Judges 1:23 Meaning and Explanation

Before the assault, the house of Joseph sends men to reconnoiter Bethel, the city once called Luz. The parenthetical note about the old name, as elsewhere in the chapter, roots the account in real and remembered geography and sets up the encounter with a local man that follows.

Prudent preparation accompanies the favor of God. The tribes do not presume upon the LORD's presence by acting rashly; they scout the city first, joining wisdom to faith. This pairing runs throughout Scripture: trust in God does not cancel careful planning but employs it. The brief verse moves the reader toward the meeting at the city gate, where an act of mercy will open the way in.