Scholars have a fancy word for it: amphictiony, a Greek word. It describes a loose confederation of neighboring states, bound together only by a common religion, and implies their alliance is chiefly aimed at defending some central religious shrine. In some ways, this period in Israel's history, lasting roughly 350 years (approximately 1400-1040 BC), was just that. Even when under extreme pressure, it often took heroic prodding to unite enough of the people to take any action at all.
This Book of Judges was probably written during Saul's reign, most likely by Samuel. It appears to be a compilation, not necessarily in chronological order. Some of the foreign oppressions overlap, with different actors working different problems. Thus, to view the book as a straight-line chronology is a mistake. 12 judges are mentioned, 6 in detail. All are quite human and failing themselves, some more than others. We can see a pattern of common human conduct: We fall into disunity without something to hold us together, something that grips us. The lesson from God is clearly that He alone is the one operable gripping force. All others fail.
Judges 1:1-8 -- Who's first? The remaining task of military/civil conquest was hardly the same kind of thing as the religious conquest of Joshua. This is more like work, and actually more hazardous. Still, they were asking God and it should have turned out well. The text indicates it did. We can't know if the sack of Jerusalem (v. 8) was separate from the Jebusite fortress there, or if it was later re-occupied by them. The inclusion of Simeon in the battle plans was an invitation for the latter to also help settle the area. Simeon was offered no distinct territory because of the curse in Genesis 49:5-7 (including Levi), with the result that they were to be scattered and merged with other tribes.
1:9-20 -- While Caleb is not named specifically as the commander, this describes his victories in the Hebron area. He would naturally take up a strong leadership after the death of Joshua. The names of the other kings in the area are Aramaean, suggesting they were populated by the same folks who later conquered Damascus. No one knows exactly where they came from, but it illustrates how Israel wasn't the only nation trying to occupy this land. The little story of the giving in marriage of Caleb's daughter indicates a major promotion for the man. The word describing Othniel's relationship to Caleb means a close male relative, but more often indicates a cousin than a brother (v. 13). Achsah, as well as the rule of the city, was implied by this offer. What Achsah requested was a gift of springs to compensate her for the land being so arid (v. 15). The term "southland" was synonymous with "arid, dry place." So Othniel got the girl, the city, some dry ranch land, and water rights as well. Including such a detailed record of the transfer of title would prevent any dispute arising later, as it surely would otherwise.
The Kenites are mentioned as helping to conquer and occupy the area. They were the relatives of Moses by marriage to Zipporah. They left Jericho (v. 16, "City of Palm Trees") and scattered across the dryer region in the far south of this southern hill country. This whole region was the first liberated, and longest held, and the best held of all the land of Canaan. While Judah and Simeon early on took the coastal area later occupied by Philistines, they never held all of it securely. This was the birth of the Iron Age, and Isreal never gained that technology until about the time of David. This early display of iron weaponry -- specifically chariots -- was beyond the tactical abilities of Bronze Age warriors of Israel. These chariots would be lighter and more maneuverable than the older wooden ones. This may have been some early colonists of the ancient sea-faring folks, because the Philistines didn't come and occupy in force for a century or so. They jealously guarded the secrets of iron forging until David conquered them once and for all. We are guessing the Philistines were allies with or a strong element within the old Hittite Empire, the first people to capitalize on the use iron weaponry to any extent.
1:21-26 -- Judah and Simeon thus paved the way for Benjamin's claim, which included Jerusalem (v. 21). The Jebusite fortress was separate from the city that fell. This verse is the clue that the book of Judges was written before David's reign, for he took it early on (2 Samuel 5:6-9). Ephraim and Manasseh together finished off Bethel. It would be fair to assume that earlier fighting in the area over Ai was not a complete capture of the city, but the slaughter of its army. The city was probably secured well and required a serious seige. We have here a story how scouts found a fellow willing to trade his life for betraying the city (v. 24). Reading between the lines, we see a city well protected by a wall, perhaps with hidden gates aside from the obvious main entrance. The man was allowed to escape and flee off around Syria -- at that time the southern edge of what remained of the old Hittite Empire. We note the name of the city later called Bethel had not yet changed from Luz yet, as the man built a new city with that old name (v. 26).
1:27-29 -- A string of forts held apparently under Egyptian authority defied them, running along the valleys of Jezreel to Meggido, and across to Dor on the coast (vv. 27-29). While Israel did at times prosper to the point of oppressing them, they never got around to clearing them out. Gezer was an ancient fortress with walls 14 feet thick. The town held the pass between Joppa and Jerusalem, and was finally granted to Solomon as a gift from Pharaoh.
1:30-36 -- We can't identify all the cities left by Zebulun, Asher, and Naphthali (vv. 30-33). These three were granted land in the area from Carmel, up the coast of Phoenicia, and inland to the Rift Valley. While we know that David and Solomon were on friendly terms with Phoenicia, we are told here they were supposed to be gone. Dan was pressed back into a tight pocket around Zorah and Eshtaol, a foothills area west of Jerusalem (v. 34). We learn later a large portion finds it easier to migrate the the headwaters of the Jordan far to the north (ch. 18). It appears these same folks kept an area on the southwest of the Dead Sea. We know where the famous Ascent of Akkribim ("scorpions") is, which climbs the north face of a wadi that feeds into the Dead Sea, but would be hard pressed to identify "The Rock."
All of these failures are to be seen as a lack of faith in God's promises. These all had been delivered into the hands of Israel, but there seemed insufficient will to keep coming back to God and seeking guidance. Too many shortcuts were taken; too often they compromised. They seemed to have grown weary in the task, and fell short of God's command.
2:1-5 -- Due to this failure of faith, Jehovah announced His judgment against Israel at Bokim. We see the first full generation that followed Joshua and his lieutenants, but did not seem to remember Moses. Almost immediately, they began adopting pagan religions of locals: Baal and Ashtar. It was quite easy for an early pagan mix to find its way into the traditional worship of Jehovah, since many of the Mosaic rituals were derived from common Semitic rituals. It was to be a very long time before they were completely cured of this sin.
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Ed Hurst
revised 21 March 2004
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