Judges 1:9
ESV
And afterward the men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the Negeb, and in the lowland.
NIV
After that, Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev and the western foothills.
NASB
Afterward, the sons of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, and in the Negev, and in the lowland.
CSB
Afterward, the men of Judah marched down to fight against the Canaanites who were living in the hill country, the Negev, and the Judean foothills.
NLT
Then they went down to fight the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev, and the western foothills.
KJV
And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
NKJV
And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who dwelt in the mountains, in the South, and in the lowland.
What does Judges 1:9 mean?
The fighting men of the tribe of Judah continue their campaign. Their mission is to rout all the wicked Canaanites (Deuteronomy 9:4–5) out of their allotted territory in the southern part of Israel. This verse introduces the next regions that will become the focus of their attacks, with each of the three described in the verses to follow.Having defeated the cities of Bezek and Jerusalem, Judah turns and heads south to defeat the Canaanites in the hill country south of Jerusalem. This is followed by the wilderness or desert region called the Negeb much further south. Next is the lowland region between the hills and the coastal plain to the south and west.
