Judges 1:25

Verse

So the man showed them the entrance to the city, and they put the city to the sword but released that man and all his family.

American Standard Version (1901)

And 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.

Bible in Basic English

So he made clear to them the way into the town, and they put it to the sword; but they let the man and all his family get away safe.

Free Bible Version

The man showed them the way into the town, and they killed all the inhabitants except the man and his family, whom they let go.

Geneva Bible 1599

And when hee had shewed them the waie into the citie, they smote the citie with the edge of the sworde, but they let the man and all his housholde depart.

King James (Authorized) Version

And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.

Translation for Translators

So the man showed them a way to enter the city. The men of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh entered the city and killed all the people with their swords, but they did not kill the man who showed them how to get into the city, and they did not kill his family.

Unlocked Literal Bible

He showed them a way into the city, and so they attacked the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family get away.

Noah Webster Bible

And when he showed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword: but they let go the man and all his family.

World English Bible

He showed them the entrance into the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man and all his family go.

Young's Literal Translation

And he sheweth them the entrance of the city, and they smite the city by the mouth of the sword, and the man and all his family they have sent away;

Context

The Capture of Jerusalem and Hebron

²⁴and when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, “Please show us how to get into the city, and we will treat you kindly.”²⁵So the man showed them the entrance to the city, and they put the city to the sword but released that man and all his family.²⁶And the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called it Luz, which is its name to this day.

Sermons

What Happened?

K.P. Yohannan

Summary

This verse describes how the Canaanites living in the city of Bethel were forced to labor for the tribe of Joseph after it was captured. Despite the Israelites' victory, the Canaanites remained in the land as subjects, serving the conquerors. This situation reflects the partial obedience of the Israelites in fully driving out the inhabitants of the land as God had commanded. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of compromise and incomplete obedience to God's instructions.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And when he showed them the entrance, into the city,.... Pointing to it with his fingers, as the same writers observe: they smote the city with the edge of the sword; they gave notice of what intelligence they had got to the body of the army, who came up, entered the city, took it, and put the inhabitants of it to the sword, as they were ordered to do with all the Canaanites: but they let go the man and all his family; who had returned to it, encouraged by the promise made him, and for the sake of saving of his family; which though not expressed, he might have asked the favour of sparing them, which might be promised, as was in the case of Rahab; provided he would either renounce Heathenism, and embrace the true religion, or depart to another country, the latter of which he chose.