And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.

JUDGES 1:9KJV
Know the Bible

Judges 1:9 (KJV)

What does Judges 1:9 mean?

Judges 1:9 describes how, after an earlier battle, the tribe of Judah went out to fight against the Canaanites living in three different regions: the hill country, the southern area (called the Negev), and the lowland valleys. This verse shows Judah continuing its campaign to take control of the land as described in the book of Judges.

The setting is the early period after Israel entered the promised land, with the tribe of Judah taking the lead in driving out the Canaanite inhabitants. The verse highlights the different types of terrain—mountain, south, and valley—where the Canaanites lived, showing that Judah’s task involved various challenges and was not limited to just one area.

The Hebrew behind Judges 1:9

  • The word for "children" is בְּנֵי (bənê), meaning "sons" or "descendants," which here refers to the people of the tribe of Judah, not just literal children.
  • "Went down" uses יָרַד (yarad), which often means moving from higher to lower ground; this fits the geography, as the hill country is higher than the valleys and southern regions.
  • "South" is נֶגֶב (negev), which is both a direction and the name of a specific dry, southern region in ancient Israel, emphasizing the range of territory Judah was entering.
  • "Valley" is שְׁפֵלָה (shephelah), referring to the lowland area between the mountains and the coast, highlighting the diversity of the land Judah was conquering.

Why Judges 1:9 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the conquest was not a single event but involved multiple battles across different types of land, showing the complexity of settling the promised land.
  • It helps the reader see that the Canaanites were not confined to one area but were spread throughout various regions, which would have made the task of conquest more difficult.
  • By mentioning the specific regions, Judges 1:9 connects to earlier promises about the land and sets up later stories in Judges about the ongoing struggles Israel faced in these territories.

Where else these words appear

“valley” Hebrew H8219 · used in 19 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
  • Joshua 15:33 And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
  • 2 Chronicles 28:18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

“Canaanites” Hebrew H3669 · used in 71 verses

  • Genesis 10:18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
  • Numbers 14:45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
  • Judges 1:3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.

“south” Hebrew H5045 · used in 98 verses

  • Genesis 12:9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
  • Joshua 15:19 Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.
  • Isaiah 30:6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.