The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and Yahweh was with them. The house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel. (The name of the city before that was Luz.) The watchers saw a man come out of the city, and they said to him, “Please show us the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with you.” He showed them the entrance into the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man and all his family go. The man went into the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.
Parallel Translations
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The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and Yahweh was with them.
The house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel. (The name of the city before that was Luz.)
The watchers saw a man come out of the city, and they said to him, “Please show us the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with you.”
He showed them the entrance into the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man and all his family go.
The man went into the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.
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And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth-el: and the LORD was with them.
And the house of Joseph sent to descry Beth-el. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy.
And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.
And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.
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And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth-el; and the LORD was with them.
And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Beth-el — now the name of the city beforetime was Luz.
And the watchers saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him: 'Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with thee.'
And he showed them the entrance into the city, and they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man go and all his family.
And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz, which is the name thereof unto this day.
Cross-references (20)
- Genesis 28:19 (v23) He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
- Genesis 48:3 (v23) Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,
- Genesis 35:6 (v23) So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.
- Joshua 6:22-25 (v25) Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house, and bring the woman and all that she has out from…
- Judges 1:19 (v22) Yahweh was with Judah, and drove out the inhabitants of the hill country; for he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because…
Show all 20 cross-references
- 2 Kings 7:6 (v26) For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots, and the sound of horses, even the noise of a great army; and…
- Genesis 49:24 (v22) But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd,…
- Numbers 1:10 (v22) Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
- Numbers 1:32 (v22) Of the children of Joseph: of the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the…
- Joshua 2:1 (v23) Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men out of Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, including Jericho.” They went and came…
- Joshua 2:12-14 (v24) Now therefore, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and…
- Joshua 7:2 (v23) Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out…
- Joshua 14:4 (v22) For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. They gave no portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to dwell…
- Joshua 16:1-4 (v22) The lot came out for the children of Joseph from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, even the wilderness, going up…
- Judges 18:2 (v23) The children of Dan sent five men of their family from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land…
- 1 Samuel 30:15 (v24) David said to him, “Will you bring me down to this troop?” He said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me and not deliver me up…
- 2 Kings 18:7 (v22) Yahweh was with him. Wherever he went, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria, and didn’t serve him.
- 1 Chronicles 7:29 (v22) and by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth Shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, and Dor and its…
- 2 Chronicles 1:17 (v26) They brought up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty. They also exported…
- Revelation 7:8 (v22) of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, and of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv22–26 Jdg 1:22 And the house of Joseph, they also…
Jdg 1:22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD [was] with them.
Ver. 22. And the Lord was with them.] "The Lord, mighty in battle."
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22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Ver. 22. And of some] Or (according to other copies), "Retell their false reasonings," and dispute them out of their errors, ελεειτε, alias ελεγχετε.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv22, 24, 25, 26 The house of Joseph, i.e. the tribe of Ephraim,…
The house of Joseph, i.e. the tribe of Ephraim, as appears from their opposition to the tribe of Manasseh, Jdg 1:27.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv22–26 And the house of Joseph, they also went up…
And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel,.... Which lay upon the borders of the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, Jos 16:1; and though it seems to have been taken when Ai was, Jos 8:17; yet it appears that it was now in the possession of the Canaanites; wherefore the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh being desirous of enlarging their borders after the example of Judah, went against this place in order to take it:
and the Lord was with them; the Word of the Lord, as the Targum, directing, assisting, and succeeding them in their attempt.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv22, 24, 25, 26 House of Joseph - That is, the tribe of…
House of Joseph - That is, the tribe of Ephraim.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv22, 23, 24, 26 Verse 22. The house of Joseph, they also went…
Verse 22. The house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel] That is, the tribe of Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh, who dwelt beyond Jordan. Beth-el was not taken by Joshua, though he took Ai, which was nigh to it.
Instead of בית יוסף beith Yoseph, "the house of Joseph," ten of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. and six of De Rossi's have בני יוסף beney Yoseph, "the children of Joseph;" and this is the reading of both the Septuagint and Arabic, as well as of two copies in the Hexapla of Origen.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv22, 26 Jdg 1:22-25. The house of Joseph — That is,…
Jdg 1:22-25. The house of Joseph — That is, the tribe of Ephraim. Show us the entrance into the city — That is, where it may be most easily entered. For they did not inquire the way to the gate, which, no doubt, was common and plain enough; but for the weakest part, where the walls were lowest, or most out of repair, or had the least guard. Or they desired him, perhaps, to show them some private way to get into it, which none knew but the inhabitants. He showed them the entrance — Upon which, we may suppose, notice was immediately sent to the army, which lay near. They smote the city — Came upon them suddenly, and attacked them where they least expected it; so that the assailants met with little resistance.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv22, 26 Bethel was within the borders of Benjamin, but was…
Bethel was within the borders of Benjamin, but was captured, as we here learn, by the house of Joseph, who probably retained it.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv22, 23, 24, 26 Of Joseph, on the west side of the Jordan,…
Of Joseph, on the west side of the Jordan, attacked Bethel, which it does not appear that Josue molested. (Haydock) --- Instead of house, some Hebrew manuscripts and the Arabic and Septuagint read, "the sons," which seems to be the better reading. (Kennicott)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv22, 24, 26 SOME CANAANITES LEFT. (Jdg 1:22-26)
SOME CANAANITES LEFT. (Jdg 1:22-26)
the house of Joseph--the tribe of Ephraim, as distinguished from Manasseh (Jdg 1:27).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv22–26 CONQUEST OF BETH-EL, Jdg_1:22-26.
CONQUEST OF BETH-EL, Jdg_1:22-26.
22. House of Joseph — The combined forces of Ephraim and western Manasseh. This seems evident, not only from the words, but also from the fact that Manasseh and Ephraim are mentioned separately, in Jdg_1:27; Jdg_1:29, in reference to other matters. Beth-el belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, (Jos_18:22,) but was so near the border of Ephraim that the security and peace of all the neighbouring tribes required the expulsion of the Canaanites from it. So important was it to accomplish this conquest that the whole house of Joseph unite in the war.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv22–26 22. the house of Joseph] i.e. the tribes of…
22. the house of Joseph] i.e. the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (Jos_17:17); from 2Sa_19:16; 2Sa_19:20 it appears that the tribe of Benjamin was included.
they also] Just as Judah went up, Jdg_1:4.
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Beth-el] The modern Bçtîn, about four hours N. of Jerusalem, 2880 ft. above the sea, and high up in the Central Range (cf. Jdg_4:5, Jdg_20:18; Jdg_20:31 etc.). From Jericho the direct ascent to Beth-el must have passed Ai, the capture of which is recorded in Joshua 8; but we are to think of a gradual process of occupation rather than of a campaign in regular stages.
and the Lord was with them] as He was with Judah, Jdg_1:19. The LXX. cod. A reads ‘and Judah was with them,’ most likely due to a copyist’s slip; in Hebrew Jehovah and Judah differ in only one letter.
22–26. The fortunes of the house of Joseph
The account of the capture of Beth-el (Jdg_1:22-26) has all the marks of antiquity, like the early fragments preserved in Jdg_1:1-21. After the invasion of the South comes the invasion of Central Palestine, and, as this ancient version of the history shews, the two were independent of one another. The narrative knows nothing of such a leader as Joshua, though tradition connected him with the house of Joseph (Jos_19:50 JE, Jos_24:1 [Shechem], Jos_24:30 E; Jdg_2:9), and with the taking of Ai near Beth-el (Joshua 8).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv22, 23, 24, 26 (22) The house of Joseph.—Ephraim and Manasseh. The narrative…
(22) The house of Joseph.—Ephraim and Manasseh. The narrative now leaves the conquest of southern for that of central Palestine (Joshua 16, 17).
Beth-el.—The position of this town on the “highway” between Hebron and Shechem—the main thoroughfare of Palestine (Jdg_20:31; Jdg_21:19)—gave it great importance, as did also its sacred connection with events in the life of Abraham (Gen_12:8-9; Gen_13:3-4; Gen_12:8) and Jacob (Gen_28:10-17). For its subsequent history, see Jdg_20:18-26, and the history of the northern kingdom, Hos_10:8; Amo_5:21-23; Amo_7:10; 1 Kings 12, 13; 2Ki_2:3, &c. It is now the wretched village of Beitin. Bethel belonged properly to Benjamin (Jos_18:22), but possibly, as in the case of Jerusalem, the border of Ephraim and Benjamin separated the upper from the lower town.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv22–24 The house of Joseph, i.e. Ephraim, but probably, here…
The house of Joseph, i.e. Ephraim, but probably, here spoken of as "the house of Joseph because in the original document, from which both this chapter and Jos_15:63, and Jos 16 Jos 17 are taken, the mention of "the lot of the children of Joseph" occurs, embracing both Ephraim and Manasseh. See Jos_16:1 and Jos_15:23, with which the twenty-first and twenty-second verses of this chapter are manifestly identical.
HOMILIES BY A.F. MUIR. Vers. 22-26. An unwilling helper of the cause of God.
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Into the motives that actuated him we need not pry. Chief of all was the great one of self-preservation. Was it honourable? Was it right for the soldiers of God to make use of such an instrument? There may have been other considerations that had weight with him. It might have been virtuous to resist the offer: was it necessarily vicious to yield to it?
I THERE ARE MANY WHO HELP THE TRUTH FROM LOWER MOTIVES WHO MIGHT DO SO FROM HIGHER. Expediency; public benefits of religion; ties of relationship; reputation. How great the blessing to Christ"s cause if the same things were done from higher motives!
II THEY ARE BLESSED, BUT NOT AS THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN. A better service would have secured a higher reward.
III THEY CANNOT BE RELIED UPON, AND THEREFORE MAY NOT BECOME PART OF GOD"S PEOPLE. The conquering host could not trust the traitor whose help had won them the city. He must go forth with his reproach. Many churches contain the elements of weakness and ruin because they have failed to exercise a wise censorship over those admitted to their communion. The true Church is composed of those who serve God from the purest motives. M.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v22 The house of Joseph . . . went up…
Jdg_1:22-26
The house of Joseph . . . went up against Bethel; and the Lord was with them.
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Success in carrying out Gods commands
This work of the house of Joseph which they went about, namely, to take this city Bethel, as God had injoined them, doth lively set before our eyes the duty of all Gods people, that is to say, readily to go about and set upon the work that God hath appointed them, yea, and this is to be done, whatsoever discouragements may stand up in the way to hinder them. For hath not He commanded them? And is not He able to remove those impediments, rather than they shall hinder His work in the hands of His servants? For otherwise, if we look not to God by faith, but what let is in the way, and be hindered thereby, we shall cast the commandment of God behind our back, and do as they who observe the wind, and therefore sow not; and look too much to the clouds, and therefore reap not; and so for fear of inconveniences we shall let pass necessary duties. Again, when we thrive and have good success, we bless God, and are merry; but if we be crossed, we curse ourselves with impatience. Whereas it ought to be enough to us, that God hath brought it to pass either thus, or otherwise. And beside the authority He hath over us, His bountiful rewarding of us in His service, ought to encourage us to address ourselves to all such work; and not only so, but further, seeing He commandeth and would have us do it, as it may be most for our own ease, that is, willingly, readily, cheerfully; for the Lord loveth that, in all His service, as He loveth a cheerful giver. And we know (for our own parts) that men go untowardly about that work which they take in hand unwillingly. But I would that even they who are so, did go about that which they do by Gods commandment cheerfully, and with delight for the Lords sake; then should there many excrements be cut off from the infinite actions which are done in our lives, and with so much sin removed; many plagues and annoyances should be avoided from mens lives also. (R. Rogers.)
The spies saw a man come forth.
The spies and the man of Bethel
In this verse, where it is said that the spies met this man coming out of the city, somewhat is to be noted by occasion of the man and somewhat from the spies. By the man first, going in his simplicity out of the city (whether to save his life or upon some other necessary occasion), meeting with these spies, and falling into such a fright thereby, that either he must lose his life or betray the city (for the spies said to him, Show us the way into the city and we will show thee mercy). We may see what straits and difficulties we meet with in this life; for that peril which we neither fear nor once think of, may befall us, even to the hazarding of our lives, much more of our undoing, or the loss of the best of Gods blessings that we enjoy, as wife, children, goods, dec. The Shunammites child went into the field in the morning well, but died at noon. This we have to learn by occasion of the man. Now of the spies. The spies offered him kindness, if he would show them the way into the city; in that they dealt kindly with him, rather than roughly and cruelly, seeking such a matter at his hands, they did as became them. But he being one of the cursed nations, how could they promise him mercy? For though they did so to Rahab before, yet she turned to their religion; and so did the Gibeonites serve them as bondmen, and embraced their religion also. But no such thing can be said of this man, for he went unto the Hittites, out of the seven cursed nations, and dwelt there. I answer, we must interpret the laws of God against the Canaanites, and concerning the rooting them out, by mitigating them with this equity, that if they made peace with Israel, they should not root them out. And this appears by that which is written in Joshua, that these nations were rooted out, seeing none of them save the Gibeonites, made peace with the Hebrews. And this being so, teacheth all men to deal even with the bad kindly, and to be harmless toward them. And again, oh that we could deal pitifully, kindly, and lovingly with the miserable and the afflicted; and that all the gentlest means were used to reclaim offenders, of whom there is hope, such as are as this man of Bethel was, in great distress, which is not done but very rarely, and therefore is there much hardness of heart in those to whom it is neglected, and wilfulness, that carrieth them to all profaneness and impenitency. (R. Rogers.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv22, 25 The house of Joseph
The house of Joseph
Here "house" represents descendants. Manasseh and Ephraim were sons of Joseph, and the "house of Joseph" can refer to the descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim. AT: "The descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim" or "The men of the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim" (See: Metonymy)
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to attack Bethel
Here "Bethel" represents the people who live in Bethel. (See: Metonymy)
spy
to get information secretly
the city that was formerly called Luz
This is background information. Some people who first read this book had probably heard of Luz but did not know that it was the same as the city that they called Bethel. (See: Background Information and How to Translate Names)
spies
people who get information secretly
translationWords
house
Joseph (OT)
Bethel
Yahweh
send
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.