Judah's Wars with the Canaanite Kings

Illustration of Judah's Wars with the Canaanite Kings

Judah says that two Canaanite kings came in arms against the family's flocks. He killed King Sur and King Taphue himself, then fought the giant king Achor for two hours and killed him. Jacob killed Beelisa, called king of all the kings, and the attackers lost heart. A larger war followed in the south, where Judah killed kings on the wall and the brothers freed Hebron.

The brothers then took the walled city of Areta by climbing ladders on two sides, burned Thaffu, and destroyed the city of Machir. Judah and Dan entered another city disguised as Amorite allies and opened the gates at night. At Thamna Judah was wounded and Dan saved him. The enemy then asked Jacob for peace, and a truce was made. Judah says he was twenty years old.

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Details

Era
Patriarchs
Category
Patriarchal
Participants
Judah, Jacob and his sons against the kings of the Canaanites and the men of Areta, Thaffu, Jobel, Machir and Thamna
Outcome
Jacob's sons take or destroy several cities, and Jacob then makes peace and returns the captives.
Divine Intervention
Yes

Key Chapters

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 38 Judah 3 2 min read The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 40 Judah 5 1 min read The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 41 Judah 6 1 min read The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 42 Judah 7 2 min read

Key Passages

Judah kills Sur, Taphue and Achor

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 38:1-9

And when the two kings of the Canaanites came in warlike array against our flocks, and much people with them, I by mysel...

A1nd when the two kings of the Canaanites came in warlike array against our flocks, and much people with them, I by myself rushed upon King Sur and seized him; and I beat him upon the legs, and dragged him down, and so I slew him.

2 And the other king, Taphue, I slew as he sat upon his horse, and so I scattered all the people. 3 Achor the king, a man of giant stature, hurling darts before and behind as he sat on horseback, I slew; for I hurled a stone of sixty pounds weight, and cast it upon his horse, and killed him. 4 And I fought with Achor for two hours, and I killed him; and I clave his shield into two parts, and I chopped off his feet. 5 And as I stripped off his breastplate, behold, eight men his companions began to fight with me. 6 I wound round therefore my garment in my hand; and I slang stones at them, and killed four of them, and the rest fled. 7 And Jacob my father slew Beelisa, king of all the kings, a giant in strength, twelve cubits high; and fear fell upon them, and they ceased from making war with us. 8 Therefore my father had no care in the wars when I was among my brethren. 9 For he saw in a vision concerning me, that an angel of might followed me everywhere, that I should not be overcome.

The taking of Areta and Thaffu

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 40:1-5

On the next day we departed to Areta, a city strong and walled and inaccessible, threatening us with death....

O1n the next day we departed to Areta, a city strong and walled and inaccessible, threatening us with death.

2 Therefore I and Gad approached on the east side of the city, and Reuben and Levi on the west and south. 3 And they that were upon the wall, thinking that we were alone, charged down upon us; and so our brethren secretly climbed up the wall on both sides by ladders, and entered into the city, while the men knew it not. 4 And we took it with the edge of the sword; and those who had taken refuge in the tower,—we set fire to the tower, and took both it and them. 5 And as we were departing the men of Thaffu set upon our captives, and we took it with our sons, and fought with them even to Thaffu; and we slew them, and burnt their city, and spoiled all the things that were therein.

The men of Jobel and Machir

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 41:1-4

And when I was at the waters of Chuzeba, the men of Jobel came against us to battle, and we fought with them; and their ...

A1nd when I was at the waters of Chuzeba, the men of Jobel came against us to battle, and we fought with them; and their allies from Selom we slew, and we allowed them no means of escaping, and of coming against us.

2 And the men of Machir came upon us on the fifth day, to carry away our captives; and we attacked them, and overcame them in fierce battle: for they were a host and mighty in themselves, and we slew them before they had gone up the ascent of the hill. 3 And when we came to their city, their women rolled upon us stones from the brow of the hill on which the city stood. 4 And I and Simeon hid ourselves behind the town, and seized upon the heights, and utterly destroyed the whole city.

The ruse, Thamna and the truce

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 42:1-8

And the next day it was told us that the cities of the two kings with a great host were coming against us....

A1nd the next day it was told us that the cities of the two kings with a great host were coming against us.

2 I therefore and Dan feigned ourselves to be Amorites, and went as allies into their city. 3 And in the depth of night our brethren came, and we opened to them the gates; and we destroyed all the men and their substance, and we took for a prey all that was theirs, and their three walls we cast down. 4 And we drew near to Thamna, where was all the refuge of the hostile kings. 5 Then having received hurt I was wroth, and charged upon them to the brow of the hill; and they slang at me with stones and darts; and had not Dan my brother aided me, they would have been able to slay me. 6 We came upon them therefore with wrath, and they all fled; and passing by another way, they besought my father, and he made peace with them, and we did to them no hurt, but made a truce with them, and restored to them all the captives. 7 And I built Thamna, and my father built Rhambael. 8 I was twenty years old when this war befell, and the Canaanites feared me and my brethren.

Related

Characters

Geography

Battles

Themes

Did You Know?

1

Judah says he killed the giant king Achor by hurling a stone of sixty pounds weight at his horse.

2

Jacob himself is said to have killed Beelisa, king of all the kings, a giant twelve cubits high.

3

In the southern war Judah and his brothers pursued a thousand men, and he killed two hundred men and four kings.

4

At Areta, Judah and Gad drew the defenders out on the east while their brothers climbed the walls by ladder.

5

Jacob saw in a vision that an angel of might followed Judah everywhere so that he would not be overcome.