King James Version

What Does Judges 1:3 Mean?

Judges 1:3 in the King James Version says “And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I lik...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Judges 1:3 · KJV

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.

4

And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.

5

And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

Read Judges 1 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

This verse demonstrates tribal cooperation rooted in kinship—Judah and Simeon were full brothers, both sons of Jacob and Leah (Genesis 29:33-35). The Hebrew achi (אָחִי, "my brother") emphasizes covenant and blood relationship, not mere political alliance. Judah's invitation "come up with me into my lot" (aleh itti beghorali, עֲלֵה אִתִּי בְגוֹרָלִי) uses ghoral (גּוֹרָל), meaning "lot" or "allotment"—the divinely assigned inheritance (Joshua 15:1, 19:1). This wasn't arbitrary territory but God-ordained possession requiring faith-filled obedience to claim.

The reciprocal promise "I likewise will go with thee into thy lot" reflects covenant faithfulness and mutual support. Interestingly, Simeon's tribal allotment was actually embedded within Judah's territory (Joshua 19:1, 9) because "the part of the children of Judah was too much for them." This geographical reality made military cooperation natural and necessary. The phrase "So Simeon went with him" demonstrates immediate obedience without recorded hesitation or negotiation—a model of brotherly unity in pursuing God's purposes.

From a Reformed perspective, this tribal cooperation foreshadows the New Testament church where believers are called to "bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). The body of Christ requires mutual support, with stronger members helping weaker ones (Romans 15:1, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). However, the partnership must be for God's purposes—pursuing divinely assigned missions, not merely human agendas. Judah and Simeon's alliance succeeded because it aligned with God's command to possess the land He had given them.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The historical relationship between Judah and Simeon was complex. Simeon's allotment within Judah's borders (Joshua 19:1-9) made them interdependent. Jacob's prophecy that Simeon and Levi would be "divided in Jacob, and scattered in Israel" (Genesis 49:7) found fulfillment as Simeon gradually absorbed into Judah, eventually losing distinct tribal identity. By David's census (2 Samuel 24), Simeon isn't separately enumerated. Archaeological evidence from the northern Negev (Simeon's primary territory) shows settlement patterns consistent with gradual integration into Judah. This tribal cooperation in Judges 1:3 thus represents both immediate military necessity and long-term assimilation. The cities listed in Joshua 19:2-6 as Simeonite—Beersheba, Ziklag, Hormah—later appear as Judahite cities in subsequent narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Judah's invitation to Simeon model the biblical principle of stronger believers helping weaker ones in pursuing God's purposes?
  2. What does the cooperation between these tribes teach about balancing individual calling with corporate responsibility in the body of Christ?
  3. In what ways might your spiritual gifts or resources be used to help fellow believers possess their God-given 'inheritance' in sanctification and service?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 17

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוּדָה֩2 of 17

“And Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃3 of 17

“So Simeon”

H8095

shimon, one of jacob's sons, also the tribe descended from him

אָחִ֜יו4 of 17

“his brother”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

עֲלֵ֧ה5 of 17

“Come up”

H5927

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

אִתִּ֣י6 of 17
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

בְּגֽוֹרָלֶ֑ךָ7 of 17

“with me into my lot”

H1486

properly, a pebble, i.e., a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot)

וְנִֽלָּחֲמָה֙8 of 17

“that we may fight”

H3898

to feed on; figuratively, to consume

בַּֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י9 of 17

“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

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ10 of 17

“and I likewise will go”

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

גַם11 of 17
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

אֲנִ֛י12 of 17
H589

i

אִתְּךָ֖13 of 17
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

בְּגֽוֹרָלֶ֑ךָ14 of 17

“with me into my lot”

H1486

properly, a pebble, i.e., a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot)

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ15 of 17

“and I likewise will go”

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

אִתּ֖וֹ16 of 17
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃17 of 17

“So Simeon”

H8095

shimon, one of jacob's sons, also the tribe descended from him

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 1:3 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 1:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Samuel 10:11Joshua 19:1Judges 1:17Genesis 29:33

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