The Conquest of Canaan Proceeds
Israel asks who should begin the fighting, and the LORD names Judah. Judah then joins with Simeon, goes up against the enemy, and wins at Bezek because the LORD gives them into their hands.
A1fter 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.” 3Then the men of Judah said to their brothers the Simeonites, “Come up with us to our allotted territory, and let us fight against the Canaanites. And we likewise will go with you to your territory.” So the Simeonites went with them. 4When Judah attacked, the LORD delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek.
Judah finds and defeats Adoni-bezek, pursues him as he flees, and cuts off his thumbs and big toes. Adoni-bezek interprets the judgment himself as repayment in kind for what he had done to many other kings.
5And there they found Adoni-bezek and fought against him, striking down the Canaanites and Perizzites. 6As Adoni-bezek 7fled, they pursued him, seized him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. Then Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have gathered the scraps under my table. As I have done to them, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.