Jerusalem Is Captured
1 Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord, saying, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?” 2 The Lord said, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.” 3 Then Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me into [a]the territory allotted me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and [b]I in turn will go with you into [c]the territory allotted you.” So Simeon went with him. 4 Judah went up, and the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands, and they [d]defeated ten thousand men at Bezek. 5 They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek and fought against him, and they [e]defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 6 But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his [f]thumbs and big toes. 7 Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to gather up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” So they brought him to Jerusalem and he died there.
8 Then the sons of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire. 9 Afterward the sons of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country and in the [g]Negev and in the lowland. 10 So Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba); and they struck Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai.
In a graphic example, God reminds us that He doesn’t ignore the deeds of the wicked. It’s something Kind David struggled with also, thinking the wicked were prospering. But though they might accumulate material gain for a season, God does not ignore sin.
Further, punishment in this life is temporary, those who reject God will have their fill in eternity, and those who love God and choose to serve Him will have eternal reward. Keep your eyes on God, serve Him, and you will not be disappointed.