Judges 1:1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, "Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?"

◄ Judges 1:1 ►

New International Version
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?”

New Living Translation
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, “Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?”

English Standard Version
After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the LORD, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”

Berean Standard Bible
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”

King James Bible
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?

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

New American Standard Bible
Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD, saying, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”

NASB 1995
Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD, saying, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”

NASB 1977
Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD, saying, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel asked of Yahweh, saying, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”

Amplified Bible
Now it came about after the death of Joshua, that the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob) asked the LORD, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”

Christian Standard Bible
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to fight for us against the Canaanites? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to fight for us against the Canaanites?”

American Standard Version
And it came to pass after the death of Joshua, that the children of Israel asked of Jehovah, saying, Who shall go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?

Contemporary English Version
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, "Which of our tribes should attack the Canaanites first?"

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After Joshua's death the Israelites asked the LORD, "Who will go first to fight the Canaanites for us?"

Good News Translation
After Joshua's death the people of Israel asked the LORD, "Which of our tribes should be the first to go and attack the Canaanites?"

International Standard Version
Sometime after Joshua had died, the Israelis asked the LORD, "Who is to lead us against the Canaanites in our opening attack against them?"

Majority Standard Bible
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”

NET Bible
After Joshua died, the Israelites asked the LORD, "Who should lead the invasion against the Canaanites and launch the attack?"

New Heart English Bible
It happened after the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked of the LORD, saying, "Who should go up first to fight for us against the Canaanites?"

Webster's Bible Translation
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?

World English Bible
After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked of Yahweh, saying, “Who should go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass after the death of Joshua, that the sons of Israel ask of YHWH, saying, “Who goes up for us to the Canaanite, at the commencement, to fight against it?”

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, after the death of Joshua, that the sons of Israel ask at Jehovah, saying, 'Who doth go up for us unto the Canaanite, at the commencement, to fight against it?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be after the death of Joshua, and the sons of Israel will ask of Jehovah, saying, Who will go up for us against the Canaanites in the beginning to war against them?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
After the death of Josue the children of Israel consulted the Lord, saying: Who shall go up before us against the Chanaanite, and shall be the leader of the war?

Catholic Public Domain Version
After the death of Joshua, the sons of Israel consulted the Lord, saying, “Who will ascend before us, against the Canaanite, and who will be the commander of the war?”

New American Bible
After the death of Joshua the Israelites consulted the LORD, asking, “Who shall be first among us to attack the Canaanites and to do battle with them?”

New Revised Standard Version
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
NOW after the death of Joshua, the servant of the LORD, the children of Israel inquired of the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And it happened after Yeshua son of Nun the Servant of LORD JEHOVAH was dead, the sons of Israel asked of LORD JEHOVAH and they said: “Who will go up for us against the Canaanites at first to fight with them in battle?”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
AND IT came to pass after the death of Joshua, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying: 'Who shall go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass after the death of Joshua, that the children of Israel enquired of the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us first against the Chananites, to fight against them?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Conquest of Canaan Proceeds
1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?” 2“Judah shall go up,” answered the LORD. “Indeed, I have delivered the land into their hands.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Joshua 24:29-31
Some time later, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110. / And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. / Israel had served the LORD throughout the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced all the works that the LORD had done for Israel.

Judges 2:6-9
After Joshua had dismissed the people, the Israelites went out to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance. / And the people served the LORD throughout the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him, who had seen all the great works that the LORD had done for Israel. / And Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110. ...

Joshua 1:1-2
Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, / “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 34:5-9
So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, as the LORD had said. / And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab facing Beth-peor, and no one to this day knows the location of his grave. / Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not diminished. ...

Joshua 23:1-3
A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, when Joshua was old and well along in years, / he summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. “I am old and well along in years,” he said, / “and you have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, because it was the LORD your God who fought for you.

1 Samuel 12:9-11
But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them. / Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’ / So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely.

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

Acts 13:20
All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.

Joshua 13:1
Now Joshua was old and well along in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and well along in years, but very much of the land remains to be possessed.

Joshua 11:23
So Joshua took the entire land, in keeping with all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to the allotments to their tribes. Then the land had rest from war.

1 Samuel 4:1
Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek.

1 Samuel 28:3
Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.

2 Samuel 2:1
Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD.

2 Samuel 5:19
So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

1 Chronicles 10:13-14
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, / and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

Treasury of Scripture

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
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?

now

Joshua 24:29,30
And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old…

asked

Judges 20:18,28
And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first…

Exodus 28:30
And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

Numbers 27:21
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

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Canaanite Canaanites Children Commencement Death Inquired Israel Israelites Joshua Request War

Judges 1

1. The acts of Judah and Simeon
4. Adonibezek justly requited
8. Jerusalem taken
10. Hebron taken
11. Othniel has Achsah to wife for taking of Debir
16. The Kenites dwell in Judah
17. Hormah, Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron taken
21. The acts of Benjamin
22. Of the house of Joseph, who take Bethel
30. Of Zebulun
31. Of Asher
33. Of Naphtali
34. Of Dan

Berean Study Bible

After the death of Joshua
This phrase marks a significant transition in the history of Israel. Joshua, the faithful leader who succeeded Moses, had led the Israelites into the Promised Land. His death signifies the end of an era of direct leadership under a divinely appointed leader. The Hebrew word for "death" (מוֹת, "moth") here emphasizes the finality and the need for Israel to seek new guidance. Historically, this period is marked by a shift from centralized leadership to a more tribal confederation, setting the stage for the events in the Book of Judges.

the Israelites asked the LORD
The Israelites' inquiry to the LORD reflects their dependence on divine guidance. The Hebrew verb "asked" (שָׁאַל, "sha'al") indicates a seeking or inquiring, often used in the context of seeking divine will. This demonstrates the Israelites' recognition of their need for God's direction in the absence of Joshua. It also highlights the theocratic nature of Israel's society, where God was seen as the ultimate leader and authority.

Who will be the first to go up
This question reveals the Israelites' concern for leadership and initiative in the face of their enemies. The phrase "go up" (עָלָה, "alah") is often used in military contexts, indicating a movement towards battle or conquest. It underscores the need for a leader to take the initiative in fulfilling God's command to possess the land. This reflects the ongoing struggle and the need for faith and courage among the tribes of Israel.

and fight for us
The word "fight" (לָחַם, "lacham") is a call to engage in battle, emphasizing the reality of the conflict that the Israelites faced. This phrase highlights the communal aspect of Israel's warfare; it was not just an individual or tribal endeavor but a collective responsibility. The Israelites understood that their battles were not merely physical but spiritual, requiring reliance on God's strength and promises.

against the Canaanites
The Canaanites were the inhabitants of the land that God had promised to Israel. This phrase sets the stage for the ongoing conflict between the Israelites and the Canaanite nations. Historically and archaeologically, the Canaanites were known for their fortified cities and advanced culture, presenting a formidable challenge to the Israelites. Theologically, the Canaanites represented the pagan practices and idolatry that Israel was to overcome, symbolizing the spiritual battles that believers face in remaining faithful to God amidst worldly influences.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) Now.--The "now" should rather be rendered And, as in Leviticus 1:1, Numbers 1:1, Joshua 1:1, 1Samuel 1:1, 2Samuel 1:1, 2Kings 1:1. The word connects this book with the last, "as a link in the chain of books which relate in unbroken connection the sacred history of the world from the Creation to the Exile" (Bertheau). . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 1. - After the death of Joshua. The events narrated in chs. 1. and Deuteronomy 2:1-9 all occurred before the death of Joshua, as appears by Judges 2:8, 9, and by a comparison of Joshua 14:6-15 and Joshua 15:13-20. The words, and it came to pass after the death of Joshua, must therefore be understood (if the text is incorrupt) as the heading of the whole book, just as the Book of Joshua has for its heading, "Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass." Asked the Lord. The same phrase as Judges 18:5; Judges 20:18, where it is rendered asked counsel of. So also Numbers 27:21, where a special direction is given to Joshua to make such inquiries as that mentioned in this verse before Eleazar the priest, through the judgment of Urim and Thummim (cf. 1 Samuel 23:10, 12). A still more common rendering of the Hebrew phrase in the A.V. is "to inquire of God" (see, e.g. Judges 20:27, 28; 1 Samuel 22:13, 15; 1 Samuel 23:2, 4; 1 Samuel 28:6, and many other places). Such inquiries were made

(1) by Urim and Thummin,

(2) by the word of the Lord through a prophet (1 Samuel 9:9), or

(3) simply by prayer, (Genesis 25:22), and improperly of false gods (2 Kings 1:2, 16), of teraphim, and semi-idolatrous priests (Judges 18:5, 14).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

After
אַחֲרֵי֙ (’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

the death
מ֣וֹת (mō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

of Joshua,
יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

the Israelites
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

inquired
וַֽיִּשְׁאֲלוּ֙ (way·yiš·’ă·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

of the LORD,
בַּיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

“Who
מִ֣י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

will be the first
בַּתְּחִלָּ֖ה (bat·tə·ḥil·lāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8462: A commencement, rel, original

to go up
יַעֲלֶה־ (ya·‘ă·leh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

and fight
לְהִלָּ֥חֶם (lə·hil·lā·ḥem)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

for us
לָּ֧נוּ (lā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's Hebrew

against
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the Canaanites?”
הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛י (hak·kə·na·‘ă·nî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3669: Canaanite -- inhabitant of Canaan

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OT History: Judges 1:1 It happened after the death of Joshua (Jd Judg. Jdg)