Judges 2:1-11

Context

Confrontation and Repentance at Bokim

2:1 The Lord’s angelic messenger¹ 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.² I said, ‘I will never break my agreement³ 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.’⁴ But you have disobeyed me.⁵ Why would you do such a thing?⁶ 2:3 At that time I also warned you,⁷ ‘If you disobey,⁸ I will not drive out the Canaanites⁹ before you. They will ensnare you¹⁰ and their gods will lure you away.’”¹¹

2:4 When the Lord’s messenger finished speaking these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly.¹² 2:5 They named that place Bokim¹³ and offered sacrifices to the Lord there.

The End of an Era

2:6 When Joshua dismissed¹⁴ the people, the Israelites went to their allotted portions of territory,¹⁵ intending to take possession of the land. 2:7 The people worshiped¹⁶ the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and as long as the elderly men¹⁷ who outlived him remained alive. These men had witnessed¹⁸ all the great things the Lord had done for Israel.¹⁹ 2:8 Joshua son of Nun, the Lord’s servant, died at the age of one hundred ten. 2:9 The people²⁰ buried him in his allotted land²¹ in Timnath Heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 2:10 That entire generation passed away;²² a new generation grew up²³ that had not personally experienced the Lord’s presence or seen what he had done for Israel.²⁴

A Monotonous Cycle

2:11 The Israelites did evil before²⁵ the Lord by worshiping²⁶ the Baals.

[2:1] ¹sn See Exod 14:19; 23:20.

[2:1] ²tn Heb “the land that I had sworn to your fathers.”

[2:1] ³tn Or “covenant” (also in the following verse).

[2:2] ⁴tn Heb “their altars.”

[2:2] ⁵tn Heb “you have not listened to my voice.”

[2:2] ⁶tn Heb “What is this you have done?”

[2:3] ⁷tn 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.

[2:3] ⁸tn The words “If you disobey” are supplied in the translation for clarity. See Josh 23:12-13.

[2:3] ⁹tn Heb “them”; the referent (the Canaanites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:3] ¹⁰tn 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).

[2:3] ¹¹tn Heb “their gods will become a snare to you.”

[2:4] ¹²tn Heb “lifted their voices and wept.”

[2:5] ¹³sn Bokim means “weeping ones” and is derived from the Hebrew verb בָּכָא (bakha’, “to weep”).

[2:6] ¹⁴tn Or “sent away.”

[2:6] ¹⁵tn Heb “the Israelites went each to his inheritance.”

[2:7] ¹⁶tn Or “served”; or “followed.”

[2:7] ¹⁷tn Or perhaps “elders,” which could be interpreted to mean “leaders.”

[2:7] ¹⁸tn Heb “all the days of Joshua and all the days of the old men who outlived him, who had seen.”

[2:7] ¹⁹tn Heb “the great work of the Lord which he had done for Israel.”

[2:9] ²⁰tn Heb “they”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:9] ²¹tn Heb “in the territory of his inheritance.”

[2:10] ²²tn Heb “All that generation were gathered to their fathers.”

[2:10] ²³tn Heb “arose after them.”

[2:10] ²⁴tn Heb “that did not know the Lord or the work which he had done for Israel.” The expressions “personally experienced” and “seen” are interpretive.

[2:11] ²⁵tn Heb “in the eyes of.”

[2:11] ²⁶tn Or “serving”; or “following.”