Judges 1 20

Judges 1:20 kjv

And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.

Judges 1:20 nkjv

And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said. Then he expelled from there the three sons of Anak.

Judges 1:20 niv

As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove from it the three sons of Anak.

Judges 1:20 esv

And Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had said. And he drove out from it the three sons of Anak.

Judges 1:20 nlt

The town of Hebron was given to Caleb as Moses had promised. And Caleb drove out the people living there, who were descendants of the three sons of Anak.

Judges 1 verses

Judges 1 20 Meaning

This verse states that Hebron was granted to Caleb, aligning with a prior directive from Moses. Subsequently, Caleb successfully dispossessed and drove out the three formidable descendants of Anak from that territory, demonstrating his unwavering faith and God's enabling power. It signifies the fulfillment of a divine promise through human obedience and perseverance against seemingly overwhelming adversaries.

Judges 1 20 Context

Judges chapter 1 opens by narrating the continued, though largely incomplete, conquest of the Promised Land by the tribes of Israel after Joshua's death. It provides a brief summary of victories, but often quickly pivots to instances of failure, highlighting the Israelites' limited obedience. Verse 20 stands out as an account of faithful completion of a divine mandate. Hebron, a crucial ancient city (formerly Kiriath-Arba), was known as the stronghold of the formidable Anakim. Caleb, chosen for his unwavering faith during the initial spying mission into Canaan, was personally promised this specific territory by Moses, acting on God's word, as his inheritance. This verse serves as a crucial link connecting the Book of Judges back to the earlier narratives in Numbers and Joshua, where Caleb's fidelity and the promise concerning Hebron were first detailed. It implicitly sets Caleb apart as an example of thorough obedience and trust in God, contrasting sharply with the partial and compromising conquests described for other tribes in the surrounding verses of Judges 1.

Judges 1 20 Word analysis

• And they gave: (וַיִּתְּנוּ - vayyittnū from נָתַן - nathan, "to give"). This phrase indicates the official allocation by the leadership (Joshua, as recorded in Josh 14) and the community of Israel. It emphasizes the communal acknowledgment and fulfillment of the divine promise to Caleb.
• Hebron: (חֶבְרוֹן - Chebron, meaning "confederacy" or "association"). A historically and strategically important city, one of the oldest in Canaan. It later became a Levitical city and a city of refuge. Its initial inhabitants, the Anakim, represented a significant challenge due to their immense size and strength.
• to Caleb: (לְכָלֵב - lĕḵālēḇ, "Caleb" from כָּלֵב - Kalev, possibly meaning "dog" for loyalty or "wholehearted"). Caleb son of Jephunneh, of the tribe of Judah, stands as an exemplar of faith and perseverance among his generation. He was one of only two spies (with Joshua) who trusted God's power to conquer Canaan.
• as Moses had said: (כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר מֹשֶׁה - kaʾăšer dibber Mōše, "as spoke Moses"). This phrase is a direct reference to earlier promises made to Caleb, notably in Num 14:24 and Deut 1:36, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's sure word spoken through His prophet. It underlines divine faithfulness to covenant promises.
• and he expelled thence: (וַיֹּרֶשׁ מִשָּׁם - vayyōreš miššām, from יָרַשׁ - yarash, "to dispossess," "inherit," "take possession"). This is an active verb, indicating Caleb’s personal and decisive action in driving out the inhabitants. It signifies not merely receiving a grant but forcefully taking possession and removing the hostile presence, as God had commanded.
• the three sons of Anak: (שְׁלֹשֶׁת בְּנֵי הָעֲנָק - šəlōšeṯ bĕnê hāʿǎnāq). These were Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai (mentioned in Num 13:22, Josh 15:14). Anak (עֲנָק - Anaq, possibly meaning "long-necked" or "giant") refers to the formidable, giant-like people feared by the other Israelite spies. Their defeat by an 85-year-old Caleb highlights God's strength made perfect in weakness and the triumph of faith over overwhelming physical odds.

Words-group analysis:

• "And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said": This segment confirms the divine providence and human agency in the fulfillment of a specific, long-standing promise. It reinforces the theme of covenant faithfulness, where God's word (spoken through Moses) is realized through the community's acknowledgment and the individual's inheritance. It ties the narrative tightly to the historical record of the Exodus generation.
• "and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak": This part emphasizes Caleb's active role in dispossessing the giants. It's a testament to his courageous and steadfast faith, which directly translated into decisive action. This particular achievement, conquering the fearsome Anakim in their stronghold, served as an exemplary act of conquest, embodying the completeness of obedience that many other tribes failed to demonstrate in Judges. It also demonstrates that God empowers those who follow Him wholeheartedly, even against the most intimidating obstacles.

Judges 1 20 Bonus section

• Exemplary Faith: Caleb's action is consistently held up in scripture as a pinnacle of obedience and faith for his generation. He represents what could have been for all of Israel had they fully followed God's commands.
• Hebron's Later Significance: Hebron became a city of refuge and a Levitical city, showing its spiritual importance beyond military conquest. It was also King David's first capital (2 Sam 2:1-4). The resting place of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their wives is also traditionally associated with Hebron (Gen 23).
• Age and Strength: Caleb was 85 years old when he specifically requested to take Hebron and successfully drove out the Anakim (Josh 14:10-12), illustrating that God can grant strength regardless of natural limitations for those who fully trust Him.
• The Problem of Partial Obedience: By starting the Book of Judges with Caleb's success, the narrative immediately highlights the failure of the other tribes to follow through on the divine command for complete dispossession, which ultimately led to cycles of oppression. Caleb serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of complete obedience.

Judges 1 20 Commentary

Judges 1:20 is a powerful testament to the twin themes of God's unwavering faithfulness and the fruit of human obedience. It confirms the fulfillment of a promise made decades earlier to Caleb, the faithful spy. While other tribes exhibited partial or failed conquests, Caleb’s decisive act of expelling the formidable Anakim from Hebron stands as an enduring model. His action, though taken in old age (as per Josh 14), underscored his vital strength and complete trust in God, even when facing physically superior foes. This concise statement encapsulates a triumphant narrative where divine promise, human perseverance, and a resounding victory converge, providing a stark contrast to the narratives of compromise and defeat that dominate the remainder of the chapter and the book of Judges. It’s a vivid illustration that through faith, all God's promises can be fully realized and all obstacles, however daunting, can be overcome.