Judges 2

King James Version

Full text for Judges Chapter 2

1¶ And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.

2And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

3Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be [as thorns] in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

4And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

5And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.

6¶ And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.

7And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.

8And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, [being] an hundred and ten years old.

9And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.

10And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

11And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:

12And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that [were] round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

13And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

14And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

15Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

16Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

17And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; [but] they did not so.

18And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

19And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, [that] they returned, and corrupted [themselves] more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

20And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

21I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:

22That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep [it], or not.

23Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Judges chapter two begins with an angel of the LORD rebuking Israel at Bochim for failing to obey His covenant by not driving out the land's inhabitants and throwing down their altars. The people wept and sacrificed, but after Joshua and his generation died, a new generation arose that knew not the LORD. This led to widespread idolatry, provoking God's anger and His delivering them into the hands of their enemies. Though God raised up judges to deliver them, Israel repeatedly returned to their corrupt ways after each judge's death.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with an angel of the LORD confronting the children of Israel at Bochim, reminding them of God's faithfulness in bringing them out of Egypt and into the promised land. The angel rebukes them for breaking the covenant by making leagues with the inhabitants and not destroying their altars, declaring that these nations would now remain as thorns and their gods a snare. The people wept and repented, naming the place Bochim. However, after Joshua and the elders who had witnessed God's great works passed away, a new generation emerged that did not know the LORD. This generation turned to evil, serving Baalim and other foreign gods, which greatly angered the LORD. Consequently, He delivered them into the hands of spoilers and enemies, causing them much distress. Nevertheless, out of compassion for their groaning, the LORD raised up judges to deliver them, but upon the death of each judge, Israel would relapse into even deeper idolatry and stubbornness, perpetuating a cycle of sin and judgment.

Long Summary

Judges chapter two commences with an angel of the LORD ascending from Gilgal to Bochim, where he delivered a severe rebuke to the children of Israel. The angel reminded them of God's unwavering covenant to bring them out of Egypt into the promised land, contrasting it with Israel's disobedience in failing to make no league with the land's inhabitants and to throw down their altars. As a consequence of their transgression, the angel declared that God would no longer drive out these nations, but they would remain as thorns in their sides and their gods a snare. Upon hearing these words, the people lifted up their voice and wept, naming the place Bochim, and offered sacrifices to the LORD. The narrative then shifts to the period following Joshua's leadership, noting that the people served the LORD throughout Joshua's lifetime and during the days of the elders who had witnessed God's mighty works. However, after Joshua, the servant of the LORD, died at 110 years old, and that entire generation was gathered to their fathers, a new generation arose that did not know the LORD nor His works for Israel. This new generation did evil in the sight of the LORD, forsaking Him to serve Baalim, Baal, and Ashtaroth, thereby provoking His anger. The LORD's wrath burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers and enemies, making them unable to stand before their adversaries. Despite their distress, the LORD, moved by their groaning, raised up judges who delivered them from their oppressors. Yet, Israel would not hearken unto their judges, quickly turning aside to idolatry. Upon the death of each judge, they would return to their corrupt ways, becoming even more depraved than their fathers, persisting in their stubbornness. Consequently, the LORD declared He would no longer drive out any of the nations Joshua left, stating that these nations would remain to test Israel, to see if they would keep the way of the LORD as their fathers had done.

Core Concepts

  • Covenant DisobedienceAn angel of the LORD rebukes Israel for failing to obey God's command not to make leagues with the land's inhabitants or throw down their altars, leading to divine judgment.
  • Generational DeclineAfter Joshua and the elders who witnessed God's works died, a new generation arose that 'knew not the LORD,' leading to widespread apostasy and idolatry.
  • Idolatry and ApostasyThe children of Israel forsook the Lord God of their fathers, serving foreign deities like Baalim, Baal, and Ashtaroth, which greatly provoked God's anger.
  • Divine Judgment and OppressionDue to their sin, the Lord's anger burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers and enemies, causing them great distress and inability to stand before their foes.
  • The Cycle of JudgesIn response to Israel's groaning, the Lord raised up judges to deliver them, but upon the judge's death, the people would relapse into greater corruption and idolatry, perpetuating a recurring pattern.
  • God's Testing of IsraelAs a consequence of their covenant transgression, God declared He would no longer drive out the remaining nations, leaving them as a means to 'prove Israel' and test their faithfulness to His ways.