## Rashi on Judges Chapter 1 ###### Rashi on Judges 1:1:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:1:1) **מִי יַעֲלֶה לָּנוּ אֶל הַכְּנַעֲנִי.** עַל מְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁהִפַּלְנוּ בְּגוֹרָל וַעֲדַיִן לֹא נִכְבְּשׁוּ: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites?** To the territories for which lots were cast¹ but are as yet unconquered. footnotes: ¹ By Yehoshua, Elazar, and the tribal chieftains (Yehoshua, 14:1,2). Chapters 14–19 (there) list in detail the territories alloted to the various tribes when the lots were cast. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:2:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:2:1) **יְהוּדָה יַעֲלֶה.** שֵׁבֶט יְהוּדָה יַעֲלֶה תְּחִלָּה לִכְבֹּשׁ אֶת גּוֹרָלוֹ: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **Let Yehudah go up.** Let the tribe of Yehudah go up first² to conquer their alloted territory. footnotes: ² The tribesmen of Yehudah were first in many instances; they entered the water first at the splitting of the sea, their banner was the first to proceed when the Yisroelites journeyed in the wilderness, they went up first in the Book of Shoftim. Indeed, at the coming redemption, their tribesman Dovid will reign as the first of his countrymen. (Yalkut, 37:a. See Yalkut to Beshalach, 234) ###### Rashi on Judges 1:3:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:3:1) **לְשִׁמְעוֹן אָחִיו.** לְשֵׁבֶט שִׁמְעוֹן: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **To his brother Shimon.** To the tribe of Shimon. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:3:2 [Rashi on Judges 1:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:3:2) **עֲלֵה אִתִּי.** וְעָזְרֵנִי לִכְבּוֹשׁ אֶת מַה שֶׁנָּפַל בְּגוֹרָלִי וְיֵשׁ פּוֹתְרִין: יְהוּדָה יַעֲלֶה, הוּא עָתְנִיאֵל, הוּא יַעְבֵּץ, שֶׁאָנוּ אוֹמְרִים בְּמַסֶּכֶת תְּמוּרָה (טז א): מַה שְּׁמוֹ, יְהוּדָה אֲחִי שִׁמְעוֹן שְׁמוֹ, וּלְשִׁמְעוֹן אָחִיו אָמַר שֶׁיֵּלֵךְ אִתּוֹ: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **Go up with me** and assist me in conquering my alloted portion. Some interpret "Let Yehudah go up" as a reference to Asniel,³ also known as Ya'avetz;⁴ for it is remarked, in tractate Temurah,⁵ "What was his name? His name was Yehudah, brother of Shimon."⁶ He⁷ told his brother Shimon⁸ to accompany him. footnotes: ³ Asniel ben Kenaz, the first of the Shoftim to lead Yisroel after the death of Yehoshua. (Below, 3:9–11) ⁴ Ya’avetz is listed among the tribesmen of Yehudah, and described as “revered over his brethren.” (Divrei Hayamim 1, 4:9) ⁶ This was his true name. His surnames were Asniel and Ya’avetz. Asniel is a contraction of ‘anah El’, ‘Adonoy answered’ [Divrei Hayamim 1, 4:10, relates that Adonoy answered his prayer]. Ya’avetz is a contraction of ‘ya’atz v’herebetz’, ‘he counseled and disseminated [Torah]’. (Temurah, 16:a) ⁷ Not the tribe of Yehudah, but the individual Yehudah, otherwise known as Asniel or Ya’avetz. ⁸ The individual Shimon, brother of Yehudah / Asniel. Accordingly, the inquiry “Who shall go up first?” [v.1] did not concern the tribe which would engage in battle first, but the individual who would lead the people into battle. Adonoy answered [v.2] that Yehudah, also known as Asniel or Ya’avetz, would lead. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:4:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:4:1) **בְּבֶזֶק.** שֵׁם מָקוֹם: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **At Bezek.** The name of a place.⁹ footnotes: ⁹ ‘Bezek’ may also be translated as ‘shard’, meaning a broken piece of pottery. Here, however, the reference is to a place named ‘Bezek’. (Yoma, 22:b) ###### Rashi on Judges 1:7:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:7:1) **שִׁבְעִים מְלָכִים וְגוֹ׳.** מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד מַה גְּדוּלָּתָן וְעָשְׁרָן שֶׁל מַלְכֵי כְּנַעַן, שֶׁהֲרֵי אֲדֹנִי בֶזֶק לֹא הָיָה כְּדַאי לִמְנוֹת (יהושע יב) עִם מַלְכֵי כְּנַעַן בְּשֵׁם ׳מֶלֶךְ׳, וְכָתוּב בּוֹ כֵּן: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **Seventy kings.** From here we learn of the eminence and affluence of the Canaanite potentates, for Adoni-bezek was not worthy of being listed among the Canaanite monarchs¹⁰ by the title "king", yet this is written of him.¹¹ footnotes: ¹⁰ Yehoshua 12: 7–24 lists the thirty one Canaanite kings. Adoni bezek is not among them. ¹¹ Yalkut, 37:a. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:7:2 [Rashi on Judges 1:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:7:2) **וַיְבִיאֻהוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַם.** שֶׁהָלְכוּ מִשָּׁם לְהִלָּחֵם עַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **They brought him to Yerushalayim.** They proceeded from there to do battle at Yerushalayim. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:8:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:8:1) **שִׁלְּחוּ בָאֵשׁ.** שִׁלְּחוּ אֵשׁ בְּכֻלָּהּ: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **They set [literally 'sent'] fire.** They sent the fire¹² throughout it. footnotes: ¹² By igniting it. This follows the literal meaning of שׇלְחוּ, ‘thy sent’. (Metzudas Tzion) Afterward, the B’nei Yehudah went down to wage war with the Canaanites dwelling in the hills, the Negev, and the lowlands. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:13:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:13:1) **אֲחִי כָלֵב.** מֵאִמּוֹ: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **Coleiv's …brother.** Maternally.¹³ footnotes: ¹³ Coleiv is referred to as “the Kenizite” (Yehoshua, 14:6), rather than ‘son of Kenaz’. This indicates that he was not Kenaz’ biological son, but his stepson. (Sotah, 11:b, 12:a). ###### Rashi on Judges 1:14:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:14:1) **וַתְּסִיתֵהוּ.** (תרגום:) וְאַמְלָכְתֵּיהּ, לְשׁוֹן נִמְלָךְ, שֶׁמְּיַעֲצִין הָאָדָם וּמַשִּׂיאִין לִבּוֹ לְדָבָר אַחֵר, נִרְאֶה לִי: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **She cajoled him.** She advised him, as in "he took counsel";¹⁴ one counsels a person, and directs his thinking to an alternative. This is my opinion. footnotes: ¹⁴ Rather than ‘she tempted him’, as in Devarim, 13:7. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:14:2 [Rashi on Judges 1:14:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:14:2) **וַתִּצְנַח.** (תרגום:) וְאִתְרְכִינַת, לִיפּוֹל לְרַגְלֵי אָבִיהָ: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **She lowered herself.** "She lowered herself"¹⁵ as if falling at her father's feet. footnotes: ¹⁵ This is a quotation from Targum Yonasan. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:15:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:15:1) **אֶרֶץ הַנֶּגֶב.** אָדָם שֶׁבֵּיתוֹ מְנֻגָּב מִכָּל טוּב, שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **Arid land.** A man barren of anything gainful, as he contains nothing but Torah.¹⁶ footnotes: ¹⁶ Temurah, 16:a. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:15:2 [Rashi on Judges 1:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:15:2) **גֻּלֹּת מָיִם.** שְׂדֵה בֵּית הַבַּעַל, (תרגום:) אֲתַר בֵּית שָׁקְיָא דְמַיָּא: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **Streams of water.** Wetland, "territory supplied abundantly with water." ###### Rashi on Judges 1:16:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:16:1) **מֵעִיר הַתְּמָרִים.** הִיא יְרִיחוֹ, שֶׁנִּתַּן לָהֶם דּוּשְׁנָהּ שֶׁל יְרִיחוֹ לְאָכְלָהּ עַד שֶׁיִּבָּנֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וּמִי שֶׁיִּבְנֶה בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה בְּחֶלְקוֹ יִטְּלֶנָּה, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא לְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל חֵלֶק בְּבֵית הַבְּחִירָה, וּנְתָנוּהָ לִבְנֵי יִתְרוֹ אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, וְהַתַּלְמִידִים שֶׁבָּהֶם הִנִּיחוּהָ וְהָלְכוּ אֵצֶל עָתְנִיאֵל בֶּן קְנַז הוּא יַעְבֵּץ בְּמִדְבַּר יְהוּדָה אֲשֶׁר בְּנֶגֶב עֲרָד לִלְמוֹד תּוֹרָה: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **From the city of dates.** This refers to Yericho, as the fertile tract of Yericho¹⁷ by five hundred *amohs*. (Yalkut, 38.) was given to them for their consumption until the Beis HaMikdosh would be built. The one in whose portion the Beis HaMikdosh would be built¹⁸ would then receive it,¹⁹ so that all of Yisroel could share in the Beis HaMikdosh. It was given to the descendants of Yisro for four hundred and forty years.²⁰ The scholars among them departed, and went to Asniel, the son of Kenaz, also known as Ya'avetz, to the wilderness of Yehudah south of Arad to study Torah.²¹ footnotes: ¹⁷ An area outside the city, measuring five hundred amohs ¹⁸ The tribe of Binyomin. (Ibid). ¹⁹ In return for the Beis Hamikdosh territory, which would become the property of all the tribes. ²⁰ From the conquest of Eretz Yisroel by Yehoshua, until the construction of the Beis Hamikdosh by King Solomon. (See Melachim 1,6:1.) ²¹ Yalkut, ibid. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:16:2 [Rashi on Judges 1:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:16:2) **וַיֵּשֶׁב אֶת הָעָם.** עִם הַתַּלְמִידִים הַיּוֹשְׁבִים לְפָנָיו הוּא בִּקֵּשׁ מֵאֵת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁיַּזְמִין לוֹ תַּלְמִידִים הֲגוּנִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים א ד:י) וַיִּקְרָא יַעְבֵּץ לֵאלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳, וְזִמֵּן לוֹ הַחֲסִידִים הַלָּלוּ: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **He settled with the people.** With the disciples who sat before him. He requested of the Holy One, blessed is He, that He furnish him with suitable disciples, as it said, "Ya'avetz cried out to Elohim…etc."²² He furnished him with these pious men.²³ footnotes: ²² “…of Yisroel, saying: If You bless me by broadening my boundary, and Your hand shall be with me…”. (Divrei Hayamim 1, 4:10. See fn.6) ²³ Yalkut, ibid. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:19:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:19:1) **כִּי לֹא לְהוֹרִישׁ.** תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: בָּתַר כֵּן דְּחָבוּ, לָא יְכִילוּ לְתָרְכָא יָת יָתְבֵי מֵישְׁרָא: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **However, he could not oust.** [Targum] Yonasan interprets: Afterward, as they had sinned, they could not oust the valley dwellers. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:21:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:21:1) **וְאֶת הַיְבוּסִי יֹשֵׁב יְרוּשָׁלִַם.** מָחוֹז הָיָה בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ יְבוּסִי (פרקי דרבי אליעזר לו), וּמִבְּנֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ הָיוּ, וְלֹא הוֹרִישָׁם מִפְּנֵי הַשְּׁבוּעָה (בראשית כא:כג-כד) עַד שֶׁבָּא דָוִד (שמואל ב ה:ו-ז), לְפִי שֶׁעֲדַיִן הָיָה נֶכְדּוֹ קַיָּם, וְהוּא נִשְׁבַּע לוֹ וּלְנִינוֹ וּלְנֶכְדּוֹ: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **But the Yevusi dwellers of Yerushalayim.** There was a section of Yerushalayim²⁴ entitled Yevusi. They were descendants of Avimelech,²⁵ and they could not oust them because of the oath—until the arrival of Dovid²⁶—as his²⁷ grandson still lived, and he²⁸ had sworn to him, his son, and his grandson. footnotes: ²⁴ The reference here is not to members of the Yevusite nation, as Rashi explains that they were descendants of the Pelishte king Avimelech. Cf.Rashi to Yehoshua, 16:63, and Shmuel 2, 5:6. ²⁵ The Pelishite king (Bereishis, 21:32, 26:8). The patriarch Avrohom swore that he would deal kindly with him and his children and grandchildren. (Ibd, 21:23). Avrohom’s descendants were obligated by the oath as well. Cf.Midrash Rabah, Bereishis, 54:2. ²⁶ When Avimelech’s grandchildren no longer survived. (Rashi to Shmueil 2, 5:8) ²⁷ Avimelech’s grandson. ²⁸ Avrohom had sworn. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:22:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:22:1) **בֵּית אֵל.** שֶׁנָּפַל בְּגוֹרָלָם (יהושע טז:א), וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁפֶּסֶל מִיכָה עִמָּהֶם, שֶׁהֲרֵי מִיכָה מִשֵּׁבֶט אֶפְרַיִם (שופטים יז:א), נֶאֱמַר כָּאן ׳וַה׳ עִמָּם׳, הוּא שֶׁאָמַר דָּנִיֵּאל (דניאל ט:ז): לְךָ ה׳ הַצְּדָקָה וְלָנוּ בֹּשֶׁת הַפָּנִים: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **Beis El** which was part of their ancestral allotment. Although Michah's idol²⁹ was in their possession—for Michah was from the tribe of Ephraim—it is said here, "and Adonoy was with them." Concerning this, Daniel said, "Yours, O Adonoy, is benevolence—ours is the face of humiliation."³⁰ footnotes: ²⁹ Chapter 17, v.4 [below] relates that Michah of Mount Ephraim made a graven image and kept it at his home, where it was worshiped. Although the incident is not mentioned earlier in the text, Rashi asserts that the idol was already in existence during the conquest of Eretz Yisroel. See Rasi to 17:1. ³⁰ Daniel, 9:7. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:23:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:23:1) **וַיָּתִירוּ.** עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים, (תרגום:) וּשְׁלָחוּ מְאַלְּלִין, וְיָתוּרוּ אֶת אֶרֶץ (במדבר יג:ב) נֶאֱמַר בַּמְרַגְּלִים עַצְמָן, וְאֵלּוּ שֶׁשָּׁלְחוּ מְרַגְּלִים נֶאֱמַר בָּהֶם וַיָּתִירוּ: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **Sent spies.** Through others, they sent spies.³¹ "They spied the land"³² is said concerning the spies themselves. However, concerning these who sent spies it is said, "they sent spies." footnotes: ³¹ This is Targum Yonasan’s translation. ³² Bamidbar, 13:21. This refers to the spies sent by Moshe in the wilderness. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:24:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:24:1) **אֶת מְבוֹא הָעִיר.** שֶׁהָיוּ נִכְנָסִים לָהּ דֶּרֶךְ הַמְּעָרָה, וְלוּז אֶחָד עוֹמֵד עַל פִּי הַמְּעָרָה וְנִכְנָסִים דֶּרֶךְ הַלּוּז לַמְּעָרָה: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **The entrance to the city.** It was entered through a cave. A hazelnut tree stood at the mouth of the cave, and they passed through the tree³³ into the cave. footnotes: ³³ The tree was hollow. They passed through the hollow section into the cave, then through the cave into the city. (Bereishis Rabah, 69:8) ###### Rashi on Judges 1:25:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:25:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:25:1) **וַיַּרְאֵם.** בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **He showed them** with his finger.³⁴ footnotes: ³⁴ If this heathen, by the mere flick of a finger, saved himself and his progeny, then certainly one who actively escorts others. (Sotah, 46:b) ###### Rashi on Judges 1:26:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:26:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:26:1) **לוּז.** שֶׁגָּדְלוּ בּוֹ אֱגוֹזִים דַּקִּים, קולדר״א בְּלַעַ״ז: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **Luz.** Small nuts grow on this. "Coudre" in old French. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:26:2 [Rashi on Judges 1:26:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:26:2) **הוּא שְׁמָהּ עַד הַיּוֹם.** לֹא בִּלְבְּלָה סַנְחֵרִיב, וְלֹא הֶחֱרִיבָהּ נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **It is so entitled to this day.** Sancheriv did not "jumble" it,³⁵ and Nevuchadnetzar did not devastate it.³⁶ footnotes: ³⁵ Sancheriv “jumbled” all the nations of the world by transporting the inhabitants of one country to another. (Yadayim, 4:3, Yeshaya, 10:13). He did the same to the inhabitants of Eretz Yisroel (Melachim 2, 17:6, 23, 24) but not to the inhabitants of Luz. ³⁶ Sotah, 46:b. ###### Rashi on Judges 1:27:1 [Rashi on Judges 1:27:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/1:27:1) **וְלֹא הוֹרִישׁ מְנַשֶּׁה.** סִפֵּר הַכָּתוּב בִּגְנוּתוֹ, שֶׁהִתְחִילוּ לִמְעוֹל בְּהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁצִּוָּה אוֹתָם (במדבר לג:נב): וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם אֶת כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ וְגוֹ׳: **The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:** **Menashe did not oust.** Scripture censures them, as they began betraying the Holy One, blessed is He, Who commanded them: "Oust all those dwelling in the land, etc."³⁷ footnotes: ³⁷ Bemidbar, 33:52.