1. After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Which of our tribes should attack the Canaanites first?”
2. “Judah!” the Lord answered. “I'll help them take the land.”
3. The people of Judah went to their relatives, the Simeon tribe, and said, “Canaanites live in the land God gave us. Help us fight them, and we will help you.”Troops from Simeon came to help Judah.
4-5. Together they attacked an army of ten thousand Canaanites and Perizzites at Bezek, and the Lord helped Judah defeat them. During the battle, Judah's army found out where the king of Bezek was, and they attacked there.
6. Bezek tried to escape, but soldiers from Judah caught him. They cut off his thumbs and big toes,