Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:9
‘ And afterwards the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who dwelt in the hill country, and in the south, and in the lowland.’ The invasion under Joshua had defeated the forces that had come against it, had weakened the Canaanites, and had subdued parts of the land, especially in the hill country, and they were able to settle down and be at peace. But they saw the whole land as being given to them by God and it was their aim to subdue the whole, and their remit was to... read more
Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 1:8
‘ And the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.’ This may have been the lower city, or a temporary occupation of the whole. Contrast Joshua 15:63. But that was a statement of the general position with regard to the fortress of Jerusalem. Here they captured part of it and slew those within it, but their occupation was clearly only temporary. They did not have the means to fortify it, or sufficient men to leave... read more