 |  |
Judges 1: 1 - 3: 9.
A | 1: 1-20. |
a1 |
1: 1-4. Judah and Simeon fight against the Canaanites.
b1
| 1: 5-7. Adoni-bezek. Jerusalem.
a2 |
1: 8-11. Judah fights against Jerusalem, Kirjath-arba and Kirjath sepher.
b2
| 1: 12-15. Othniel. Kirjath-sepher.
a3 |
1: 16-19. Judah and Simeon slay the Canaanites.
b3
| 1: 20. Caleb. Hebron. Three sons of Anak.
B | 1: 21-26. Benjamin fails to drive out the Jebusites.
The man of Luz perpetuates idolatry.
C | 1: 27. Neither did Manasseh.
1: 29. Neither did Ephraim.
1: 30. Neither did Zebulun.
1: 31. Neither did Asher.
1: 33. Neither did Nasphtali.
B | 1: 34-36. Amorites force Dan into the mountains.
Joseph exacts tribute.
A | 2: 1 - 3: 9. |
a | 2: 1-5. Angel of the Lord. Nations as thorns.
I will not drive them out.
b | 2: 6-10. Joshua and all that generation.
b | 2: 10-13. Another generation that knew not the Lord.
a | 2: 14 - 3: 9. Anger of the Lord.
I will not drive them out. Left to prove Israel.
In 1: 10-15 and 1: 30 we have a re-statement of what has already been recorded in
Josh. 15: 13-19. Caleb was an overcomer, and so also was his younger brother Othniel.
The story is repeated here in order to show the root cause of Israel's failure. They did not
wholly follow the Lord as did Caleb; they did not utterly destroy the seed of the wicked
one but spared them, and dwelt with them, and took tribute of them. All this would be
acclaimed as very human and humane, very worldly-wise and civilized, but after all
disobedient and ruinous.
Just as Adoni-bezek is a type of Satan, so Kirjath-arba and Kirjath-sepher are types of
Satan's activities. Kirjath-arba is associated with the Giants, the sons of Anak. These
were the seed of the Wicked One, and, like the "tares"" in the parable, were devoted to
destruction. Kirjath-sepher means "The City of the Book". Its name was changed to
Debir which means "Oracle", as Kirjath-arba was changed to Hebron, which means
"Fellowship". The doctrine of demons, the false gospels and teachings that form part of
Satan's propaganda, must be destroyed if true success is to be achieved. God's oracle,
the inspired Scriptures (Debir) must take their place, and fellowship with the Lord
(Hebron) must be our strength--and not the "strength of Baal", which is the meaning of
the name Arba.
In contrast with this uncompromising attitude which characterizes all true overcomers,
is the incident connected with the man who was an inhabitant of Bethel. The name