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Judges 1:6

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 1:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
Judges 1:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
4And Judah went up; and Jehovah delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they smote of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
5And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him, and they smote the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
7And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered [their food] under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8And 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.
9And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites that dwelt in the hill-country, and in the South, and in the lowland.
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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
“But Adonibezek fled, and they pursued after him, and caught him, etc.] It is very probable his view was to get to Jebus or Jerusalem, a strong and fortified city and he made his way thither as fast as he could, but was pursued and overtaken by some of the forces of Judah and Simeon; and the rather it may seem he took this course, since when he was taken by them, they brought him thither, as follows: and cut off his thumbs and his great toes; whereby he was disabled both for fighting and for fleeing. So the Athenians cut off the thumbs of the right hand of the Aeginetae, the inhabitants of the island of Aegina, to disable them from holding a spear, as various writers f6 relate. Whether the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Great toes - And this they did, either by the direction of God, or upon notice of his former tyranny and cruelty. Judges 1:7”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification