Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked God, "Who among us will go first to fight against the Canaanites? The Lord said, "Judah shall go up; behold, I have delivered the land into his hand."

Judah told Simeon, his brother, "Come with me into my territory, and together we'll fight against the Canaanites. I'll also go with you into your territory." So Simeon went with him. Judah attacked Bezek, where the Lord had already defeated the Canaanites and Perizzites for them, killing ten thousand men in battle.

Adonibezek, who ruled Bezek, fled from his attackers but was caught. In revenge for their own defeats, Adoni-bezek said that he had cut off the thumbs and great toes of seventy kings, just as God had done to him. He brought Adoni-bezek to Jerusalem, where he died.

The people of Judah then took Jerusalem by force, striking it down with their swords and setting the city on fire. They went on to attack the Canaanites who lived in the mountains and valleys south of Jerusalem.

Judah fought against the Canaanites in Hebron, a town now called Kirjatharba, killing three powerful leaders: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. From there, they attacked Debir, which was originally known as Kirjath-sepher.

Caleb promised that whoever captured Debir would receive his daughter Achsah in marriage. Caleb's younger brother Othniel took control of the town and married Achsah. When she came to him, Achsah persuaded Othniel to ask their father for a field. Caleb gave them the upper springs and lower springs.

The Kenite people, who were related to Moses, left the city of palm trees with Judah's army, moving into the wilderness of Judah in the south. They settled among the local population.

Judah and his brother Simeon fought against Zephath, destroying it completely. From then on, the town was called Hormah. The Lord helped Judah conquer Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron, giving him control over these cities and their surrounding territories.

However, when they tried to drive out the Canaanites from the mountains, they couldn't because those people had iron chariots. Instead, the Israelites gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had instructed, driving out its powerful three sons of Anak.

The children of Benjamin never drove out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so they continued living alongside them there. The house of Joseph went up against Bethel and fought bravely because God was with them.

When the house of Joseph sent scouts to explore Bethel, a man came out of the city and offered to show them its entrance if they showed him mercy. They accepted his offer, spared his life and that of his family, and took control of the city.

Afterwards, the man went into Hittite territory and built a new town called Luz, which is still known by that name today. But the house of Manasseh couldn't drive out the people who lived in Beth Shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, or Megiddo; instead, they were forced to live alongside them.

The Israelites made these Canaanite people do hard labor but never completely removed them from their land. The Ephraimites also failed to drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, and Zebulun didn't conquer Kitron or Nahalol.

Asher couldn't take Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob from their original inhabitants. As a result, the Asherites had to live among them, subjecting themselves to forced labor. Naphtali didn't conquer Beth-shemesh or Beth-anath; instead, they lived alongside the Canaanites who were already there.

However, these cities became tributaries of the Israelites and did hard labor for them. The Amorites pushed the children of Dan into the hill country, preventing them from settling in the valley below. But even though the Amorites inhabited Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim, they were forced to become tributaries of the house of Joseph.

The border of the Amorites ended at the ascent of Akrabbim, which stretched up from the rock.