Judges 2
Judges 2 provides a reflection on Israel's failure to completely drive out the Canaanites, their subsequent disobedience, and God's response. The chapter recounts the consequences of their disobedience and the cycle of rebellion, oppression, repentance, and deliverance that marks the book of Judges. It emphasizes God's warnings, Israel's sin, and the consequences that followed, setting the tone for the rest of the narrative in the book of Judges.
Judges 2:1 (NKJV)
"Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: 'I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, "I will never break My covenant with you."'"
This verse introduces the Angel of the Lord, who is often understood to be a manifestation of God's presence. The angel recounts God's faithful acts, reminding Israel of their deliverance from Egypt and the fulfillment of the promise to their ancestors. This is a reminder of God's unbroken covenant, showing His faithfulness despite Israel's failure.
Judges 2:2 (NKJV)
"'And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this?"
God reminds Israel of His command to make no agreements with the Canaanites and to destroy their pagan altars. However, Israel disobeyed by allowing these inhabitants to remain and failing to remove the religious influences. This disobedience is met with God's question, calling them to reflect on why they have failed to follow His instructions.
Judges 2:3 (NKJV)
"Therefore I also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.'"
As a consequence of their disobedience, God declares that He will not drive out the remaining Canaanites. Instead, they will become a source of trouble and temptation, leading Israel into idolatry. This statement reveals the consequences of compromise, as the Canaanites would become an ongoing spiritual and moral snare to the people of Israel.
Judges 2:4-5 (NKJV)
"So it was, when the Angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voices and wept.
Then they called the name of that place Bochim; and they sacrificed there to the Lord."
The people's response to the Angel of the Lord's words is one of deep sorrow. They weep in recognition of their failure and the consequences of their disobedience. The naming of the place Bochim, which means "weeping," marks this moment of repentance. Their act of sacrifice indicates a desire to seek God's forgiveness, although this repentance would not be long-lasting.
Judges 2:6-9 (NKJV)
6 And when Joshua had dismissed the people, the children of Israel went each to his own inheritance to possess the land.
7 So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord which He had done for Israel.
8 Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old.
9 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash.
Verse 6 is a recap of events that happened earlier in the book of Joshua when he dismissed the Israelites to go and settle in their allotted inheritances. This reminder helps to set the context for what follows. Verses 7-9 then focus on the faithful leadership of Joshua and how the people continued to serve the Lord during his lifetime and that of the elders who had witnessed God's mighty works. After Joshua's death at 110 years old, he was buried in his inheritance in the mountains of Ephraim. This passage highlights Joshua’s influence and sets the stage for the coming challenges after his generation passes.
Judges 2:10 (NKJV)
"When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel."
This verse highlights a critical turning point in Israel's history. With the passing of Joshua's generation, a new generation arose that did not have a personal experience or knowledge of God's mighty works. This lack of connection to God's past actions leads to a spiritual decline, as they fail to uphold the covenant.
Judges 2:11-13 (NKJV)
"Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals;
and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger.
They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths."
Israel's apostasy is described here. The people turned away from God to worship the pagan deities of the surrounding nations, particularly Baal and Ashtoreth, Canaanite fertility gods. This idolatry represented a direct rejection of God's covenant and the worship of foreign gods, leading to God's righteous anger.
Judges 2:14-15 (NKJV)
"And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.
Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed."
God's response to Israel's idolatry was to allow their enemies to oppress them. This fulfilled the warnings that had been given in the covenant. The once-victorious people now found themselves unable to defend against their enemies, and they suffered greatly as a result of their rebellion. God’s judgment was a direct consequence of their disobedience.
Judges 2:16 (NKJV)
"Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them."
Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God, in His mercy, raised up judges to rescue them from their oppressors. These judges were deliverers and leaders appointed by God to restore justice and bring relief to the suffering Israelites. This demonstrates God’s willingness to show grace, even in the midst of judgment.
Judges 2:17 (NKJV)
"Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so."
Although God provided judges, Israel’s repentance was often short-lived. The people repeatedly fell back into idolatry, turning away from the commandments their ancestors had followed. The metaphor of “playing the harlot” conveys the depth of their unfaithfulness, as they pursued false gods instead of remaining loyal to the true God.
Judges 2:18 (NKJV)
"And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them."
God’s compassion is evident in His response to the people’s suffering. When they groaned under oppression, God would raise a judge to deliver them, empowering that judge with His presence. This cycle reveals both God’s justice and His mercy, as He responds to Israel’s cries despite their ongoing rebellion.
Judges 2:19 (NKJV)
"And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way."
The death of each judge marked a return to even worse behavior. Israel would fall deeper into idolatry and sin, showing that their repentance during the time of the judge was often superficial. Their continued stubbornness and refusal to fully turn back to God demonstrate the depth of their spiritual decline.
Judges 2:20-21 (NKJV)
"Then the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He said, 'Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice,
I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died.'"
God’s anger burns against Israel for their continued disobedience and failure to keep the covenant. In response, He declares that He will no longer drive out the remaining nations, allowing them to remain as a source of testing and opposition. This decision reflects the consequences of Israel’s failure to trust and obey God.
Judges 2:22-23 (NKJV)
"so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not."
Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out immediately; nor did He deliver them into the hand of Joshua."
God’s purpose in allowing these nations to remain was to test Israel’s faithfulness. The presence of these enemies would reveal whether Israel would remain obedient to God’s commands or continue in rebellion. By not removing these nations, God provided an ongoing challenge to Israel’s loyalty, highlighting the importance of their choices in following Him.