Judah’s Leadership against the Canaanites

1After the death of Joshua,a the Israelites inquired of the Lord,b “Who will be the first to fight for us against the Canaanites? ”

2The Lord answered, “Judaha is to go.b I have handed the land over to him.”c

3Judah said to his brother Simeon, “Come with me to my allotted territory, and let’s fight against the Canaanites. I will also go with you to your allotted territory.” So Simeon went with him.

4When Judah attacked, the Lord handed the Canaanites and Perizzitesa over to them. They struck down ten thousand men in Bezek.b 5They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek, fought against him, and struck down the Canaanites and Perizzites.

6When Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.a 7Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick up scrapsA under my table. God has repaid me for what I have done.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

8The men of Judah fought against Jerusalem, captured it, put it to the sword, and set the city on fire. 9Afterward, the men of Judah marched down to fight against the Canaanites who were living in the hill country, the Negev, and the Judean foothills.A 10Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebrona (Hebron was formerly named Kiriath-arbab). They struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.c 11From there they marched against the residents of Debira (Debir was formerly named Kiriath-sepher).

12Caleba said, “Whoever attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher, I will give my daughter Achsahb to him as a wife.” 13So Othniela son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as his wife.

14When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want? ” 15She answered him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev,a give me springs also.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.b

16The descendants of the Kenite, Moses’s father-in-law,a had gone up with the men of Judah from the City of Palmsa b to the Wilderness of Judah, which was in the Negev of Arad.c They went to live among the people.

17Judah went with his brother Simeon, struck the Canaanites who were living in Zephath, and completely destroyed the town. So they named the town Hormah.a 18Judah captured Gaza and its territory, Ashkelon and its territory, and Ekron and its territory. 19The Lord was witha Judah and enabled them to take possession of the hill country, but they could not drive outb the people who were living in the plain because those people had iron chariots.c

20Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, just as Moses had promised.a Then Caleb drove out the three sons of Anakb who lived there.

Benjamin’s Failure

21At the same time the Benjaminites did not drive out the Jebusites who were living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites have lived among the Benjaminites in Jerusalem to this day.a

Success of the House of Joseph

22The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel, and the Lord was witha them. 23They sent spies to Bethel (the town was formerly named Luza). 24The spies saw a man coming out of the town and said to him, “Please show us how to get into town, and we will show you kindness.”a 25When he showed them the way into the town, they put the town to the sword but released the man and his entire family. 26Then the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a town, and named it Luz. That is its name still today.

Failure of the Other Tribes

27At that time Manasseh failed to take possession of Beth-sheana and Taanachb and their surrounding villages, or the residents of Dor,c Ibleam,d and Megiddoe and their surrounding villages; the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.f 28When Israel became stronger, they made the Canaanites serve as forced labor but never drove them out completely.a

29At that time Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived among them in Gezer.a

30Zebulun failed to drive out the residents of Kitron or the residents of Nahalol,a so the Canaanites lived among them and served as forced labor.

31Asher failed to drive out the residents of Acco or of Sidon, or Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. 32The Asherites lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, because they failed to drive them out.

33Naphtali did not drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh or the residents of Beth-anath. They lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, but the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served as their forced labor.

34The Amoritesa forced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to go down into the valley. 35The Amorites were determined to stay in Har-heres, Aijalon,a and Shaalbim. When the house of Joseph got the upper hand, the Amorites were made to serve as forced labor. 36The territory of the Amorites extended from the Scorpions’ Ascent,a that is from Selab upward.