Judges 1 (Shoftim) in Hebrew and English
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Text (469) 608-9944Judges, Chapter 1
After Yehoshua’s death Yehudah and Shim’on go up against the Kena’ani, take Adoni-Vezek, Yerushalayim, Chevron and Devir, where Otni’el wins Achsah; the house of Yosef takes Beit El, but tribe after tribe fails to drive the Kena’ani and the Emori out of their cities.
1:1Now after the death of Yehoshua (Joshua) it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked Hashem, saying, “Who shall go up for us against the Kena’ani (Canaanites) first, to fight against them?”
אוַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ מ֣וֹת יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ וַֽיִּשְׁאֲלוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בַּיהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר מִ֣י יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֧נוּ אֶל־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛י בַּתְּחִלָּ֖ה לְהִלָּ֥חֶם בּֽוֹ׃
1:2And Hashem said, “Yehudah (Judah) shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.”
בוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה יְהוּדָ֣ה יַעֲלֶ֑ה הִנֵּ֛ה נָתַ֥תִּי אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
1:3And Yehudah said unto Shim’on (Simeon) his brother, “Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Kena’ani; and I likewise will go with you into your lot.” So Shim’on went with him.
גוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָה֩ לְשִׁמְע֨וֹן אָחִ֜יו עֲלֵ֧ה אִתִּ֣י בְגוֹרָלִ֗י וְנִֽלָּחֲמָה֙ בַּֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י וְהָלַכְתִּ֧י גַם־אֲנִ֛י אִתְּךָ֖ בְּגוֹרָלֶ֑ךָ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אִתּ֖וֹ שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃
1:4And Yehudah went up; and Hashem delivered the Kena’ani and the Perizzi (Perizzites) into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
דוַיַּ֣עַל יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּתֵּ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־הַכְּנַעֲנִ֥י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֖י בְּיָדָ֑ם וַיַּכּ֣וּם בְּבֶ֔זֶק עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִֽישׁ׃
1:5And they found Adoni-Vezek (Adoni-bezek) in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Kena’ani and the Perizzi.
הוַֽ֠יִּמְצְאוּ אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֥י בֶ֨זֶק֙ בְּבֶ֔זֶק וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ בּ֑וֹ וַיַּכּ֕וּ אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י וְאֶת־הַפְּרִזִּֽי׃
1:6But Adoni-Vezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
ווַיָּ֨נָס֙ אֲדֹ֣נִי בֶ֔זֶק וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּ אַחֲרָ֑יו וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ וַֽיְקַצְּצ֔וּ אֶת־בְּהֹנ֥וֹת יָדָ֖יו וְרַגְלָֽיו׃
1:7And Adoni-Vezek said, “Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their food under my table: as I have done, so God has requited me.” And they brought him to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), and there he died.
זוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲדֹֽנִי־בֶ֗זֶק שִׁבְעִ֣ים ׀ מְלָכִ֡ים בְּֽהֹנוֹת֩ יְדֵיהֶ֨ם וְרַגְלֵיהֶ֜ם מְקֻצָּצִ֗ים הָי֤וּ מְלַקְּטִים֙ תַּ֣חַת שֻׁלְחָנִ֔י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֔יתִי כֵּ֥ן שִׁלַּם־לִ֖י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיְבִיאֻ֥הוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם וַיָּ֥מָת שָֽׁם׃
1:8Now the children of Yehudah had fought against Yerushalayim, and had taken it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
חוַיִּלָּחֲמ֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָה֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַיִּלְכְּד֣וּ אוֹתָ֔הּ וַיַּכּ֖וּהָ לְפִי־חָ֑רֶב וְאֶת־הָעִ֖יר שִׁלְּח֥וּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃
1:9And afterward the children of Yehudah went down to fight against the Kena’ani, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
טוְאַחַ֗ר יָֽרְדוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בַּֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑י יוֹשֵׁ֣ב הָהָ֔ר וְהַנֶּ֖גֶב וְהַשְּׁפֵלָֽה׃
1:10And Yehudah went against the Kena’ani that dwelt in Chevron (Hebron): (now the name of Chevron before was Kiryat Arba (Kirjath-arba):) and they slew Sheshai, and Achiman (Ahiman), and Talmai.
יוַיֵּ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֗ה אֶל־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ הַיּוֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן וְשֵׁם־חֶבְר֥וֹן לְפָנִ֖ים קִרְיַ֣ת אַרְבַּ֑ע וַיַּכּ֛וּ אֶת־שֵׁשַׁ֥י וְאֶת־אֲחִימַ֖ן וְאֶת־תַּלְמָֽי׃
1:11And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Devir (Debir): and the name of Devir before was Kiryat Sefer (Kirjath-sepher):
יאוַיֵּ֣לֶךְ מִשָּׁ֔ם אֶל־יוֹשְׁבֵ֖י דְּבִ֑יר וְשֵׁם־דְּבִ֥יר לְפָנִ֖ים קִרְיַת־סֵֽפֶר׃
1:12And Kalev (Caleb) said, “He that strikes Kiryat Sefer, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.”
יבוַיֹּ֣אמֶר כָּלֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־יַכֶּ֥ה אֶת־קִרְיַת־סֵ֖פֶר וּלְכָדָ֑הּ וְנָתַ֥תִּי ל֛וֹ אֶת־עַכְסָ֥ה בִתִּ֖י לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
1:13And Otni’el (Othniel) the son of Kenaz, Kalev’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
יגוַֽיִּלְכְּדָהּ֙ עָתְנִיאֵ֣ל בֶּן־קְנַ֔ז אֲחִ֥י כָלֵ֖ב הַקָּטֹ֣ן מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וַיִּתֶּן־ל֛וֹ אֶת־עַכְסָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
1:14And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her donkey; and Kalev said unto her, “What will you?”
ידוַיְהִ֣י בְּבוֹאָ֗הּ וַתְּסִיתֵ֨הוּ֙ לִשְׁא֤וֹל מֵֽאֵת־אָבִ֨יהָ֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וַתִּצְנַ֖ח מֵעַ֣ל הַחֲמ֑וֹר וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֥הּ כָּלֵ֖ב מַה־לָּֽךְ׃
1:15And she said unto him, “Give me a blessing: for you have given me a south land; give me also springs of water.” And Kalev gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
טווַתֹּ֨אמֶר ל֜וֹ הָֽבָה־לִּ֣י בְרָכָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֶ֤רֶץ הַנֶּ֨גֶב֙ נְתַתָּ֔נִי וְנָתַתָּ֥ה לִ֖י גֻּלֹּ֣ת מָ֑יִם וַיִּתֶּן־לָ֣הּ כָּלֵ֗ב אֵ֚ת גֻּלֹּ֣ת עִלִּ֔ית וְאֵ֖ת גֻּלֹּ֥ת תַּחְתִּֽית׃
1:16And the children of the Keini (Kenite), Moshe’s (Moses’) father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Yehudah into the wilderness of Yehudah, which lies in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
טזוּבְנֵ֣י קֵינִי֩ חֹתֵ֨ן מֹשֶׁ֜ה עָל֨וּ מֵעִ֤יר הַתְּמָרִים֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה מִדְבַּ֣ר יְהוּדָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּנֶ֣גֶב עֲרָ֑ד וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב אֶת־הָעָֽם׃
1:17And Yehudah went with Shim’on his brother, and they slew the Kena’ani that inhabited Tzefat (Zephath), and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Chormah (Hormah).
יזוַיֵּ֤לֶךְ יְהוּדָה֙ אֶת־שִׁמְע֣וֹן אָחִ֔יו וַיַּכּ֕וּ אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֣ב צְפַ֑ת וַיַּחֲרִ֣ימוּ אוֹתָ֔הּ וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שֵׁם־הָעִ֖יר חָרְמָֽה׃
1:18Also Yehudah took Azzah (Gaza) with the coast thereof, and Ashkelon (Askelon) with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
יחוַיִּלְכֹּ֤ד יְהוּדָה֙ אֶת־עַזָּ֣ה וְאֶת־גְּבוּלָ֔הּ וְאֶֽת־אַשְׁקְל֖וֹן וְאֶת־גְּבוּלָ֑הּ וְאֶת־עֶקְר֖וֹן וְאֶת־גְּבוּלָֽהּ׃
1:19And Hashem was with Yehudah; and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
יטוַיְהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶתּ־יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖רֶשׁ אֶת־הָהָ֑ר כִּ֣י לֹ֤א לְהוֹרִישׁ֙ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָעֵ֔מֶק כִּי־רֶ֥כֶב בַּרְזֶ֖ל לָהֶֽם׃
1:20And they gave Chevron unto Kalev, as Moshe said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
כוַיִּתְּנ֤וּ לְכָלֵב֙ אֶת־חֶבְר֔וֹן כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיּ֣וֹרֶשׁ מִשָּׁ֔ם אֶת־שְׁלֹשָׁ֖ה בְּנֵ֥י הָעֲנָֽק׃
1:21And the children of Binyamin (Benjamin) did not drive out the Yevusi (Jebusites) that inhabited Yerushalayim; but the Yevusi dwell with the children of Binyamin in Yerushalayim unto this day.
כאוְאֶת־הַיְבוּסִי֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֔ם לֹ֥א הוֹרִ֖ישׁוּ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב הַיְבוּסִ֜י אֶת־בְּנֵ֤י בִנְיָמִן֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
1:22And the house of Yosef (Joseph), they also went up against Beit El (Bethel): and Hashem was with them.
כבוַיַּעֲל֧וּ בֵית־יוֹסֵ֛ף גַּם־הֵ֖ם בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל וַֽיהוָ֖ה עִמָּֽם׃
1:23And the house of Yosef sent to descry Beit El. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
כגוַיָּתִ֥ירוּ בֵית־יוֹסֵ֖ף בְּבֵֽית־אֵ֑ל וְשֵׁם־הָעִ֥יר לְפָנִ֖ים לֽוּז׃
1:24And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, “Show us, we pray you, the entrance into the city, and we will show you mercy.”
כדוַיִּרְאוּ֙ הַשֹּׁ֣מְרִ֔ים אִ֖ישׁ יוֹצֵ֣א מִן־הָעִ֑יר וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ ל֗וֹ הַרְאֵ֤נוּ נָא֙ אֶת־מְב֣וֹא הָעִ֔יר וְעָשִׂ֥ינוּ עִמְּךָ֖ חָֽסֶד׃
1:25And when he showed them the entrance into the city, they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.
כהוַיַּרְאֵם֙ אֶת־מְב֣וֹא הָעִ֔יר וַיַּכּ֥וּ אֶת־הָעִ֖יר לְפִי־חָ֑רֶב וְאֶת־הָאִ֥ישׁ וְאֶת־כָּל־מִשְׁפַּחְתּ֖וֹ שִׁלֵּֽחוּ׃
1:26And the man went into the land of the Chittim (Hittites), and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.
כווַיֵּ֣לֶךְ הָאִ֔ישׁ אֶ֖רֶץ הַחִתִּ֑ים וַיִּ֣בֶן עִ֗יר וַיִּקְרָ֤א שְׁמָהּ֙ ל֔וּז ה֣וּא שְׁמָ֔הּ עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
1:27Neither did Menashe (Manasseh) drive out the inhabitants of Beit She’an (Beth-shean) and her towns, nor Ta’nach (Taanach) and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Yivle’am (Ibleam) and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Kena’ani would dwell in that land.
כזוְלֹא־הוֹרִ֣ישׁ מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה אֶת־בֵּית־שְׁאָ֣ן וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֶיהָ֮ וְאֶת־תַּעְנַ֣ךְ וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֶיהָ֒ וְאֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֨י (כתיב ישב) ד֜וֹר וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֶ֗יהָ וְאֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֤י יִבְלְעָם֙ וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֶ֔יהָ וְאֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֥י מְגִדּ֖וֹ וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֶ֑יהָ וַיּ֨וֹאֶל֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י לָשֶׁ֖בֶת בָּאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת׃
1:28And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Kena’ani to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
כחוַֽיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־חָזַ֣ק יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י לָמַ֑ס וְהוֹרֵ֖ישׁ לֹ֥א הוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃
1:29Neither did Efrayim (Ephraim) drive out the Kena’ani that dwelt in Gezer; but the Kena’ani dwelt in Gezer among them.
כטוְאֶפְרַ֨יִם֙ לֹ֣א הוֹרִ֔ישׁ אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י הַיּוֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּגָ֑זֶר וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛י בְּקִרְבּ֖וֹ בְּגָֽזֶר׃
1:30Neither did Zevulun (Zebulun) drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Kena’ani dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
לזְבוּלֻ֗ן לֹ֤א הוֹרִישׁ֙ אֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י קִטְר֔וֹן וְאֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֖י נַהֲלֹ֑ל וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ וַיִּֽהְי֖וּ לָמַֽס׃
1:31Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Akko (Accho), nor the inhabitants of Tzidon (Zidon), nor of Achlav (Ahlab), nor of Achziv (Achzib), nor of Chelbah (Helbah), nor of Afik (Aphik), nor of Rechov (Rehob):
לאאָשֵׁ֗ר לֹ֤א הוֹרִישׁ֙ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י עַכּ֔וֹ וְאֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֖י צִיד֑וֹן וְאֶת־אַחְלָ֤ב וְאֶת־אַכְזִיב֙ וְאֶת־חֶלְבָּ֔ה וְאֶת־אֲפִ֖יק וְאֶת־רְחֹֽב׃
1:32But the Asheri (Asherites) dwelt among the Kena’ani, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.
לבוַיֵּ֨שֶׁב֙ הָאָ֣שֵׁרִ֔י בְּקֶ֥רֶב הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּ֖י לֹ֥א הוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃
1:33Neither did Naftali (Naphtali) drive out the inhabitants of Beit Shemesh (Beth-shemesh), nor the inhabitants of Beit Anat (Beth-anath); but he dwelt among the Kena’ani, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beit Shemesh and of Beit Anat became tributaries unto them.
לגנַפְתָּלִ֗י לֹֽא־הוֹרִ֞ישׁ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֤י בֵֽית־שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ וְאֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י בֵית־עֲנָ֔ת וַיֵּ֕שֶׁב בְּקֶ֥רֶב הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֤י בֵֽית־שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ וּבֵ֣ית עֲנָ֔ת הָי֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם לָמַֽס׃
1:34And the Emori (Amorites) forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
לדוַיִּלְחֲצ֧וּ הָאֱמֹרִ֛י אֶת־בְּנֵי־דָ֖ן הָהָ֑רָה כִּי־לֹ֥א נְתָנ֖וֹ לָרֶ֥דֶת לָעֵֽמֶק׃
1:35But the Emori would dwell in mount Cheres (Heres) in Ayalon (Aijalon), and in Sha’alvim (Shaalbim): yet the hand of the house of Yosef prevailed, so that they became tributaries.
להוַיּ֤וֹאֶל הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת בְּהַר־חֶ֔רֶס בְּאַיָּל֖וֹן וּבְשַֽׁעַלְבִ֑ים וַתִּכְבַּד֙ יַ֣ד בֵּית־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיִּהְי֖וּ לָמַֽס׃
1:36And the coast of the Emori was from the going up to Akrabim (Akrabbim), from the rock, and upward.
לווּגְבוּל֙ הָאֱמֹרִ֔י מִֽמַּעֲלֵ֖ה עַקְרַבִּ֑ים מֵהַסֶּ֖לַע וָמָֽעְלָה׃
Sources & method
- Hebrew text
- The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain) as published by the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0). Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type. A paragraph mark (ס or פ) inside a verse is shown in small type.
- English translation
- The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the King James spelling in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Yehudah (Judah)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged, and “law” is “Torah” where the Hebrew is תּוֹרָה.
- Verse numbers
- Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible; in Judges they are the same as in most English Bibles.
- Hebrew font
- SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.