Judges 1 36

Judges 1:36 kjv

And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

Judges 1:36 nkjv

Now the boundary of the Amorites was from the Ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela, and upward.

Judges 1:36 niv

The boundary of the Amorites was from Scorpion Pass to Sela and beyond.

Judges 1:36 esv

And the border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela and upward.

Judges 1:36 nlt

The boundary of the Amorites ran from Scorpion Pass to Sela and continued upward from there.

Judges 1 verses

Judges 1 36 Meaning

Judges 1:36 precisely delineates the southern boundary of the territory still held by the Amorites, specifying it stretched from the strategically important Ascent of Akrabbim and further northward from a significant geographical feature known as "the rock" (likely Sela). This verse, situated within the wider narrative of Israel's partial conquest, underscores the nation's failure to fully dispossess the inhabitants of the land as commanded by God. The continued, widespread presence of the powerful Amorites, extending deeply into the allocated Israelite territory, represents a direct contravention of divine mandate and served as a persistent spiritual and military challenge to Israel.

Judges 1 36 Context

Judges chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the overarching themes of the entire book: Israel's repeated disobedience, its dire consequences, and the subsequent cycle of apostasy, oppression, and partial deliverance. After the death of Joshua, this chapter chronicles the initial efforts of individual tribes of Israel to complete the conquest of Canaan. However, instead of exhibiting complete faith and unified obedience to God's command to utterly drive out the Canaanite inhabitants (Deut 7:2), they only achieved partial success. Verse 36 specifically details the remaining strong presence of the Amorites, one of the most prominent Canaanite groups, whose continued control of vital southern territories exemplified this widespread failure. This ongoing presence meant continuous cultural and religious temptations, contributing significantly to Israel's future idolatry and moral degradation as portrayed in the subsequent chapters of Judges.

Judges 1 36 Word analysis

• And (וְ wĕ): A simple conjunction, connecting this specific detail about the Amorite boundary to the preceding descriptions of other tribes' failures.
• the border (גְּבוּל gĕvūl): Refers to the physical boundary or territory. It denotes the defined limits of the Amorites' control, highlighting their established presence rather than merely scattered groups.
• of the Amorites (הָאֱמֹרִי hāʾĕmōrî): The Amorites were a powerful Semitic people group, often cited as the most significant of the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan, sometimes used generally for all inhabitants. Their strength and refusal to be dislodged posed a constant threat to Israel's purity and sovereignty. Their retention of land here directly contrasts with God's command to dispossess them.
• was (הָיָה hāyâ): Indicating an existing state or location; a factual statement of their established boundary.
• from (מִן min): Signifies the starting point or origin of their territory.
• the ascent (מַעֲלֵה maʿalēh): Literally "going up" or "ascent." Describes a geographic feature, a steep and winding path or pass. Such a pass would be strategically important for controlling movement.
• of Akrabbim (עַקְרַבִּים ʿaqrabbîm): Literally "scorpions." The "Ascent of Akrabbim" is a specific geographical landmark, a steep, scorpion-infested pass located in the Negeb, south of the Dead Sea, serving as part of the recognized southern border of the land of Canaan for Israel (Num 34:4; Josh 15:3). Its inclusion indicates the Amorite influence extended deeply into Israel's promised territory from the extreme south.
• from the rock (מֵהַסֶּלַע mēhasselaʿ): "The rock" or "Sela." This refers to a major rock formation or stronghold. It likely denotes Sela, the Edomite capital (later called Petra), or another prominent rocky outcrop in that vicinity, implying the Amorites held territory reaching this fortified region. It anchors their dominion further to the south.
• and upward (וָמַעְלָה wām‘alāh): Denotes an extension northward from the specified "rock" and "ascent of Akrabbim." This clarifies that the Amorite controlled area stretched north into the Promised Land, reinforcing the scope of Israel's incomplete conquest and their lingering influence within Judah's assigned inheritance.

Judges 1 36 Bonus section

The repetitive use of the phrase "did not drive out" or similar expressions throughout Judges 1 (vv. 21, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34) is a literary device emphasizing the pervasive nature of Israel's failure. This specific mention of the Amorites in verse 36 adds to this list and underscores the extent to which powerful pagan influences remained embedded within the land. While Judah (vv. 17-18) achieved significant victories earlier in the chapter, this verse indicates a specific southern encroachment of the Amorites even within Judah's larger allotted territory. This incomplete success left an open door for the moral decay and idolatry that would plague Israel throughout the period of the Judges.

Judges 1 36 Commentary

Judges 1:36 provides a stark geographical reality of Israel's partial obedience, specifically detailing the lingering strength of the Amorites. By marking their boundary as stretching from Akrabbim, a crucial southern entrance point into Judah's territory, and from the formidable "rock" (Sela), the text highlights how deeply these powerful Canaanites remained embedded within the Promised Land. This was not a minor inconvenience but a significant territorial foothold for a people whose iniquity was severe (Gen 15:16) and whom God had commanded to be utterly destroyed (Deut 7:2). The presence of the Amorites along Israel's borders signified more than a military failure; it foreshadowed perpetual spiritual danger, as intermingling with these unvanquished groups would inevitably lead to syncretism and idolatry, paving the way for the cycles of apostasy and oppression that dominate the book of Judges. This verse quietly but powerfully asserts that Israel's inability to fully dispossess was less about the enemy's strength (Amos 2:9 describes God destroying powerful Amorites) and more about Israel's faltering faith and obedience, underscoring that their victories came from divine enablement, not human prowess.