After the death of Joshua, the Israelites sought divine guidance from the LORD to determine which tribe should lead the ongoing military campaign against the Canaanites.
The Divine Directive
Upon inquiring of the LORD, the Israelites received a clear instruction regarding the next steps in their territorial conquest. This pivotal consultation established the path forward for the tribes of Israel.
| Inquirer | Question | Divine Response | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Israelites | "Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?" | "Judah" | "for I have given them victory over the land." |
This directive designated Judah as the vanguard for the military actions, signaling a new phase in the Israelites' settlement of the promised land.
Judah's Alliance with Simeon
Following the LORD's command, the men of Judah took initiative to bolster their military strength. They approached their relatives from the tribe of Simeon with a proposition for a joint effort against the remaining Canaanite strongholds.
- Judah's Proposal: They asked Simeon to "Join with us to fight against the Canaanites living in the land..."
- Implied Objective: To share the burden of conquest and ensure success in securing their allotted territories.
This period marked a transition from the unified leadership under Joshua to a more decentralized, tribal-led effort, albeit still under divine guidance, as they continued to dispossess the inhabitants of Canaan.
