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._ The Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain. The war was of the Lord, whose omnipotent power would have ensured their success in every encounter, whether on the mountains or the plains, with foot soldiers or cavalry. It was distrust-the want of a simple and firm reliance on the promise of God-that made them afraid of the iron chariots (see the note at Joshua 11:4). It has been alleged from this passage, by many sceptical writers, that the Israelites regarded the God of Israel as a local deity, who was superior to the gods of their enemies in some, but not in all, instances. The allegation is groundless; for the proper antecedent to "he drave" is not "the Lord" (Yahweh) but Judah.

9-20 The Canaanites had iron chariots; but Israel had God on their side, whose chariots are thousands of angels, Psalms 68:17. Yet they suffered their fears to prevail against their faith. About Caleb we read in Joshua 15:16-6. The Kenites had settled in the land. Israel let them fix where they pleased, being a quiet, contented people. They that molested none, were molested by none. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth....

Verse 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._] Strange! were the _iron chariots_ too strong for Omnipotence? The whole of this verse is improperly rendered. The first clause, _The_ _Lord was with Judah_ should terminate the 18th verse, and this gives the reason for the success of this tribe: _The Lord was with_ _Judah_, and therefore _he slew the Canaanites that inhabited_ _Zephath_, c., c. Here then is a complete period: the remaining part of the verse either refers to a different time, or to the rebellion of Judah against the Lord, which caused him to withdraw his support. Therefore the Lord was with Judah, and these were the effects of his protection but afterwards, wh...

EXPOSITION JUDGES 1:8 Read _Fought against Jerusalem_,_ and took it_,_ and smote it. _It is the continuation of the narrative of the exploits of Judah and Simeon in conquering their respective lots. JUDGES 1:9 THE VALLEY, _i.e._ the _Shephelah_, or lowlands, between the mountains and the coast of the Mediterranean, occupied by the Philistines. JUDGES 1:10 HEBRON See Numbers 13:22; Joshua 14:13-6;...

AND THE LORD WAS WITH JUDAH,.... Encouraging, strengthening, succeeding, and giving the tribe victory over the Canaanites; the Targum is, "the Word of the Lord was for the help of the house of Judah:'' AND HE DROVE OUT [THE INHABITANTS OF] THE MOUNTAINS; the mountainous part of Judea, such as was about Jerusalem, and where Hebron stood, and other cities, see Joshua 15:48, c. which though fortified both by nature and man, yet God being with them, they were easily subdued: BUT COULD NOT DRIVE OUT THE INHABITANTS OF THE VALLEY God forsaking them, because they were afraid of them, for a reason after mentioned, or through slothfulness, and being weary of fighting, or because they fell into some sins, which occasioned the divine displeasure; so the Targum, "after they had sinned, they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE INTRODUCTION: ISRAEL'S FAILURE AND THE RESULTS 1. Israel's Failure in mingling with the Canaanites CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The question and the answer (Judges 1:1)_ 2. Adoni-Bezek (Judges 1:5) 3. Jerusalem (Judges 1:8) 4. Judah's victory and failure (Judges 1:9) 5. The children of Benjamin and their failure (Judges 1:21) 6. The failures of others (Judges 1:22) The book begins with an inquiry of the Lord.

JUDGES 1:1 TO JUDGES 2:5. THE CONQUESTS AND SETTLEMENTS OF THE ISRAELITES IN WESTERN PALESTINE. From this introduction, which is one of the most valuable parts of early Hebrew history, we learn that the various tribes invaded the land either singly or in small groups; that they had failures as well as successes; that in many instances they did not destroy the older population, but settled peacefully among them; and that, in particular, the larger cities of Canaan, as well as the fertile valleys and the Maritime Plain, remained in the possession of the Canaanites. The conquests of Judah were separated from those of Joseph by a belt of walled cities with Jerusalem in its centre. Another line of strongholds, extending from Bethshan near the Jordan to Dor on the sea coast, shut up Ephraim and Manasseh in the central highland

HE DRAVE OUT. he possessed. (Omit italics.) MOUNTAIN. hill country. VALLEY. lowlands. CHARIOTS OF IRON. Compare Judges 4:3....

_The conquests of Judah_ 2 _.the land_ Not the whole land, but the part which had fallen to Judah's lot....

BUT COULD NOT DRIVE OUT THE INHABITANTS, &C.— _But proceeded not to drive out,_ &c. Jun. Tremel. Wat. This version gives us the true sense of the passage. We are not to suppose that chariots of iron rendered the inhabitants of the valley invincible to a people aided and protected by Almighty God; but only that these tribes, content with their former victories, and terrified at the formidable appearance of the enemy, wanted confidence in the Lord, and dared not to attack the Philistines; insomuch, that, being unworthy of God's succour, they were left to themselves, to their false policy and shameful timidity: and hence, perhaps, they abandoned _Gaza, Askelon,_ and _Ekron,_ which they had before taken. See ch. Judges 3:3. _Note;_ (1.) They who do the work of the Lord unfaithfully will surely suffer for it. (2.) A favourable opportunity neglected can very rarely be r