Judges

he book of Judges is a historical account of Israel during the period between Joshua and the monarchy, highlighting cycles of rebellion, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. It tells the stories of God raising leaders—called judges—who delivered His people from their enemies and guided them back to faithfulness. Judges illustrates both the consequences of turning from God and the power of His mercy when the people repent.

Judges emphasizes God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and patience. Despite Israel’s repeated disobedience, God raises deliverers to protect and restore His people. The book shows that leadership, courage, and reliance on God are essential in times of moral and social chaos.

This book challenges believers to recognize the dangers of turning from God, the importance of faithful leadership, and the necessity of obedience and trust. Judges also demonstrates that God’s mercy and guidance are available even in times of failure and uncertainty.

Explore the book of Judges to learn from Israel’s history, understand God’s justice and mercy, and see how He works through faithful leaders to fulfill His purposes.

Judges 1:1

Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?

Judges 1:10

And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

Judges 1:11

And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:

Judges 1:12

And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

Judges 1:13

And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

Judges 1:14

And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?

Judges 1:15

And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.

Judges 1:16

And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.

Judges 1:17

And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.

Judges 1:18

Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.

Judges 1:19

And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

Judges 1:2

And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

Judges 1:20

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

Judges 1:21

And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.

Judges 1:22

And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.

Judges 1:23

And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)

Judges 1:24

And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy.

Judges 1:25

And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.

Judges 1:26

And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.

Judges 1:27

Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

Judges 1:28

And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.

Judges 1:29

Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.

Judges 1:3

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 1:30

Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.

Judges 1:31

Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:

Judges 1:32

But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.

Judges 1:33

Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.