Text -- Judges 2:1-8 (NET)

Confrontation and Repentance at Bokim

2:1 The Lord’s angelic messenger went up from Gilgal to Bokim. He said, “I brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land I had solemnly promised to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my agreement with you, 2:2 but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.’ But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing? 2:3 At that time I also warned you, ‘If you disobey, I will not drive out the Canaanites before you. They will ensnare you and their gods will lure you away.’” 2:4 When the Lord’s messenger finished speaking these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. 2:5 They named that place Bokim and offered sacrifices to the Lord there.

The End of an Era

2:6 When Joshua dismissed the people, the Israelites went to their allotted portions of territory, intending to take possession of the land. 2:7 The people worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and as long as the elderly men who outlived him remained alive. These men had witnessed all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. 2:8 Joshua son of Nun, the Lord’s servant, died at the age of one hundred ten.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Jdg 2:1

¹ sn See Exod 14:19; 23:20.

² tn Heb “the land that I had sworn to your fathers.”

³ tn Or “covenant” (also in the following verse).

NET Notes: Jdg 2:2

¹ tn Heb “their altars.”

² tn Heb “you have not listened to my voice.”

³ tn Heb “What is this you have done?”

NET Notes: Jdg 2:3

¹ tn Heb “And I also said.” The use of the perfect tense here suggests that the messenger is recalling an earlier statement (see Josh 23:12-13). However, some translate, “And I also say,” understanding the following words as an announcement of judgment upon those gathered at Bokim.

² tn The words “If you disobey” are supplied in the translation for clarity. See Josh 23:12-13.

³ tn Heb “them”; the referent (the Canaanites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew word צִדִּים (tsiddim) is uncertain in this context. It may be related to an Akkadian cognate meaning “snare.” If so, a more literal translation would be “they will become snares to you.” Normally the term in question means “sides,” but this makes no sense here. On the basis of Num 33:55 some suggest the word for “thorns” has been accidentally omitted. If this word is added, the text would read, “they will become [thorns] in your sides” (cf. NASB, NIV, NLT).

⁵ tn Heb “their gods will become a snare to you.”

NET Notes: Jdg 2:4

¹ tn Heb “lifted their voices and wept.”

NET Notes: Jdg 2:5

¹ sn Bokim means “weeping ones” and is derived from the Hebrew verb בָּכָא (bakha’, “to weep”).

NET Notes: Jdg 2:6

¹ tn Or “sent away.”

² tn Heb “the Israelites went each to his inheritance.”

NET Notes: Jdg 2:7

¹ tn Or “served”; or “followed.”

² tn Or perhaps “elders,” which could be interpreted to mean “leaders.”

³ tn Heb “all the days of Joshua and all the days of the old men who outlived him, who had seen.”

⁴ tn Heb “the great work of the Lord which he had done for Israel.”