifies the leading tribe chosen by God in Judges 1:1-2 to initiate the post-Joshua conquest. Their prominence foreshadows their later role as the royal tribe and progenitor of the Messiah.
• went (הָלַךְ֙, halakh): Indicates an active, intentional military campaign. This wasn't a passive inheritance but required direct action.
• against the Canaanites (אֶת־הַכְּנַעֲנִ֤י, et-hakkĕna‘anî): Refers to the indigenous inhabitants of the land. God had commanded Israel to drive them out due to their idolatrous and abominable practices, preventing spiritual corruption among His people.
• that dwelt in Hebron (הַיּוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן, hayyôshēv biḥeḇrōn): Hebron (חֶבְרוֹן, Heḇrōn, meaning "confederacy" or "association") was an ancient and historically significant city, central to the hill country of Judah. It held deep biblical ties, being a burial site for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob's families.
• now the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba: (וְשֵׁ֨ם חֶבְר֜וֹן לְפָנִים֙ קִרְיַ֣ת אַרְבַּ֔ע, wəšēm ḥeḇrōn ləp̄ānîm qiryaṯ ’arba‘): A parenthetical note providing historical clarity. Kirjath-arba (קִרְיַת־אַרְבַּע, Qiryaṯ-Arba‘) means "city of Arba," who was the renowned ancestor or founder of the Anakim giants, emphasizing the formidable nature of its original inhabitants.
• and they slew (וַיַּכּ֤וּ, wayyakkū): Implies a decisive and complete defeat and destruction. This action fulfills God's command for conquest.
• Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. (אֶת־שֵׁשַׁי֙ וְאֶת־אֲחִימָ֔ן וְאֶת־תַּלְמָֽי׃, ’et-shēshāy wə’et-’aḥîmān wə’et-talmāy): These are specific names of the "sons of Anak," who were noted as particularly large and formidable warriors in earlier biblical accounts (Num 13:22, Josh 14:15). Their defeat symbolized overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
• (word group) "against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron": This phrase emphasizes the direct confrontation with specific pagan strongholds within the promised land, directly carrying out God's command to dispossess the inhabitants of their allotted territory.
• (word group) "and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.": This highlights the overcoming of the "sons of Anak," renowned for their giant stature. Their defeat demonstrated that the Lord fought for Israel and enabled them to overcome humanly impossible barriers, directly confronting the fears of the earlier spies (Num 13).

Judges 1 10 Bonus section

• The conquest of Hebron by Judah, specifically mentioning the defeat of the Anakim, stands as a testimony to God's faithfulness in enabling Israel to overcome the very foes that caused earlier generations to stumble in unbelief (Numbers 13-14).
• The emphasis on specific tribal actions in Judges 1, rather than a centralized national effort, foreshadows the decentralized leadership and internal challenges that characterize the period of the Judges. However, Judah's initial success provides a hopeful start.
• This victory in Hebron can be seen as a direct refutation of the pessimistic report of the ten spies who feared the Anakim, thereby affirming the power of God over perceived human limitations.
• The historical memory of "Kirjath-arba" preserved alongside "Hebron" highlights the deep historical layers of the land and how Israel's narrative intersected with and eventually superseded the narratives of its former inhabitants.

Judges 1 10 Commentary

Judges 1:10 concisely records a pivotal moment in the ongoing conquest of Canaan by the tribe of Judah. It illustrates a partial but significant fulfillment of the divine mandate to drive out the inhabitants, focusing on the strategic city of Hebron. The detail that Hebron was formerly Kirjath-arba, named after Arba, a great man among the Anakim, sets the stage for the crucial part of the verse: the slaying of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. These three figures were formidable Anakim, members of a race described as giants who instilled fear in the Israelite spies in Numbers. Their defeat here, echoing Caleb's previous actions (Josh 14:15, Josh 15:13-14), signifies not merely a territorial gain but a powerful demonstration of God enabling His people to overcome the seemingly unconquerable. It underscores the theme that obedience and faith in God's power lead to victory against overwhelming odds, reminding Israel (and later readers) that the "giants" in their promised land could indeed be overcome through divine assistance.