Judges 1:8-21
The Land They Did Not Dispossess
8Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.
9Afterward, the men of Judah marched down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, in the Negev, and in the foothills.
10Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebron (formerly known as Kiriath-arba), and they struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
11From there they marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher).
12And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”
13So Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.
14One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?”
15“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.
16Now the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms to the Wilderness of Judah in the Negev near Arad. They went to live among the people.
17Then the men of Judah went with their brothers the Simeonites, attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and devoted the city to destruction. So it was called Hormah.
18And Judah also captured Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron—each with its territory.
19The LORD was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plains because they had chariots of iron.
20Just as Moses had promised, Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, who drove out the descendants of the three sons of Anak.
21The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.
Berean Standard Bible
Judah captures parts of the hill country and the Negev, but the account also names places where the people did not drive out those who lived there.
Caleb's household receives Hebron, Othniel takes Debir, and the Kenites settle among Judah. The same passage that records courage also refuses to hide incomplete obedience.
Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.
The account places courage and incompleteness beside each other. Caleb receives what was promised, and Othniel takes Debir, but several strongholds remain and the Jebusites continue in Jerusalem. Scripture is not embarrassed to record a real beginning that stopped short of the whole command. The remaining work is not erased because some difficult work has already been done.
The names and places are not filler. They show where the promise met resistance and where Israel's strength did not produce the obedience the LORD required. Caleb's household, the Kenites, Judah, and Simeon all appear in the same account, so the reader is meant to compare different responses rather than remember only one success. The unfinished work becomes part of the book's setting.
Jerusalem is captured in one part of the account, while the Jebusites remain in another. A partial victory can be real without being the same thing as faithfulness completed.
The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.
Discuss a good beginning that still needs perseverance. Let the family distinguish gratitude for what has been done from pretending that unfinished work no longer matters.
Questions
1 What is happening in this reading?
AnswerJudah captures parts of the hill country and the Negev, but the account also names places where the people did not drive out those who lived there. Caleb's household receives Hebron, Othniel takes Debir, and the Kenites settle among Judah.
2 Where do we see responsibility or failure?
AnswerJerusalem is captured in one part of the account, while the Jebusites remain in another. A partial victory can be real without being the same thing as faithfulness completed.
3 What does this passage make clear?
AnswerThe account places courage and incompleteness beside each other. Caleb receives what was promised, and Othniel takes Debir, but several strongholds remain and the Jebusites continue in Jerusalem. Scripture is not embarrassed to record a real beginning that stopped short of the whole command. The remaining work is not erased because some difficult work has already been done.
4 What should our household remember?
AnswerDiscuss a good beginning that still needs perseverance. Let the family distinguish gratitude for what has been done from pretending that unfinished work no longer matters.
What This Means for Us
A good beginning deserves gratitude, but it may still need courage and perseverance. Families can celebrate what has been accomplished without pretending that unfinished obedience no longer matters.
If unfinished work is ignored because the beginning felt promising, discouragement eventually becomes a habit. Encourage one another to name the next faithful step and take it together.
Prayer
Lord, help us discuss a good beginning that still needs perseverance. Make us truthful about our failures and ready to turn back. Amen.