Read Judges 1 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
1:1-7 {p} YHVH delivered the Canaanites of Bezek with their king into Judah’s hand
1:8-15 {p} The Canaanites of Jerusalem, Hebron, Debir delivered into Judah’s hand
1:16-21 {p} The Kenites/ Judah conquered Hormah, Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron, and mountains/ Benjaminites
1:22-26 {p} The house of Joseph conquered Bethel
1:27-28 {s} Manasseh did not drive out the Canaanites in their land
1:29 {s} Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites in Gezer
1:30 {s} Zebulon did not drive out the Canaanites in their land
1:31-32 {s} Asher did not drive out the Canaanites in their land
1:33-36 {p} Naphtali did not drive out the Canaanites/ Amorites forced Dan to dwell in the mountains
Judges 1:1-26 Chiastic Structure:
The central axis spotlights the Kenites, not of the descendants of Israel, but the people of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. Recall that Moses asked the son of his father-in-law, who brought his wife and sons to him at Mt. Sinai, to stay with them and journey with them.
And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”) and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. Exo 18:1-5
Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land. Exo 18:27
Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel [that is, Jethro] the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which YHVH said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for YHVH has promised good things to Israel.” And he said to him, “I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my relatives.” So Moses said, “Please do not leave, inasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. And it shall be, if you go with us—indeed it shall be—that whatever good YHVH will do to us, the same we will do to you.” Num 10:29-32
It seems to me that while Jethro returned to Midian, Zipporah, and their sons, and at least Hobab, Jethro’s son, stayed behind with Moses, and continued to journey with Israel until they entered the Promised Land. And perhaps more children of Jethro went with him, and Zipporah, and Hobab, to meet Moses in the wilderness, and at least some of the children stayed behind, who became the Kenites of Judges 1, and who settled among the Canaanites who were left in the wilderness of Judah.
As to why this structure posts neon flashing lights around the Kenites, we will have to keep reading, to see.
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
The Kenites – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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