Judges 1:17 - Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they struck the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. The name of the city was called Hormah.
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What does "Judges 1:17" mean?
Judges 1:17 describes a specific military action taken by two Israelite tribes, Judah and Simeon, during their conquest of Canaan after the death of Joshua. Here's a breakdown of the verse:
"Judah went with Simeon his brother...": This indicates an alliance between the tribes of Judah and Simeon. They cooperated in a military campaign. "Brother" here likely signifies kinship and alliance rather than a literal sibling relationship.
"...and they struck the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath...": Judah and Simeon attacked and defeated the Canaanite inhabitants of the city of Zephath. The Canaanites were the indigenous people of the land that the Israelites were trying to conquer.
"...and utterly destroyed it.": This describes the severity of the conquest. The city was completely destroyed, often meaning its inhabitants were killed and buildings demolished. This is consistent with the concept of "herem" or "devoted to destruction" that is sometimes prescribed in the Hebrew Bible.
"The name of the city was called Hormah.": After destroying Zephath, the Israelites renamed it Hormah. "Hormah" in Hebrew means "devotion" or "destruction," reflecting the nature of their victory.
In essence, the verse describes a localized but significant military victory for the tribes of Judah and Simeon against the Canaanites, resulting in the complete destruction of the city of Zephath, which was then renamed Hormah to commemorate the event.
Significance:
Continuation of the Conquest: This passage illustrates the ongoing process of the Israelite conquest of Canaan after the death of Joshua. The book of Judges shows that the conquest was not immediate or complete, but rather a series of localized battles and victories.
Tribal Alliances: It highlights the alliances and cooperation between different Israelite tribes in securing their territory.
Divine Mandate: The "utter destruction" aspect hints at the belief that God commanded the Israelites to drive out or destroy the Canaanites, though the ethical implications of this command are a subject of much discussion.
Geographical Information: The verse provides information about specific locations in Canaan and the changes in their names as a result of the Israelite conquest.
The events recorded in the Book of Judges generally took place over a long period and were part of the Israelites' gradual process of establishing themselves in the land of Canaan.
Judges 1:17 - Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they struck the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. The name of the city was called Hormah.
What does "Judges 1:17" mean?
Judges 1:17 describes a specific military action taken by two Israelite tribes, Judah and Simeon, during their conquest of Canaan after the death of Joshua. Here's a breakdown of the verse:
"Judah went with Simeon his brother...": This indicates an alliance between the tribes of Judah and Simeon. They cooperated in a military campaign. "Brother" here likely signifies kinship and alliance rather than a literal sibling relationship.
"...and they struck the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath...": Judah and Simeon attacked and defeated the Canaanite inhabitants of the city of Zephath. The Canaanites were the indigenous people of the land that the Israelites were trying to conquer.
"...and utterly destroyed it.": This describes the severity of the conquest. The city was completely destroyed, often meaning its inhabitants were killed and buildings demolished. This is consistent with the concept of "herem" or "devoted to destruction" that is sometimes prescribed in the Hebrew Bible.
"The name of the city was called Hormah.": After destroying Zephath, the Israelites renamed it Hormah. "Hormah" in Hebrew means "devotion" or "destruction," reflecting the nature of their victory.
In essence, the verse describes a localized but significant military victory for the tribes of Judah and Simeon against the Canaanites, resulting in the complete destruction of the city of Zephath, which was then renamed Hormah to commemorate the event.
Significance:
Continuation of the Conquest: This passage illustrates the ongoing process of the Israelite conquest of Canaan after the death of Joshua. The book of Judges shows that the conquest was not immediate or complete, but rather a series of localized battles and victories.
Tribal Alliances: It highlights the alliances and cooperation between different Israelite tribes in securing their territory.
Divine Mandate: The "utter destruction" aspect hints at the belief that God commanded the Israelites to drive out or destroy the Canaanites, though the ethical implications of this command are a subject of much discussion.
Geographical Information: The verse provides information about specific locations in Canaan and the changes in their names as a result of the Israelite conquest.
The events recorded in the Book of Judges generally took place over a long period and were part of the Israelites' gradual process of establishing themselves in the land of Canaan.