Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
Judges 1:18 belongs to the introduction to Judges, made up of chapters 1 and 2 and 3:1-6, which shows that not all of the country had been possessed. It stands sometime after the death of Joshua and before the raising up of Samuel. It is part of the account of God's people's experiences in that interval.
It records Judah's victories over the inhabitants of Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron and their surrounding territories, and Judah succeeded because the Lord was with them. The opening chapters show Israel's failure to carry out the instructions God gave for conquering Canaan. The later failure to drive out other inhabitants came after they sinned and God withdrew His support, leaving them to their own strength.
That period was marked by repeated backsliding and consequent captivity. Help came to God's people through the judges, or saviours, whom the Lord raised up in their behalf.
Judges 1:18 belongs to the introduction to Judges, made up of chapters 1 and 2 and 3:1-6, which shows that not all of the country had been possessed. It stands sometime after the death of Joshua and before the raising up of Samuel. It is part of the account of God's people's experiences in that interval.
It records Judah's victories over the inhabitants of Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron and their surrounding territories, and Judah succeeded because the Lord was with them. The opening chapters show Israel's failure to carry out the instructions God gave for conquering Canaan. The later failure to drive out other inhabitants came after they sinned and God withdrew His support, leaving them to their own strength.
That period was marked by repeated backsliding and consequent captivity. Help came to God's people through the judges, or saviours, whom the Lord raised up in their behalf.