Judges 1:19

The LORD was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plains because they had chariots of iron.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrative reports Yahweh’s presence with the tribe of Judah during their initial conquest campaign, positioned immediately after the capture of Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron and before the grant of Hebron to Caleb. The words — וַ/יֹּ֖רֶשׁ (va/i.Yo.resh) means “took possession of,” and כִּ֣י (ki) means “for” or “because,” structuring the verse around the cause of Judah’s partial success. The thread — The pattern of divine presence meeting military limitation runs through Judges 1:2, where Yahweh delivers the land into Judah’s hands, and reflects the same covenantal companionship cited in Isaiah 41:10 and the God-enabled valor of Psalms 60:12. Why it lands — The text states that Yahweh was with Judah and they secured the hill country but failed in the plains due to iron chariots, requiring the reader to acknowledge that divine presence does not erase every practical obstacle.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיְהִ֤יva/y.Hiand/ he was יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh אֶתּ־'et-with יְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahJudah וַיֹּ֖רֶשׁva/i.Yo.reshand/ it took possession of אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָהָ֑רha./Harthe/ hill country כִּ֣יkifor לֹ֤אlo'not לְהוֹרִישׁ֙le./ho.Rishto/ dispossess אֶת־'et-<obj.>יֹשְׁבֵ֣יyo.she.Vei[the] inhabitants of הָעֵ֔מֶקha./'E.mekthe/ valley כִּי־ki-for רֶ֥כֶבRe.khevchariotry of בַּרְזֶ֖לbar.Zelironלָהֶֽם׃la./Hem[belonged] to <the>/ them

King James Version

And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

Cross-references

Psalms 60:12 With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Judges 1:2 “Judah shall go up,” answered the LORD. “Indeed, I have delivered the land into their hands.”
Isaiah 41:14 Do not fear, O Jacob, you worm, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 17:19 Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Genesis 39:2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.