JUDAH’S LEADERSHIP AGAINST THE CANAANITES

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

2 The Lord answered, “Judahc is to go.d I have handed the land over to him.”e

3 Judah 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.

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

6 When Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.h 7 Adoni-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.

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

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

14 When 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?” 15 She answered him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev,p give me springs also.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.q

16 The descendants of the Kenite, Moses’s father-in-law,r had gone up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms* s to the Wilderness of Judah, which was in the Negev of Arad.t They went to live among the people.

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

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

BENJAMIN’S FAILURE

21 At 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.aa

SUCCESS OF THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH

22 The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel, and the Lord was withab them. 23 They sent spies to Bethel (the town was formerly named Luzac). 24 The 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.”ad 25 When he showed them the way into the town, they put the town to the sword but released the man and his entire family. 26 Then 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

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

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

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

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

33 Naphtali 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.

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