Judges 1 begins with the Israelites seeking guidance from the Lord regarding which tribe should lead the battle against the Canaanites. The tribe of Judah is chosen, and they successfully conquer the city of Jerusalem. After that, they continue their conquests, but some Canaanite strongholds remain.
The other tribes also engage in battles against their enemies, but they encounter difficulties in driving out the inhabitants of the land. The chapter mentions the failures and successes of various tribes, including Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. Some tribes are unable to overcome the inhabitants, and the Canaanites dwell among them.
Despite the victories and partial successes, the Israelites struggle to fully possess the land as God had commanded. The chapter ends with a note about the Jebusites who dwell in Jerusalem, indicating that the tribe of Judah was unable to drive them out completely.
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