What does Judges 1:11 Mean?

Context Summary

The land had been given. There could be no doubt about that. In the ancient covenant which Jehovah had made with Abram, He said: "Unto thy seed have I given this land." See Genesis 15:18. It had also been conquered and divided by lot, as we learn in Joshua 14:1-5. The portion of Judah is specified in Joshua 15:1-63. But notwithstanding all, each tribe had to possess its own, first by the sword, and ultimately by the plow and the spade.

It is not enough to be assured that "we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus." We must possess our possessions. By faith, and patience, and daily use, we must appropriate the resources which are stored up in Christ Jesus. See Obadiah 1:17; Ephesians 1:3. Let us not be content with the nether springs of ordinary experience, but let us seek the upper springs that arise hard by the throne of God!

"Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,

As the swift seasons roll!"¦

Till thou at length art free,

Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 1

¹  The acts of Judah and Simeon
⁴  Adonibezek justly requited
⁸  Jerusalem taken
¹⁰  Hebron taken
¹¹  Othniel has Achsah to wife for taking of Debir
¹⁶  The Kenites dwell in Judah
¹⁷  Hormah, Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron taken
²¹  The acts of Benjamin
²²  Of the house of Joseph, who take Bethel
³⁰  Of Zebulun
³¹  Of Asher
³³  Of Naphtali
³⁴  Of Dan