Judges 1: a commentary on Judges 1:1-10:5

Cover Judges 1 Dedication Contents Foreword to Hermeneia Preface Reference codes Abbreviations and sigla Short titles Introduction The names of the book The meaning of "Judges" and their role in the book of Judges The place of Judges in the Canon Textual criticism The structure and unity of Judges The date of Judges Historiography across Judges: chronology and geography The format of this commentary The book's prologue Text Israelite successes and failures in conquering the land Textual notes Commentary The divine choice of Judah and the tribe's first victory in Jerusalem Judah at Hebron and Debir with Caleb and Othniel Judah and the settlement of the Kenites, Benjamin and Jerusalem The house of Joseph Unsuccessful Northern tribes Manasseh and Ephraim Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali Dan The archaeology of Judges 1 Text Divine rebuke of the Israelites for violation of the covenant Resumptive Repetition of Joshua 24:28-31 plus Coda Introduction to the Military Leaders ("Major Judges") The Cycle of Israelite Idolatry, Divine Punishment via Enemy Peoples Surrounding the Land, and Deliverance by Divinely Selected Leaders Textual Notes Commentary Divine rebuke of the Israelites for violation of the covenant Resumptive repetition of Joshua 24:28-31 plus Coda Introduction to the military leaders ("Major Judges") The cycle of Israelite idolatry, divine punishment via enemy peoples surrounding the land, and deliverance by divinely selected leaders Text Appendix: two listings for the peoples in the land Military leaders versus enemies

Othniel versus Cushan-rishatayim of Aram-naharaim Ehud versus Eglon, king of Moab Shamgar versus the Philistines Textual notes Commentary Appendix: two listings for the peoples in the land Military leaders versus enemies Othniel versus Cushan-rishatayim of Aram-naharaim Ehud versus Eglon, King of Moab Shamgar versus the Philistines Text Deborah, Barak, and Jael versus the Canaanites The prose account of Deborah, Barak, and Jael versus Jabin, King of Hazor, and Sisera, His commander Israel's apostasy and divine punishment through Jabin, King of Canaan The figure of Deborah The Israelites' muster for battle The introduction of Heber the Kenite The battle engaged The aftermath of battle: when Sisera met Jael Coda: the destruction of king Jabin of Canaan Textual notes Commentary Deborah, Barak, and Jael versus the Canaanites The prose account of Deborah, Barak, and Jael versus Jabin, King of Hazor, and Sisera, His commander Israel's apostasy and divine punishment through Jabin, king of Canaan The figure of Deborah The Israelites muster for battle The introduction of Heber the Kenite The battle engaged The aftermath of battle: when Sisera met Jael Coda: the destruction of king Jabin of Canaan

Text The song of Deborah, Barak, and Jael versus the Canaanite kings and Sisera Prose introduction Poetic introduction I: divine and human leadership Poetic introduction II: contrasting persons called to sing Pre-battle muster: tribes in contrast Battle and its immediate aftermath The aftermath of women in contrast: Jael and Sisera's mother Poetic coda to the song Prose conclusion to the poem Textual notes Commentary

Text Gideon-Jerubbaal versus the Midianites, Amalekites, and the Kedemites Israel's oppression by three enemies as divine punishment Religious criticism of Israel by an unnamed prophet The divine call of Gideon Gideon's removal of his clan's cult of Baal and the Asherah The three enemies arrayed against Gideon and three tribes Two signs given to Gideon by God Textual notes Commentary

Text Two divine reductions of Gideon's forces The Medianite dream and interpretation of Gideon's victory The battle engaged The tribe's post-battle pursuit of Oreb and Zeeb Textual notes Commentary

Text The Ephraimites' reproach of Gideon Gideon's post-battle pursuit of Zebah and Zalmunnah Post-battle cult established by Gideon The sons of Gideon-Jerubbaal and his death Textual notes Commentary

Text

Abimelech versus his brothers and the land-lords of Shechem

Abimelech's killing of his brothers and his kingship at Shechem

Jotham's parable about Abimelech's kingship

The falling-out between Abimelech and the land-lords of Shechem

The challenge of Abimelech

The conflict engaged

Battle in the field

The destruction of the tower of Shechem

Abimelech's defeat at Thebez

Coda: divine justice repaid against the evil of Abimelech and the Shechemites

Textual notes

Commentary

Text

Leaders without enemies ("Minor Judges"), part one

Tola

Jair

Textual notes

Commentary.