en_tn/tNotes/Judges/Judges_01.md

Judges 1

Judges 1:1

Connecting Statement:

The book of Judges continues the story about Joshua and is also the beginning of a new part of the story.

Yahweh

This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament. See the translationWord page about Yahweh concerning how to translate this.

will attack the Canaanites for us

The word "us" refers to the people of Israel, but not to Yahweh. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)

Judges 1:2

Judah will attack

Here "Judah" represents the men of the tribe of Judah. Yahweh is commanding these men to attack first. Alternate translation: "The men of Judah must attack first" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

See

"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"

this land

This refers to the land where the Canaanites lived. Alternate translation: "the land of the Canaanites" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

Judges 1:3

their brothers

"their fellow Israelites" or "their relatives"

Come up with us

The people of the tribes of Judah and Simeon were camped with the rest of the Israelite people in the valley of the Jordan River. The land given to Judah was in the hills above the valley. Some languages do not usually indicate whether people were going up or down. Alternate translation: "Come with us" or "Go with us"

that was assigned to us ... that was assigned to you

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that Yahweh assigned to us ... that Yahweh assigned to you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

We in turn will go with you

"In the same way, we will go with you"

Judges 1:4

The men of Judah attacked

It is implied that the men of Simeon attacked with the men of Judah. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

They killed ten thousand

"They killed about 10,000" or "They killed a large number" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers)

of them

"soldiers of the Canaanites and Perizzites" or "enemies"

Bezek

This is an area in the mountains of Canaan. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Judges 1:5

Adoni-Bezek

This man was the leader of the army of the Canaanites and the Perizzites. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

they fought against him

Here "him" actually refers to Adoni-Bezek and his army. Alternate translation: "they fought against him and his army" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

Judges 1:6

pursued him

"chased him"

Judges 1:7

Seventy kings

"70 kings" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers)

who had their thumbs and their big toes cut off

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "whose thumbs and big toes I told my men to cut off" or "whose thumbs and big toes we cut off" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

gathered their food from under my table

Forcing these kings to eat scraps of food represents all the ways that Adoni-Bezek humiliated these kings. Here "gathering" food represents eating it. Alternate translation: "ate scraps of food from under my table" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Judges 1:8

the city of Jerusalem and took it

Here "city" represents the people. Alternate translation: "the people who lived in Jerusalem and defeated them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

They attacked it

Here "it" refers to the city which represents the people of the city. Alternate translation: "They attacked the people of the city" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

with the edge of the sword

"with the point of the sword." Here "sword" represents the swords and other weapons that the soldiers used in battle. Alternate translation: "with their swords" or "with their weapons" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

Judges 1:9

the men of Judah went down to fight

It was common to use the word "down" when it refers to traveling from Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "the men of Judah went to fight"

in the Negev

"in the southern Judean wilderness"

lowlands

hills at the base of a mountain or mountain range

Judges 1:10

the name of Hebron was previously Kiriath Arba

This is background information. Some people who first read this book had probably heard of Kiriath Arba but did not know that it was the same as the city that they called Hebron. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-background)

Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai

These are the names of three Canaanite leaders of Hebron. Each leader represents his army. Alternate translation: "Sheshai, Ahiman, Talmai, and their armies" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Judges 1:11

the name of Debir was previously Kiriath Sepher

The author probably wrote this because his readers knew the city as Debir. But at the time Israel attacked it, it was called Kiriath Sepher. Alternate translation: "which used to be called Kiriath Sepher" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-background)

was previously

"was in times past" or "was at an earlier time"

Judges 1:12

Whoever attacks Kiriath Sepher and takes it

Here "Kiriath Sepher" represents the people. Alternate translation: "Whoever attacks and defeats the people of Kiriath Sepher and takes their city" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Aksah

This is the name of Caleb's daughter. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Judges 1:13

Othniel, son of Kenaz

These are names of men. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Judges 1:14

she urged him

"Aksah urged Othniel"

Judges 1:15

Give me a blessing

"Do a favor for me" or "Do this for me"

Since you have given me the land of the Negev

Caleb gave Aksah in marriage to Othniel, so she lived with Othniel in the city that he had captured in the Negev. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "Since you have given me in marriage to live in the Negev" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

Since you have given me the land

This implies that Caleb did give her the field when she asked him for it (verse 14). She is now asking for springs of water in addition to that field. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

Judges 1:16

of Moses's father-in-law

"of the father of Moses's wife"

father-in-law the Kenite went up

"father-in-law, who was one of the Ken people, went up"

went up from the City of Palms ... into the wilderness

"left the City of Palms ... and went into the wilderness"

City of Palms

This is another name for the city of Jericho. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

Arad

This is the name of a city in Canaan. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Judges 1:17

the men of Simeon their brothers

Here "brothers" means relatives who were in another tribe of Israel.

Zephath

This is the name of a city in Canaan. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

The name of the city was called Hormah

After the Israelites destroyed Zephath, they changed its name to "Hormah." The name "Hormah" means "complete destruction." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Judges 1:18

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Judges 1:19

Yahweh was with the people of Judah

Here "was with" means that Yahweh helped the people of Judah. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)

plains

a very large area of level, treeless ground

Judges 1:20

Hebron was given to Caleb (like Moses had said)

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Moses had given Hebron to Caleb" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

three sons of Anak

The leaders of the people groups are used to refer to the entire group. Alternate translation: "three sons of Anak and their people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

Anak

This is the name of a man. Anak and his descendants were famous for being very tall. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Judges 1:21

to this day

"until now." This refers to the time the book of Judges was written.

Judges 1:22

The house of Joseph

Here "house" represents descendants. Manasseh and Ephraim were sons of Joseph, and the "house of Joseph" can refer to the descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim. Alternate translation: "The descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim" or "The men of the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

to attack Bethel

Here "Bethel" represents the people who live in Bethel. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Judges 1:23

spy

to get information secretly

the city that was formerly called Luz

This is background information. Some people who first read this book had probably heard of Luz but did not know that it was the same as the city that they called Bethel. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-background and rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Judges 1:24

spies

people who get information secretly

Judges 1:25

they attacked the city

Here "city" represents the people. Alternate translation: "they attacked the people of the city" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

with the edge of the sword

"with the point of the sword." Here "sword" represents the swords and other weapons that the soldiers used in battle. Alternate translation: "with their swords" or "with their weapons" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

get away

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: "escape" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)

Judges 1:26

Luz

This new town started in the land of the Hittites was named after the town of Luz, near Bethel, that the man had left.

which is its name to this day

"which is still its name." Here "to this day" refers to the time when the book of Judges was written.

Judges 1:27

Beth Shan ... Taanach ... Dor ... Ibleam ... Megiddo

These are names of cities. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

because the Canaanites were determined to live in that land

To "determine" is to firmly decide something. Alternate translation: "because the Canaanites firmly decided not to leave that land"

Judges 1:28

When Israel became strong

Here "Israel" represents the people. Alternate translation: "When the people of Israel became stronger" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

they forced the Canaanites to serve them with hard labor

"they forced the Canaanites to do hard work for them"

Judges 1:29

Ephraim did not

Here "Ephraim" the men or the soldiers of the tribe of Ephraim. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Gezer

The name of one of the cities in the Ephraim area. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Judges 1:30

Zebulun did not drive out

Here "Zebulun" represents the men or the soldiers of the tribe of Zebulun. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Kitron ... Nahalol

These are names of cities in the land of Canaan. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

but Zebulun forced

Here "Zebulun" represents the people of the tribe of Zebulun. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

hard labor

"difficult labor"

Judges 1:31

Asher did not drive

Here "Asher" represents the men or the soldiers of the tribe of Asher. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Akko ... Sidon ... Ahlab, Akzib, Helbah, Aphek ... Rehob

These are names of cities in the land of Canaan. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Judges 1:32

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Judges 1:33

Beth Shemesh ... Beth Anath

These are names of cities. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were forced into hard labor for Naphthali

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the people of Naphtali forced the people of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath to work for them as slaves" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

Judges 1:34

not allowing them to come down

"stopping them from coming down"

plain

a very large area of flat land without trees

Judges 1:35

Mount Heres

This is the name of a large hill on which the city of Aijalon was built. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Aijalon ... Shaalbim

These are names of cities. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

the military might of the house of Joseph conquered them

"the tribes of people who descended from Joseph were able to conquer them because of their powerful army"

house of Joseph

Here "house" represents descendants. Manasseh and Ephraim were sons of Joseph, and the "house of Joseph" can refer to the descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim" or "the men of the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Judges 1:36

the hill of Akrabbim

This was a pass southwest of the Dead Sea. It is also called the "Scorpion Pass." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Sela

This is the name of a city. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)