v1-12: The description of the area allotted to Judah. This was the largest area; see 19.1, where Simeon had its inheritance within Judah's. The area included a large area of desert, called the Desert of Zin.

The tribe of Judah was frequently listed first; in receiving its inheritance in Canaan, in going to defeat the Canaanites (Judg 1; compare Deut 33.7, "with his own hands he defends his cause"); it seems appropriate that the line of kings came from Judah (see Gen 49.10).

v13-15: Caleb had already captured Hebron, and driven out the giants.

Some battles were fought and won together, such as that for Jericho. Other battles were for individuals to fight and win. In like manner, some issues are for Christians corporately, others are for us as individuals.

v16-19: Caleb was eager to bless others. He gave his daughter, Acsah, to Othniel. Later, he gave Debir to the Levites (21.15), just as Hebron had become a city of refuge. Othniel had begun to prove himself a leader; he later became the first of the Judges (Judg 3).

Caleb and Othniel are model leaders, having ambition to honour God in their lives; they both captured towns occupied by Gentiles. Yet they are family men, without harshness; Caleb gave Othniel’s wife springs of water.

v20-62: Judah was given over 100 cities; however 29 (v21-32) were in the Negev (southern desert; see Ps 126.4), and 6 (v61-62) were in the desert. The tribe had 76,500 trained for war (Num 26.22), therefore more than 200,000 in total.

Within Judah's area were towns still occupied by the Philistines (v45-47).

Beth Tappuah (v53) see Song 2.5.

v63: Also, the Jebusites were left in the land (v63; 16.10; 17.12-13). They stayed in Jerusalem, later to become the capital city. But they remained there until David defeated them. This is the reality of human life; there are frustrations and delays. Things do not always go as we hope.