Judges 1-2

Chapter 1: Judah, Simeon and Joseph Continue to Conquer the Canaanites!

After the death of Joshua the people asked God who would go before them. The Lord told them that Judah would go up before them to continue conquering. Judah called upon his brother Simeon to go with him and together with the Israelites they continued to conquer more land. They slayed 10,000 men in Bezek and cut the thumbs and big toes off of the king Adoni-bezek and that of 10 other kings in the region.

The children of Judah fought against Jerusalem and set the city on fire. The children of Judah continued to battle against the Canaanites in the land of Hebron, where they killed: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. Then they went into the land of Debir, to destroy those people.

Caleb said that he who destroys Kirjath-sepher would receive his daughter Achash to marry. So the younger brother of Caleb took the land of Kirajath-sepher and received Achash to marry.

Joshua, Simeon and Joseph continue to conquer the Canaanites, while the tribes of Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali and Dan allow remnants of Canaanites to dwell among them.

Chapter 2: Do Not Forsake God!

Because the tribes of Israel would not destroy the inhabitants of their lands, allowing remnants of the Canaanite people to dwell among them, they broke the covenant which they had made with God. They did not follow all of his commandments and in doing so they had angered the Lord.

An angel appears to them and tells them that they have forsaken God and that if they do not destroy the Canaanites then they will be “…as thorns in your sides…” (Judges 2:3). This kind of reminds me of Israel today, and the fight they have with their neighboring countries, as thorns in their sides?

A new generation of Israelites arises that do not know of the great powers of God, and forsake him. They quickly turn from God, to serve other gods; like Baal and Ashtaroth. The Lord is angered and refuses to guide them anymore. He does however raise judges to guide the people, but the people refuse to listen to the judges as well. Canaanites are left in the land to prove Israel.