Free group study handout
Judges 1: Group Study Handout
How to use: read Judges 1 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.
Overview
After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked Yahweh who should lead them against the Canaanites (vv. 1-3). Yahweh responded that Judah should go first.
Key verse
“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 they had chariots of iron.”
Judges 1:19 (WEB)
Outline
- Judges 1:1–3 Israel Seeks Guidance After Joshua
- Judges 1:4–7 Judah's Initial Victories
- Judges 1:8–10 Judah Conquers Jerusalem and Hebron
- Judges 1:11–15 Caleb's Challenge and Reward
- Judges 1:16–20 Further Conquests by Judah
- Judges 1:21–29 Failures of Benjamin and Joseph
- Judges 1:30–36 Incomplete Conquests of Other Tribes
Discussion questions
- In v4, what does Yahweh accomplish through Judah's victory over the Canaanites?
- What reward does Caleb promise to the man who strikes Kiriath Sepher in v12?
- Adoni-Bezek's statement in v7: what does it imply about his understanding of divine justice?
- In vv. 27-28, why do the tribes choose to put the Canaanites to forced labor instead of driving them out?
- When have you faced a challenge where partial success led to compromises, as seen in v28?
Go deeper
Passages that echo Judges 1: Joshua 15, Joshua 19, 1 Samuel 15.
Before next time: read Judges 2.