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.
2 And 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?
3 Wherefore 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.
4 And 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.
5 And 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.
7 And 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.
8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
10 And 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.
11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
12 And 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.
13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
14 And 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.
15 Whithersoever 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.
16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
17 And 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.
18 And 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.
19 And 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.
20 And 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;
21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
22 That 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.
23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
The second chapter of the Book of Judges in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible continues the narrative of the Israelites after the death of Joshua. It begins with the angel of the Lord rebuking the Israelites for not obeying God's command to drive out the inhabitants of the land and instead making covenants with them. This chapter also introduces the concept of judges as leaders appointed by God to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. The main themes of this chapter include disobedience, consequences of sin, and God's faithfulness.
The chapter opens with the angel of the Lord appearing to the Israelites at Bochim. The angel reminds them of God's command to drive out the inhabitants of the land and warns them of the consequences of disobedience. The angel says, "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. And 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?" (Judges 2:1-2). This serves as a reminder that the Israelites were chosen by God and made a covenant with Him, but they have failed to keep their end of the bargain.
The main theme of disobedience is prevalent throughout this chapter. The Israelites failed to drive out the inhabitants of the land as God commanded and instead made covenants with them. This disobedience was a direct violation of God's commandments, and it had severe consequences. The inhabitants of the land became a snare to the Israelites, causing them to turn away from God and worship their gods. The Israelites' disobedience is a recurring theme in the Book of Judges and serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of sin.
Despite the Israelites' disobedience, God remains faithful to His covenant. He does not break His promise to the Israelites, and He continues to provide for them and protect them. The angel of the Lord reminds the Israelites, "I said, I will never break my covenant with you" (Judges 2:1). This reaffirms God's faithfulness and love for His people, even when they fail to keep their end of the covenant.
The consequences of the Israelites' disobedience and sin are evident in this chapter. Because they failed to drive out the inhabitants of the land, those people became a constant source of temptation for the Israelites. The Israelites began to intermarry with them and worship their gods, which led them astray from God's commandments. As a result, God allowed their enemies to conquer and oppress them, causing them to suffer and cry out to Him for deliverance. This serves as a reminder that sin has consequences and can lead to destruction.
The concept of judges is introduced in this chapter as leaders appointed by God to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. The angel of the Lord says, "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" (Judges 2:3). This sets the stage for the rest of the book, where various judges are raised up by God to deliver the Israelites from their enemies and bring them back to God. The judges serve as God's representatives and are empowered by Him to lead and judge the people.
The chapter also mentions the death of Joshua and the elders who served alongside him. This marks the end of an era for the Israelites, as Joshua was the last of the leaders who had personally witnessed the miracles of God and experienced His faithfulness. With their death, the Israelites were left without a strong leader to guide them, which contributed to their disobedience and downfall.
The latter part of the chapter outlines a pattern that is repeated throughout the Book of Judges, known as the cycle of sin. The cycle begins with the Israelites turning away from God and worshiping other gods. As a result, God allows their enemies to conquer and oppress them. The Israelites then cry out to God for deliverance, and He raises up a judge to save them. After the judge's death, the Israelites once again turn away from God, and the cycle repeats itself. This cycle serves as a warning against the dangers of disobedience and the consequences of sin.
The second chapter of the Book of Judges serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of remaining faithful to God. It also illustrates God's faithfulness and love for His people, despite their shortcomings. The chapter sets the stage for the rest of the book, introducing the concept of judges and the cycle of sin that the Israelites fall into repeatedly. It serves as a warning against the dangers of disobedience and a call to remain faithful to God's commandments.
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