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Judges 1:23

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 1:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Beth-el. (Now the name of the city beforetime was Luz.)” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Beth-el. (Now the name of the city beforetime was Luz.)
Judges 1:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses had spoken: and he drove out thence the three sons of Anak.
21And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
22And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth-el; and Jehovah was with them.
23And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Beth-el. (Now the name of the city beforetime was Luz.)
24And the watchers saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with thee.
25And he showed them the entrance into the city; and they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man go and all his family.
26And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz, which is the name thereof unto this day.
← Judges 1:22Judges 1:24 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel, etc.] To reconnoitre the place, to observe its passes and avenues, which were most accessible, and to examine the walls of it, where they were weakest and least defended: now the name of the city before [was] Luz; which signifies a “nut”; perhaps it was so called from large numbers of nut trees which grew near it; the Jews suggest as if it was like a nut, no entrance into it but through a cave or some subterraneous passage, (see <012819>Genesis 28:19).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“sent: Jdg 18:2; Jos 2:1, Jos 7:2 Luz: Gen 28:19, Gen 35:6, Gen 48:3 Judges 1:24”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification