Jdg 1:1–15 Give Me Also Springs of Water

[Study Posted January 1, 2021]

Jdg 1:1  Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? 
Jdg 1:2  And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 
Jdg 1:3  And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him. 
Jdg 1:4  And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men. 
Jdg 1:5  And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
Jdg 1:6  But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. 
Jdg 1:7  And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. 
Jdg 1:8  Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. 
Jdg 1:9  And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley. 
Jdg 1:10  And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. 
Jdg 1:11  And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher: 
Jdg 1:12  And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. 
Jdg 1:13  And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. 
Jdg 1:14  And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou? 
Jdg 1:15  And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. 

Introduction to the Book of Judges

There is no indication as to who wrote the book of Judges, but Jewish tradition names the prophet Samuel as the author. What is most important is that the Book of Judges is the fiery words of the Lord! Judges were leaders God raised up during the time when there were no kings in Israel to rescue His people. The time period of the Judges therefore stretches from the period after the death of Joshua until Saul was made king of Israel.

We are not going to look at the Book of Judges from the letter – the historical facts. That will be a waste of time for everybody! We are going to focus on the spiritual aspect and how it applies to our personal lives, for the spirit gives life but the letter killeth!

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

We can learn a lot from the Book of Judges as it relates to the war in our heavens. There is this recurring phrase in Judges, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).  This recurring phrase indicates how, when the beast is in the driving seat (on the throne) in our lives, we tend to do what is right in our own eyes and in this way provide the necessary fuel for our own judgment.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

Jdg 21:25  In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

After going through the wilderness experience when we were under bondage to Babylonian principles and doctrines, God in His mercy sent from above a deliverer in the form of Joshua (representing Christ) to draw us out of many waters (Psa 18:6). The many waters here refers to the sea of our lives which is the flesh. It is Jesus who has dragged us to cross the Jordan and to begin the overcoming process. To this end, we have had initial victories in the land of our minds (the defeat of Jericho, Ai, etc.), but there is still more work to be done to rid the land (our body) of the giants (the Cananites, Perizzites, Philistines, Medianites, etc.). This war to overcome these giants is what Paul described in Corinthians and Ephesians (For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places).

Psa 18:16  He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

After crossing the Jordan, the stage is now set for the continuation of the conquest after the death of Joshua.

Jdg 1:1  Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? 

The book of Judges starts with the death of Joshua. The name Joshua means “The Lord is Salvation”. Thus, the death of Joshua signifies the death of Jesus, who is our Lord and salvation. Without the death of Jesus, there is no victory over sin. As He was here on this earth, so are we. We, his elect, must also die to the old man to fill up that which is behind the afflictions of Christ. Where there is death, there is victory!

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

One of the questions that is often posed is, “How do we wage this war against the flesh?”  This is what the Israelites wanted to know when they posed the question, “Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first?”  The Israelites wanted to know how they could sustain the initial victory they wrought. This is the Lord’s answer:

Jdg 1:2  And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 

To understand what this verse means and its implications for our lives, we need to go to the story of Jacob’s wife Leah.

Gen 29:31  And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Gen 29:32  And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Gen 29:33  And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
Gen 29:34  And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
Gen 29:35  And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

So God in essence is telling us that the campaign against the giants of our land begins with praising the Lord, which is the meaning of the name Judah. Praising the Lord is part of our worship. What is most important is that when Leah realized that it was time to praise the Lord, she stopped bearing. This is insightful in the sense that it means that it is not our labor, works or effort that will bring about the victory as Leah initially thought. Victory over the flesh is the work of the Lord alone!

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

During the time we were so engrossed in orthodoxy (the Babylonian system), we invested so much in praising the Lord thinking that will unleash the power of God in our lives. I remember sometimes we held night vigils just singing and thanking the Lord using all kinds of musical instruments but devoid of the fiery Word which is able to burn the chaff in our lives. We forgot that praising God is a form of our worship to God which must be done in truth and in spirit. We were only focusing on the physical way of praising God by singing songs of praise and thanking God.

Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

What the scriptures tell us about true worship is this:

Rom 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Our spiritual worship is presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God and not conforming to this world but being renewed in our minds. That is our praise (Judah)!!  Our battle against the flesh (our land) is when we stop conforming to the world and begin to renew our minds with the word of God. That is the beginning of the process of presenting our bodies as living sacrifice. That signals our Judah taking the lead to battle the giants in our land!!

Psa 119:164  Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

The number seven means complete. Our complete praise should embrace both the good times and the “bad” times (God’s righteous judgment) because all things will work for our good!

Psa 107:15  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

The wonderful works mentioned here relates to how God raises the stormy winds (righteous judgment) to bring us to our wits’ end in our lives and then delivers us.

Psa 107:23  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

It is when we get a better understanding of the sovereignty of God that we can understand why we should praise Him at all times. If we know He is at the center of everything happening to us (both good and bad), we will praise Him in difficult times knowing our faith is being tried to work out patience in us. This is what will deliver the land into our hands (Jdg 1:2).

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Jdg 1:3  And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him. 

Just as Judah needed Simeon, we also need each other. This war is not going to be won by us walking alone. We need each other for encouragement, edification and comfort and also to provoke one another to love and good works so that we can defeat the enemies. We need to stand with each other in prayer and in the sharing of the word. Simeon means ‘God hears’. So Judah beckoning Simeon to join him can mean that God hears our praise. This should give us more comfort.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

What day do we see approaching? The day of the Lord, which is judgment, and the coming of the Lord to take His residence in our heavens.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Jdg 1:4  And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men. 
Jdg 1:5  And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

Immediately the Lord gave His word, and Judah took the lead in the conquest. Obedience to the word is essential if we are to have victory.

2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Luk 11:28  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

The Canaanites and the Perizzites were defeated in Bezek. It is very insightful to note that ten thousand men were defeated at Bezek.  Ten thousand consist of multiples of 10 which signify the flesh. Bezek means ‘lightening’. So what this verse is telling us is that certain aspects of our flesh are defeated within the twinkle of an eye as we heed the voice of the Lord, thankful in every circumstance and not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. According to Strong, the word Canaanites by implication means a peddler (H3669). One of the enemies that are cleaned from our heavens as we begin to worship God in truth and in spirit is our peddling mentality. Paul said:

2Co 2:17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. (NIV)

Jdg 1:5  And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 
Jdg 1:6  But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. 
Jdg 1:7  And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. 

In spite of the victory wrought in Bezek, Adonibezek managed to escape. Adonibezek means Lord of Bezek. This means we are dealing with a higher level of the enemy within us who has been successful in defeating us over and over again in time past as Adonibezek recounted how he had incapacitated threescore and ten kings.  Three score and ten means seventy which is 10 times 7. Ten signifies the flesh and seven indicates completeness. This shows how our flesh has succumbed completely to the dictates of the enemy (Adonibezek) in times past. As the Lord continues to give us victory we should be relentless in our desire for the enemy to be removed from our heavens. The fact that we have experienced defeat several times does not mean the strategy of worshiping God in spirit through the surrendering of our bodies as living sacrifices does not work or that victory will never come. As God deals with us to make our obedience complete through judgments, we will surely catch up with Adonibezek, defeat him and finally remove him from our heavens.

Pro 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Psa 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psa 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

It is discerning to know that it was when Adonibezek was brought to Jerusalem that he died. We think because our carnal nature has been dealt a blow and been incapacitated, we are free from its dictates. Sometimes, however, the flesh resurfaces, and until we bring the enemy to Jerusalem to die (death of the old man), we may have these intermittent carnal influences.

Jerusalem here is used in a positive sense to refer to our gathering together. When we come to the heavenly Jerusalem (our brothers and sisters who are worshiping God in spirit and truth), an innumerable company of angels, the general assembly and the church of the first born, that is when the enemy will finally be defeated. It is in this heavenly Jerusalem that we hear the voice of the Lord speaking of better things that will ultimately bring about our salvation.

Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Jdg 1:8  Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. 

The Jerusalem being talked about here in verse 8 is this Agar which is Mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. We can only “defeat” this Jerusalem (Babylonian system of false doctrines) with the edge of the sword, which is the word of the Lord. As we come to this heavenly Jerusalem of our brothers and sisters worshiping God in truth and in spirit, we will hear the voice of the true shepherd, and this will hasten our deliverance from orthodoxy and eventually we will be completely separated from its influence. Note that Judah after capturing Jerusalem, set it on fire. The Babylonian system and its false doctrines must be burned out of us with the fire of the word of God. This is not a one-day victory. It is a long process.

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Jdg 1:9  And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley. 
Jdg 1:10  And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

This war we are waging is on levels. God leads us to have victories over the enemies within which are easy to deal with before we are brought to fight stronger enemies. Paul said there are principalities and powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12). The reason God does not lead us to fight stronger enemies early is that we may end up going back to the world (Egypt) when we encounter intense battles early.

Exo 13:17  And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

After the defeat of the Canaanites, Perizzites and Jerusalem, Judah began to fight the Canaanites that dwelt in the mountains and the valleys. These are much stronger than the enemies initially encountered. Among the Canaanites in Hebron were the giants (Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai), but God granted them victory. The giants in the land represent the false doctrines which have become our idols and the sins that easily beset us. When David slew Goliath a type of the giants in the land, he used a sling and a stone to do that.

1Sa 17:50  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

To understand the spiritual meaning of the sling and the stone as tools for defeating the giants, let’s turn to this scripture:

Pro 26:8  As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

A sling is only useful if a stone can easily be catapulted. Constraining a stone in a sling in the biblical sense means giving honour to a fool. The flip side of this verse will therefore mean that we give honour to the wise – Jesus (remember the scriptures are focused on Christ who is the only wise God, our savior) with a sling and a freely moving stone just as David used a sling and a stone. Thus, giving honour to the Lord is what David used to defeat Goliath, the giant. What does it mean to honour God?

Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Isa 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 

We honour God by obeying him and not speaking our own words, not finding our own pleasure and not focusing on our own ways.  That is what will ensure our victory over the giants in our land just as David defeated Goliath.

Jdg 1:11  And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher: 
Jdg 1:12  And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
Jdg 1:13  And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. 
Jdg 1:14  And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou? 
Jdg 1:15  And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. 

In Joshua 15:15-19, the same story is recounted of how Caleb offered his daughter to Othniel for defeating the city of Debir. The repetition implies there are significant lessons to be learned. There are several accounts of how the Israelites defeated Debir in the bible.

Jos 10:38  And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:
Jos 10:39  And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
Jos 11:21  And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.

Some of the Anakims (giants) lived in Debir. This town Debir was defeated by Joshua earlier. However, it is likely that it came under the Canaanites rule again as a result of Israel’s sins against God.  That is what Peter describes as dogs going back to their vomit. In any case, it has to be defeated again by Othniel who is a kind of God’s elect.

2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Othniel was offered an incentive of marrying Achsah, Caleb’s daughter, if he was able to defeat Debir. As God guides us to die daily to the flesh, we will be provided with the virtuous wife represented by Achsah (the bride of Christ who is the true church) who will bring about the upper springs and the nether springs. The upper and nether springs represents the full counsel of God’s words. In other words, when we come into the heavenly Jerusalem, the true bride of Christ, we will be endowed with the counsel of God as we feast on His words.

Pro 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the LORD.

Act 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

The favor here in Proverbs 18:22 is for your eyes to be opened to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven as we find the true church (wife). This was the incentive for Othniel (a type of elect) as he waged war against Debir (the enemies within).

Pro 31:10  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Pro 31:26  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

The virtuous woman here is the New Jerusalem, and the law of kindness represents the law of the spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death which we were subject to when we did not know the Lord.

If the Lord permits, we will continue next week to end Chapter 1 of Judges.

[Next study in this series is here.]