Judges 1
שופטים פרק א׳
Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: Judges | Chapter: 1 of 21 | Day: 25 of 742
Date: March 8, 2026
קלאוד על הנ״ך
Book Context: Judges (שופטים) is part of the Prophets (נביאים), in the Early Prophets section. This is chapter 1 of 21 in the book.
Chapter Overview: This chapter contains 36 verses. It opens with: “After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of GOD, “Which of us shall be the first to go up against the Canaanites and attack them?””
The chapter concludes with: “The territory of the AmoriteshAmorites Some Septuagint mss. read “Edomites.” extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim—from Sela—onward.”
Study Note: Read through the Hebrew and English text below to understand the full narrative and themes of this chapter. Pay attention to key figures, divine messages, and their relevance to the broader biblical story.
פרק א׳ · Chapter 1
פסוק א׳ · Verse 1
Hebrew:
וַֽיְהִ֗י אַֽחֲרֵי֙ מ֣וֹת יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ וַֽיִּשְׁאֲלו��֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בַּיהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר מִ֣י יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֧נוּ אֶל־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛י בַּתְּחִלָּ֖ה לְהִלָּ֥חֶם בּֽוֹ׃
English:
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of GOD, “Which of us shall be the first to go up against the Canaanites and attack them?”
פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2
Hebrew:
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה יְהוּדָ֣ה יַעֲלֶ֑ה הִנֵּ֛ה נָתַ֥תִּי אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
English:
GOD replied, “Let [the tribe of] Judah go up. I now deliver the land into their hands.”
פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3
Hebrew:
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָה֩ לְשִׁמְע֨וֹן אָחִ֜יו עֲלֵ֧ה אִתִּ֣י בְגֹרָלִ֗י וְנִֽלָּחֲמָה֙ בַּֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י וְהָלַכְתִּ֧י גַם־אֲנִ֛י אִתְּךָ֖ בְּגוֹרָלֶ֑ךָ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אִתּ֖וֹ שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃
English:
Judah then said to their brother-tribe Simeon, “Come up with us to our allotted territory and let us attack the Canaanites, and then we will go with you to your allotted territory.” So Simeon joined them.
פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4
Hebrew:
וַיַּ֣עַל יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּתֵּ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־הַכְּנַעֲנִ֥י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֖י בְּיָדָ֑ם וַיַּכּ֣וּם בְּבֶ֔זֶק עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִֽישׁ׃
English:
When Judah advanced, GOD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands, and they defeated ten thousand of them at Bezek.
פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5
Hebrew:
וַֽ֠יִּמְצְא֠וּ אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֥י בֶ֙זֶק֙ בְּבֶ֔זֶק וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ בּ֑וֹ וַיַּכּ֕וּ אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י וְאֶת־הַפְּרִזִּֽי׃
English:
At Bezek, they encountered Adoni-bezek, engaged him in battle, and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6
Hebrew:
וַיָּ֙נׇס֙ אֲדֹ֣נִי בֶ֔זֶק וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּ אַחֲרָ֑יו וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּ אוֹת֔וֹ וַֽ��ְקַצְּצ֔וּ אֶת־בְּהֹנ֥וֹת יָדָ֖יו וְרַגְלָֽיו׃
English:
Adoni-bezek fled, but they pursued him and captured him; and they cut off his thumbs and his big toes.
פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7
Hebrew:
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲדֹֽנִי־בֶ֗זֶק שִׁבְעִ֣ים ׀ מְלָכִ֡ים בְּֽהֹנוֹת֩ יְדֵיהֶ֨ם וְרַגְלֵיהֶ֜ם מְקֻצָּצִ֗ים הָי֤וּ מְלַקְּטִים֙ תַּ֣חַת שֻׁלְחָנִ֔י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֔יתִי כֵּ֥ן שִׁלַּם־לִ֖י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיְבִיאֻ֥הוּ יְרֽוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם וַיָּ֥מׇת שָֽׁם׃ {פ}
English:
And Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings, with thumbs and big toes cut off, used to pick up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has requited me.” They brought him to Jerusalem and he died there.
פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8
Hebrew:
וַיִּלָּחֲמ֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָה֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וַיִּלְכְּד֣וּ אוֹתָ֔הּ וַיַּכּ֖וּהָ לְפִי־חָ֑רֶב וְאֶת־הָעִ֖יר שִׁלְּח֥וּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃
English:
The Judahites attacked Jerusalem and captured it; they put it to the sword and set the city on fire.
פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9
Hebrew:
וְאַחַ֗ר יָֽרְדוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בַּֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑י יוֹשֵׁ֣ב הָהָ֔ר וְהַנֶּ֖גֶב וְהַשְּׁפֵלָֽה׃
English:
After that the Judahites went down to attack the Canaanites who inhabited the hill country, the Negeb, and the Shephelah.
פסוק י״ · Verse 10
Hebrew:
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֗ה אֶל־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ הַיּוֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן וְשֵׁם־חֶבְר֥וֹן לְפָנִ֖ים קִרְיַ֣ת אַרְבַּ֑ע וַיַּכּ֛וּ אֶת־שֵׁשַׁ֥י וְאֶת־אֲחִימַ֖ן וְאֶת־תַּלְמָֽי׃
English:
The Judahites marched against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron, and they defeated Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. (The name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba.)
פסוק י״א · Verse 11
Hebrew:
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ מִשָּׁ֔ם אֶל־יוֹשְׁבֵ֖י דְּבִ֑יר וְשֵׁם־דְּבִ֥יר לְפָנִ֖ים קִרְיַת־סֵֽפֶר׃
English:
From there they marched against the inhabitants of Debir (the name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-sepher).
פסוק י״ב · Verse 12
Hebrew:
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר כָּלֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־יַכֶּ֥ה אֶת־קִרְיַת־סֵ֖פֶר וּלְכָדָ֑הּ וְנָתַ֥תִּי ל֛וֹ אֶת־עַכְסָ֥ה בִתִּ֖י לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
English:
And Caleb announced, “I will give my daughter Achsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.”
פסוק י״ג · Verse 13
Hebrew:
וַֽיִּלְכְּדָהּ֙ עׇתְנִיאֵ֣ל בֶּן־קְנַ֔ז אֲחִ֥י כָלֵ֖ב הַקָּטֹ֣ן מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וַיִּתֶּן־ל֛וֹ אֶת־עַכְסָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
English:
His younger kinsman,akinsman Or “brother.” Othniel the Kenizzite,bKenizzite Cf. Josh. 14.6, 14. captured it; and Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah in marriage.
פסוק י״ד · Verse 14
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֣י בְּבוֹאָ֗הּ וַתְּסִיתֵ֙הוּ֙ לִשְׁאֹ֤ל מֵֽאֵת־אָבִ֙יהָ֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וַתִּצְנַ֖ח מֵעַ֣ל הַחֲמ֑וֹר וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֥הּ כָּלֵ֖ב מַה־לָּֽךְ׃
English:
When she came [to him], she induced him to ask her father for some property. She dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb asked her, “What is the matter?”
פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15
Hebrew:
וַתֹּ֨אמֶר ל֜וֹ הָֽבָה־לִּ֣י בְרָכָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֶ֤רֶץ הַנֶּ֙גֶב֙ נְתַתָּ֔נִי וְנָתַתָּ֥ה לִ֖י גֻּלֹּ֣ת מָ֑יִם וַיִּתֶּן־לָ֣הּ כָּלֵ֗ב אֵ֚ת גֻּלֹּ֣ת עִלִּ֔ית וְאֵ֖ת גֻּלֹּ֥ת תַּחְתִּֽית׃ {פ}
English:
She replied, “Give me a present, for you have given me away as Negeb-land; give me springs of water.” And Caleb gave her Upper and Lower Gulloth.cWhen she came … Gulloth Cf. Josh. 15.18–19 and notes.
פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16
Hebrew:
וּבְנֵ��י קֵינִי֩ חֹתֵ֨ן מֹשֶׁ֜ה עָל֨וּ מֵעִ֤יר הַתְּמָרִים֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה מִדְבַּ֣ר יְהוּדָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּנֶ֣גֶב עֲרָ֑ד וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב אֶת־הָעָֽם׃
English:
The descendants of the Kenite, the father-in-law of Moses, went up with the Judahites from the City of Palms to the wilderness of Judah; and they went and settled among the peopledpeople Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “Amalekites”; cf. 1 Sam. 15.6. in the Negeb of Arad.
פסוק י״ז · Verse 17
Hebrew:
וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ יְהוּדָה֙ אֶת־שִׁמְע֣וֹן אָחִ֔יו וַיַּכּ֕וּ אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֣ב צְפַ֑ת וַיַּחֲרִ֣ימוּ אוֹתָ֔הּ וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שֵׁם־הָעִ֖יר חׇרְמָֽה׃
English:
And Judah with its brother-tribe Simeon went on and defeated the Canaanites who dwelt in Zephath. They proscribed it, and so the town was named Hormah.eHormah I.e., “Proscribed.” Cf. notes at Num. 21.2–3.
פסוק י״ח · Verse 18
Hebrew:
וַיִּלְכֹּ֤ד יְהוּדָה֙ אֶת־עַזָּ֣ה וְאֶת־גְּבוּלָ֔הּ וְאֶֽת־אַשְׁקְל֖וֹן וְאֶת־גְּבוּלָ֑הּ וְאֶת־עֶקְר֖וֹן וְאֶת־גְּבוּלָֽהּ׃
English:
And Judah capturedfAnd Judah captured Septuagint reads “But Judah did not capture Gaza….” Gaza is in the coastal plain referred to in v. 19. Gaza and its territory, Ashkelon and its territory, and Ekron and its territory.
פסוק י״ט · Verse 19
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖רֶשׁ אֶת־הָהָ֑ר כִּ֣י לֹ֤א לְהוֹרִישׁ֙ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָעֵ֔מֶק כִּי־רֶ֥כֶב בַּרְזֶ֖ל לָהֶֽם׃
English:
GOD was with Judah, so that they took possession of the hill country; but they were not able to dispossess the inhabitants of the plain, for they had iron chariots.
פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20
Hebrew:
וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ לְכָלֵב֙ אֶת־חֶבְר֔וֹן כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיּ֣וֹרֶשׁ מִשָּׁ֔ם אֶת־שְׁלֹשָׁ֖ה בְּנֵ֥י הָעֲנָֽק׃
English:
They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had promised; and he drove the three Anakites out of there.
פסוק כ״א · Verse 21
Hebrew:
וְאֶת־הַיְבוּסִי֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב י��רוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם לֹ֥א הוֹרִ֖ישׁוּ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב הַיְבוּסִ֜י אֶת־בְּנֵ֤י בִנְיָמִן֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ {פ}
English:
The Benjaminites did not dispossess the Jebusite inhabitants of Jerusalem; so the Jebusites have dwelt with the Benjaminites in Jerusalem to this day.
פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22
Hebrew:
וַיַּעֲל֧וּ בֵית־יוֹסֵ֛ף גַּם־הֵ֖ם בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל וַיהֹוָ֖ה עִמָּֽם׃
English:
The House of Joseph, for their part, advanced against Bethel, and GOD was with them.
פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23
Hebrew:
וַיָּתִ֥ירוּ בֵית־יוֹסֵ֖ף בְּבֵֽית־אֵ֑ל וְשֵׁם־הָעִ֥יר לְפָנִ֖ים לֽוּז׃
English:
While the House of Joseph were scouting at Bethel (the name of the town was formerly Luz),
פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24
Hebrew:
וַיִּרְאוּ֙ הַשֹּׁ֣מְרִ֔ים אִ֖ישׁ יוֹצֵ֣א מִן־הָעִ֑יר וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ ל֗וֹ הַרְאֵ֤נוּ נָא֙ אֶת־מְב֣וֹא הָעִ֔יר וְעָשִׂ֥ינוּ עִמְּךָ֖ חָֽסֶד׃
English:
their patrolsgpatrols Lit. “watchmen.” saw someone leaving the town. They said to him, “Just show us how to get into the town, and we will treat you kindly.”
פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25
Hebrew:
וַיַּרְאֵם֙ אֶת־מְב֣וֹא הָעִ֔יר וַיַּכּ֥וּ אֶת־הָעִ֖יר לְפִי־חָ֑רֶב וְאֶת־הָאִ֥ישׁ וְאֶת־כׇּל־מִשְׁפַּחְתּ֖וֹ שִׁלֵּֽחוּ׃
English:
He showed them how to get into the town; they put the town to the sword, but they let the man and all his relatives go free.
פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26
Hebrew:
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ הָאִ֔ישׁ אֶ֖רֶץ הַחִתִּ֑ים וַיִּ֣בֶן עִ֗יר וַיִּקְרָ֤א שְׁמָהּ֙ ל֔וּז ה֣וּא שְׁמָ֔הּ עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ {פ}
English:
The man went to the Hittite country. He founded a city and named it Luz, and that has been its name to this day.
פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27
Hebrew:
וְלֹֽא־הוֹרִ֣ישׁ מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה אֶת־בֵּית־שְׁאָ֣ן וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֶ֘יהָ֮ וְאֶת־תַּעְנַ֣ךְ וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֶ֒יהָ֒ וְאֶת־[יוֹשְׁבֵ֨י] (יושב) ד֜וֹר וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֶ֗יהָ וְאֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֤י יִבְלְעָם֙ וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֶ֔יהָ וְאֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֥י מְגִדּ֖וֹ וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֶ֑יהָ וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י לָשֶׁ֖בֶת בָּאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת׃
English:
Manasseh did not dispossess [the inhabitants of] Beth-shean and its dependencies, or [of] Taanach and its dependencies, or the inhabitants of Dor and its dependencies, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its dependencies, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its dependencies. The Canaanites persisted in dwelling in this region.
פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28
Hebrew:
וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־חָזַ֣ק יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י לָמַ֑ס וְהוֹרֵ֖ישׁ לֹ֥א הוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃ {ס}
English:
And when Israel gained the upper hand, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor; but they did not dispossess them.
פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29
Hebrew:
וְאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ לֹ֣א הוֹרִ֔ישׁ אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י הַיּוֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּגָ֑זֶר וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛י בְּקִרְבּ֖וֹ בְּגָֽזֶר׃ {ס}
English:
Nor did Ephraim dispossess the Canaanites who inhabited Gezer; so the Canaanites dwelt in their midst at Gezer.
פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30
Hebrew:
זְבוּלֻ֗ן לֹ֤א הוֹרִישׁ֙ אֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י קִטְר֔וֹן וְאֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֖י נַהֲלֹ֑ל וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ וַיִּֽהְי֖וּ לָמַֽס׃ {ס}
English:
Zebulun did not dispossess the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt in their midst, but they were subjected to forced labor.
פסוק ל״א · Verse 31
Hebrew:
אָשֵׁ֗ר לֹ֤א הוֹרִישׁ֙ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י עַכּ֔וֹ וְאֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֖י צִיד֑וֹן וְאֶת־אַחְלָ֤ב וְאֶת־אַכְזִיב֙ וְאֶת־חֶלְבָּ֔ה וְאֶת־אֲפִ֖יק וְאֶת־רְחֹֽב׃
English:
Asher did not dispossess the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.
פסוק ל״ב · Verse 32
Hebrew:
וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ הָאָ֣שֵׁרִ֔י בְּקֶ֥רֶב הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּ֖י לֹ֥א הֽוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃ {ס}
English:
So the Asherites dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not dispossess them.
פסוק ל״ג · Verse 33
Hebrew:
נַפְתָּלִ֗י לֹֽא־הוֹרִ֞ישׁ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֤י בֵֽית־שֶׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ וְאֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י בֵית־עֲנָ֔ת וַיֵּ֕שֶׁב בְּקֶ֥רֶב הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֤י בֵֽית־שֶׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ וּבֵ֣ית עֲנָ֔ת הָי֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם לָמַֽס׃
English:
Naphtali did not dispossess the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh or the inhabitants of Beth-anath. But they settled in the midst of the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, and the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath had to perform forced labor for them.
פסוק ל״ד · Verse 34
Hebrew:
וַיִּלְחֲצ֧וּ הָאֱמֹרִ֛י אֶת־בְּנֵי־דָ֖ן הָהָ֑רָה כִּי־לֹ֥א נְתָנ֖וֹ לָרֶ֥דֶת לָעֵֽמֶק׃
English:
The Amorites pressed the Danites into the hill country; they would not let them come down to the plain.
פסוק ל״ה · Verse 35
Hebrew:
וַיּ֤וֹאֶל הָאֱמֹרִי֙ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת בְּהַר־חֶ֔רֶס בְּאַיָּל֖וֹן וּבְשַׁעַלְבִ֑ים וַתִּכְבַּד֙ יַ֣ד בֵּית־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיִּהְי֖וּ לָמַֽס׃
English:
The Amorites also persisted in dwelling in Har-heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim. But the hand of the House of Joseph bore heavily on them and they had to perform forced labor.
פסוק ל״ו · Verse 36
Hebrew:
וּגְבוּל֙ הָאֱמֹרִ֔י מִֽמַּעֲלֵ֖ה עַקְרַבִּ֑ים מֵהַסֶּ֖לַע וָמָֽעְלָה׃ {פ}
English:
The territory of the AmoriteshAmorites Some Septuagint mss. read “Edomites.” extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim—from Sela—onward.