1. Judges 1:1–21 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

How should the success of Judah be viewed in 1:1-21?

Judges 1:1–21 (ESV)

1 After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the LORD, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”

Judges 1:1–21 offers a picture of divine adequacy, in this way: "Israel and/or Judah receives divine direction (Judges 1:1–2a) and divine assurance (Judges 1:2b) and experiences the divine power (Judges 1:4) and presence (Judges 1:19a). It is in light of all this that readers are to view the 'success of Judah': their victories at Bezek (Judges 1:4–7), Jerusalem (Judges 1:8), Hebron (Judges 1:10), Debir (Judges 1:11–15), Zephath/Hormah (Judges 1:17), and the towns on the coastal plain (Judges 1:18–19)."1 Israel’s God is adequate, also when Israel is without a human leader.