A Good Beginning

Like the book of Joshua, the book of Judges begins with the death of a leader. Joshua opens by noting that its subject matter occurs “after the death of Moses,” whose death is chronicled in Deuteronomy. Similarly, Joshua’s death is recounted at the end of the book bearing his name, and Judges tells what occurs “after the death of Joshua.” But this time there is no successor waiting to assume the mantle of leadership over all Israel. And that is a problem, for the tribes still face the task of executing God’s judgment against the Canaanite remnants.

Therefore, Israel seeks the guidance of God, asking who or which tribe should take the lead in completing the conquest. The people prove faithful at the beginning of this new phase of the national life—they recognize their duty and seek God’s guidance as to how to fulfill it. In reply, God places the responsibility on the tribe of Judah, assuring the nation that He has “ ‘delivered the land into [Judah’s] hand.’ ” This tribe had been given the leadership and ascendancy by Jacob (Gen. 49:8–12), and was the strongest and most populous of all (Num. 26). But rather than proceeding alone, the Judahites turn to the tribe of Simeon, which had received its allotment in Judah’s southern region, and propose a joint action. The two tribes strike into the south, where God gives them victory. They kill ten thousand men at Bezek and capture the city’s king. Here is the first of several graphic images in the book of Judges—the Israelites cut off this pagan ruler’s thumbs and large toes. Surprisingly, he himself acknowledges the divine justice in this, for he had done the same to some 70 kings.

Judah and Simeon, we are told, go on to capture and burn Jerusalem, killing all the inhabitants, but they apparently do not occupy its site (see 1:21). The narrative then closely follows the account of Caleb’s exploits in Joshua 15:13–19. Here, however, the entire tribe of Judah is credited and it is said that the three giants, the sons of Anak, are killed, not merely driven out. It is not clear why this account is presented here as occurring after Joshua’s death when it seemingly occurs much earlier in the book of Joshua. The answer may have to do with the star of this episode, Othniel, who shortly will reappear as Israel’s first judge. Here, his gallantry contributes greatly to an excellent beginning to Israel’s efforts to eradicate the Canaanites.