King James Version

What Does Judges 1:1 Mean?

Judges 1:1 in the King James Version says “Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for u...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?”

Judges 1:1 · King James Version

Context

1

Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?

2

And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

3

And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.

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Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?

This opening verse establishes the historical transition from Joshua's leadership to the period of the judges. The Hebrew phrase acharei mot (אַחֲרֵי מוֹת, "after the death") signals a new era beginning with crisis—the phrase echoes Leviticus 16:1, creating literary connection to priestly instruction. The Israelites' inquiry of the LORD through the Urim and Thummim (1 Samuel 28:6) demonstrates initial spiritual faithfulness, yet the question itself reveals incomplete understanding of God's commands.

The conquest should have been finished under Joshua (Joshua 23:4-5), but incomplete obedience created ongoing conflict. The phrase "children of Israel" (benei Yisrael, בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל) emphasizes covenant identity—they are God's chosen people descended from Jacob/Israel. Their question "Who shall go up first?" (mi ya'aleh-lanu, מִי יַעֲלֶה־לָּנוּ) suggests tribal competition rather than unified national purpose. The verb alah (עָלָה, "go up") carries military connotations but also spiritual significance—going up to battle, going up to worship.

Theologically, this verse introduces the book's central tension: Israel begins with apparent faithfulness (seeking God's will) but incomplete obedience that will lead to cyclical apostasy. The focus on military conquest without addressing spiritual reformation foreshadows the internal decay that will characterize the judges period. Cross-reference to Deuteronomy 7:1-5 shows God's original command for complete conquest and separation from Canaanite religion.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Historical Setting: The Book of Judges covers approximately 350-400 years (c. 1375-1050 BCE) between Joshua's death and the establishment of the monarchy. This transitional period corresponds to the Late Bronze Age collapse (c. 1200 BCE) and early Iron Age in Canaan, characterized by the disintegration of major empires and shifting regional powers. Egyptian control over Canaan was weakening, Hittite power had collapsed, and Assyria had not yet risen to dominance, creating a power vacuum that allowed localized conflicts.

Leadership Transition: Joshua's death created a leadership crisis for Israel. Unlike Joshua who succeeded Moses with clear divine appointment (Joshua 1:1-9), no single leader emerges to replace Joshua. The inquiry about "who shall go up first" reveals the shift from centralized national leadership to tribal autonomy. Archaeological evidence from this period shows gradual Israelite settlement in the hill country with simpler material culture than Canaanite cities, confirming the biblical picture of incomplete conquest.

The Canaanites remaining in the land posed both military and spiritual threats. Canaanite religion centered on Baal (storm and fertility god), Asherah (mother goddess), and Anat (war goddess), with cultic practices including ritual prostitution, child sacrifice, and sacred prostitution at "high places." Israel's failure to completely drive out these peoples (as commanded in Deuteronomy 7:1-5, 20:16-18) would lead directly to the religious syncretism and apostasy that characterizes Judges.

Reflection Questions

  1. What areas of incomplete obedience in your life create ongoing spiritual battles similar to Israel's incomplete conquest?
  2. How do leadership transitions in the church or Christian organizations test our dependence on God versus human leaders?
  3. In what ways does modern culture pressure Christians toward religious syncretism or compromise similar to Canaanite influence on Israel?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וַֽיְהִ֗י1 of 17
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

אַֽחֲרֵי֙2 of 17

“Now after”

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

מ֣וֹת3 of 17

“the death”

H4194

death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin

יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ4 of 17

“of Joshua”

H3091

jehoshua (i.e., joshua), the jewish leader

וַֽיִּשְׁאֲלוּ֙5 of 17

“asked”

H7592

to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

בְּנֵ֣י6 of 17

“it came to pass that the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל7 of 17

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

בַּֽיהוָ֖ה8 of 17

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לֵאמֹ֑ר9 of 17

“saying”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מִ֣י10 of 17
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

יַֽעֲלֶה11 of 17

“Who shall go up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

לָּ֧נוּ12 of 17
H0
אֶל13 of 17
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛י14 of 17

“for us against the Canaanites”

H3669

a kenaanite or inhabitant of kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the canaanites standing for their neighbors the ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile c

בַּתְּחִלָּ֖ה15 of 17

“first”

H8462

a commencement; relatively original (adverb, -ly)

לְהִלָּ֥חֶם16 of 17

“to fight”

H3898

to feed on; figuratively, to consume

בּֽוֹ׃17 of 17
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 1:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 1:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 27:21Judges 20:18Judges 20:281 Samuel 23:9-10Exodus 28:30Joshua 24:29-30

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