Focused Passage

Judges 1:8-15

Incomplete Conquest and the Seeds of Covenant Decline

From inquiry and victory to repetition of failure: Israel begins dependent on the LORD, Judah leads with notable successes, but the chapter widens into a tribal inventory of incomplete obedience, forced labor, coexistence, and territorial pressure.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

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.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 8

Original words

Then the menבְנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Judahיְהוּדָה֙H3063Noun - proper - masculine singularfoughtוַיִּלָּחֲמ֤וּH3898Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralagainst Jerusalemבִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םH3389Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singularand captured itוַיִּלְכְּד֣וּH3920Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-אוֹתָ֔הּH853Direct object marker | third person feminine singularThey put [the city]וַיַּכּ֖וּהָH5221Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person feminine singularvvvלְפִי־H6310Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructto the swordחָ֑רֶבH2719Noun - feminine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand setשִׁלְּח֥וּH7971Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralitהָעִ֖ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singularon fireבָאֵֽשׁ׃H784Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Verse 9

Original words

Afterwardוְאַחַ֗רH310Conjunctive waw | Adverbthe menבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֔הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularmarched downיָֽרְדוּ֙H3381Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralto fightלְהִלָּחֵ֖םH3898Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructagainst the Canaanitesבַּֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑יH3669Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularlivingיוֹשֵׁ֣בH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularin the hill countryהָהָ֔רH2022Article | Noun - masculine singularin the Negevוְהַנֶּ֖גֶבH5045Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularand in the foothillsוְהַשְּׁפֵלָֽה׃H8219Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea
Verse 10

Original words

Judahיְהוּדָ֗הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularalso marchedוַיֵּ֣לֶךְH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularagainstאֶל־H413Prepositionthe Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙H3669Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularwho were livingהַיּוֹשֵׁ֣בH3427Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularin Hebronבְּחֶבְר֔וֹןH2275Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular-חֶבְר֥וֹןH2275Noun - proper - feminine singularformerlyלְפָנִ֖יםH6440Preposition-l | Noun - masculine pluralknown asוְשֵׁם־H8034Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructvvvקִרְיַ֣תH7153Kiriath-arbaאַרְבַּ֑עH7153Noun - proper - feminine singularand they struck downוַיַּכּ֛וּH5221Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerSheshaiשֵׁשַׁ֥יH8344Noun - proper - feminine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerAhimanאֲחִימַ֖ןH289Noun - proper - feminine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand Talmaiתַּלְמָֽי׃H8526Noun - proper
Verse 11

Original words

From thereמִשָּׁ֔םH8033Preposition-m | Adverbthey marchedוַיֵּ֣לֶךְH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularagainstאֶל־H413Prepositionthe inhabitantsיוֹשְׁבֵ֖יH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructof Debirדְּבִ֑ירH1688Noun - proper - feminine singular-דְּבִ֥ירH1688Noun - proper - feminine singularformerlyלְפָנִ֖יםH6440Preposition-l | Noun - masculine pluralknown asוְשֵׁם־H8034Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructvvvקִרְיַת־H7158Kiriath-sepherסֵֽפֶר׃H7158Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 12

Original words

And Calebכָּלֵ֔בH3612Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularTo the manאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativewho strikes downיַכֶּ֥הH5221Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markervvvקִרְיַת־H7158Kiriath-sepherסֵ֖פֶרH7158Noun - proper - feminine singularand captures itוּלְכָדָ֑הּH3920Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singularI will giveוְנָתַ֥תִּיH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markermy daughterבִתִּ֖יH1323Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularAcsahעַכְסָ֥הH5915Noun - proper - feminine singularin marriageלְאִשָּֽׁה׃H802Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

So Othnielעָתְנִיאֵ֣לH6274Noun - proper - masculine singularsonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Caleb’sכָלֵ֖בH3612Noun - proper - masculine singularyoungerהַקָּטֹ֣ןH6996Article | Adjective - masculine singular. . .מִמֶּ֑נּוּH4480Preposition | third person masculine singularbrotherאֲחִ֥יH251Noun - masculine singular constructKenazקְנַ֔זH7073Noun - proper - masculine singularcaptured [the city]וַֽיִּלְכְּדָהּ֙H3920Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singularand [Caleb] gaveוַיִּתֶּן־H5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhis daughterבִתּ֖וֹH1323Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularAcsahעַכְסָ֥הH5915Noun - proper - feminine singularto himל֛וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularin marriageלְאִשָּֽׁה׃H802Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

One dayוַיְהִ֣יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular[Acsah] came [to Othniel]בְּבוֹאָ֗הּH935Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularand urged himוַתְּסִיתֵ֙הוּ֙H5496Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singularto askלִשְׁא֤וֹלH7592Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-מֵֽאֵת־H854Preposition-m | Direct object markerher fatherאָבִ֙יהָ֙H1Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularfor a fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֔הH7704Article | Noun - masculine singularWhen she got offוַתִּצְנַ֖חH6795Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular. . .מֵעַ֣לH5921Preposition-mher donkeyהַחֲמ֑וֹרH2543Article | Noun - masculine singularCalebכָּלֵ֖בH3612Noun - proper - masculine singularaskedוַיֹּֽאמֶר־H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularherלָ֥הּPreposition | third person feminine singularWhatמַה־H4100Interrogativedo you desireלָּֽךְ׃Preposition | second person feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate and he urged her; see Joshua 15:18.
Verse 15

Original words

Giveהָֽבָה־H3051Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularmeלִּ֣יPreposition | first person common singulara blessingבְרָכָ֗הH1293Noun - feminine singularshe answeredוַתֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularSinceכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionyou have given meנְתַתָּ֔נִיH5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularlandאֶ֤רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructin the Negevהַנֶּ֙גֶב֙H5045Article | Noun - proper - feminine singulargiveוְנָתַתָּ֥הH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularmeלִ֖יPreposition | first person common singularspringsגֻּלֹּ֣תH1543Noun - feminine plural constructof water [as well]מָ֑יִםH4325Noun - masculine pluralSo Calebכָּלֵ֗בH3612Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֵ֚תH853Direct object markergaveוַיִּתֶּן־H5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularherלָ֣הּPreposition | third person feminine singularboth the upperעִלִּ֔יתH5942Adjective - feminine singular construct-וְאֵ֖תH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker-גֻּלֹּ֥תH1543Noun - feminine plural constructand lowerתַּחְתִּֽית׃פH8482Adjective - feminine singularspringsגֻּלֹּ֣תH1543Noun - feminine plural construct

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.