Judges 1:3 kjv
And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
Judges 1:3 nkjv
So Judah said to Simeon his brother, "Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory." And Simeon went with him.
Judges 1:3 niv
The men of Judah then said to the Simeonites their fellow Israelites, "Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours." So the Simeonites went with them.
Judges 1:3 esv
And Judah said to Simeon his brother, "Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites. And I likewise will go with you into the territory allotted to you." So Simeon went with him.
Judges 1:3 nlt
The men of Judah said to their relatives from the tribe of Simeon, "Join with us to fight against the Canaanites living in the territory allotted to us. Then we will help you conquer your territory." So the men of Simeon went with Judah.
Judges 1 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 49:8-10 | Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise... | Prophecy of Judah's leadership & dominion. |
| Jdg 1:1-2 | ...who shall go up for us against the Canaanites... The LORD said, Judah shall go up... | Context: God appointed Judah to lead the conquest. |
| Num 26:14 | Of Simeon... forty-two thousand and five hundred. | Simeon's smaller population, needing help. |
| Josh 19:1 | ...the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe... and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah. | Simeon's inheritance within Judah's territory. |
| Num 33:52 | Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land... | God's clear command to dispossess the inhabitants. |
| Deut 7:2 | ...thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them... | Command to destroy Canaanites, not make peace. |
| Josh 1:2-5 | Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan... | God's instruction to Joshua to take the land. |
| Josh 15:63 | As for the Jebusites... the children of Judah could not drive them out... | Partial obedience foreshadows future struggles. |
| Jdg 1:27-35 | Neither did Manasseh drive out... Nor did Ephraim drive out... | Later chapters illustrate failures of other tribes. |
| Jdg 2:1-3 | I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides... | Consequence of incomplete obedience, not driving out enemies. |
| Ps 106:34-36 | They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen... | Later poetic reflection on Israel's failure to obey fully. |
| Ecc 4:9-10 | Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow... | Principle of cooperation and mutual aid. |
| Heb 10:24-25 | ...consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together... | New Testament encouragement for Christian community and mutual support. |
| Eph 6:10-12 | Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord... For we wrestle not against flesh and blood... | Spiritual analogy: Christians are called to battle spiritual enemies. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Let nothing be done through strife... but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. | Encouragement for selfless cooperation within the believing community. |
| Rom 15:1-3 | We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak... | Principle of stronger members assisting weaker ones in the body of Christ. |
| 1 Cor 12:20-22 | ...now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee... | Emphasizes the necessity of all parts of the body working together. |
| 2 Cor 10:3-4 | For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal...) | NT principle of spiritual warfare, paralleling the physical battle against enemies. |
| Ps 133:1 | Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! | Illustrates the blessings of fraternal unity. |
| Josh 14:12 | Now therefore give me this mountain... for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there... | Caleb's personal initiative and desire for conquest, echoing Judah's. |
| Josh 17:18 | But the mountain shall be yours... for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites... | Reminder that conquering land required effort. |
| Gal 6:2 | Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. | Christian principle of mutual support in trials. |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another... | Believers using diverse gifts for common benefit. |
Judges 1 verses
Judges 1 3 Meaning
Judges 1:3 portrays Judah's immediate post-Joshua initiative to continue the divinely mandated task of conquering the Promised Land. Recognizing the daunting scale of the task, Judah seeks cooperation from his kinsman, Simeon. The verse highlights an early example of tribal unity and reciprocal commitment in fulfilling God's command to dispossess the Canaanites from their allotted inheritances. It sets a hopeful tone of obedience and cooperation at the beginning of the Book of Judges, though this spirit would not be sustained by other tribes.
Judges 1 3 Context
Judges 1:3 falls at the very beginning of the Book of Judges, immediately following the death of Joshua (Jdg 1:1). With the unified leadership gone, the tribes face the monumental task of completing the conquest of Canaan. God has already appointed Judah to lead the charge (Jdg 1:1-2), and Judah's response is presented here. Geographically, Simeon's inheritance was actually within Judah's tribal territory (Josh 19:1), making their cooperation both logical and essential. The historical context is one of a transition from strong, central leadership under Moses and Joshua to a more decentralized tribal system. This verse presents a promising, obedient beginning to what quickly devolves into a cycle of disobedience, oppression, and incomplete repentance throughout the rest of the book.
Judges 1 3 Word analysis
- And Judah: יְהוּדָה (Yehudah). Signifies "praised" or "thanksgiving." Judah, the tribe, takes initiative here. This action aligns with Judah's preeminence among the tribes, a status prophesied by Jacob (Gen 49:8-10) and confirmed by God's appointment in Jdg 1:2. This demonstrates an initial alignment with divine will.
- said unto Simeon: שִׁמְעוֹן (Shim'on), meaning "he has heard." This indicates communication and a deliberate appeal. Simeon was Judah's kinsman and had a smaller, less prominent tribe whose territory was nested within Judah's, making them natural partners. The addressing of "brother" highlights tribal kinship and a shared destiny.
- his brother: Emphasizes the family relationship and the bond of shared heritage and covenant. This brotherhood forms the basis for the appeal for cooperation, a mutual obligation to aid one another in the shared divine task.
- Come up with me: עֲלֵה (aleh). The verb "come up" suggests movement, specifically an ascent. In this context, it often refers to marching to war or to a higher, more strategic location for battle. It is an invitation to active, shared participation in a challenging endeavor, implying collective effort against a common foe.
- into my lot: גּוֹרָל (goral), meaning "lot," referring to the divinely apportioned land inheritance given by God through casting lots (as described in the book of Joshua). This phrase underscores that the land belongs to Judah by God's decree. The phrase "into my lot" shows Judah taking responsibility for its own designated territory, not merely asking Simeon to fight their battle.
- that we may fight against the Canaanites: This specifies the immediate and divine objective: to dispossess the indigenous inhabitants of the land, who were marked for judgment due to their idolatry and wickedness. The plural "we" emphasizes the joint action needed for this commanded conquest (Num 33:52, Deut 7:2).
- and I likewise will go with thee: "Likewise" signifies reciprocity. Judah's promise reflects a covenantal spirit of mutual support. This is not a one-sided demand but an offer of shared burden and assistance.
- into thy lot: Reinforces the reciprocal agreement. Judah promises to assist Simeon in conquering Simeon's own allotted territory. This mutual commitment demonstrates a deep understanding of collective responsibility within the tribal confederation, reflecting God's call for His people to work together for His purposes.
Judges 1 3 Bonus section
This verse stands as a golden moment in the narrative of Judges, a beacon of obedience and wisdom amidst the later disarray. Judah's initiative is crucial because, even though God appointed Judah, the conquest still required human effort and tribal cooperation. This collaborative spirit, particularly the mutual promise of aid, is precisely what God often calls His people to in achieving His purposes (Ecc 4:9-12). It provides a vital spiritual lesson: in God's kingdom work, burdens are shared, and responsibilities are often interlinked. The initial success (Jdg 1:4-8) that followed this agreement stands in stark contrast to the subsequent failures of other tribes who neglected to drive out the Canaanites from their inheritances, which led to their later troubles (Jdg 2:1-3).
Judges 1 3 Commentary
Judges 1:3 paints a hopeful picture of initial obedience and unity within Israel, contrasting sharply with the subsequent tribal failures narrated in the book. Judah, acknowledged by God as the first to lead the renewed conquest, understands the principle of collective responsibility. Instead of tackling the immense task of dispossessing the Canaanites in isolation, Judah extends an invitation for help to Simeon, a smaller tribe whose territory was enclosed within Judah's. This partnership reflects not only pragmatic strategy—strength in numbers—but also a recognition of fraternal duty and mutual commitment within the covenant community. Judah's willingness to fight for Simeon after Simeon helps Judah demonstrates the kind of selfless cooperation essential for fulfilling God's commands. This opening action is commendable as it mirrors divine instructions for driving out enemies. It underscores that God's work, even when a specific leader is designated, often requires the combined effort and mutual support of all members of the community.