Definition: And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out [the inhabitants of] the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Judges 1:19. It’s a pretty powerful statement about God’s power and how He deals with different groups of people. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: God was with Judah (a group of people we know as Israel) and he successfully drove out the inhabitants of the mountains. However, he couldn't defeat the people living in the valleys – they had strong, armored vehicles (chariots of iron). Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And the LORD was with Judah…” : This tells us that God was actively involved and supporting Judah during a challenging time. “…and he drave out [the inhabitants of] the mountain…” : This suggests that God decisively defeated the people living in the mountains, removing them from their territory. “Drove out” means to completely remove them. "...but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley…” : This is the crucial part! The verse immediately pivots to the valleys. The Israelites (and later, the people of Judah) were living in a region with many valleys. These valleys were inhabited by people who had strong chariots of iron . So, what does this tell us? It’s a story about God’s power being greater than even the most formidable armies. He didn't just defeat them; he completely overcame them because they had advantages in terms of military strength. It highlights a key theme in the Old Testament – that God is ultimately in control and doesn’t always need to use brute force. Important Context: This verse comes after a period where Judah was experiencing political instability and conflict. It's a moment of victory for God, but it also points towards a greater struggle ahead – the time of the Judges. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give you some historical context about the time period? Talk about what this verse might mean in terms of God's plan for Israel?