Judges 1:1

Judah Takes the Lead

1:1 After Joshua died, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who should lead the invasion against the Canaanites and launch the attack?”

Judges 3:31

3:31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath; he killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad and, like Ehud, delivered Israel.

Judges 8:33

Israel Returns to Baal-Worship

8:33 After Gideon died, the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They made Baal-Berith their god.

Judges 16:4

16:4 After this Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Sorek Valley.


tn The Hebrew verb translated “asked” (שָׁאַל, shaal) refers here to consulting the Lord through a prophetic oracle; cf. NAB “consulted.”

tn Heb “Who should first go up for us against the Canaanites to attack them?”

tn Heb “him”; the referent (Ehud) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

tn Heb “was.”

tn Heb “also he”; the referent (Ehud) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

sn Baal-Berith was a local manifestation of the Canaanite storm god. The name means, ironically, “Baal of the covenant.” Israel’s covenant allegiance had indeed shifted.