Judges 2

Jud 2:1-10.

AN

ANGEL

SENT TO

REBUKE THE

PEOPLE AT

BOCHIM.

1-3. an angel . . . came from Gilgal to Bochim--We are inclined to

think, from the authoritative tone of his language, that he was the

Angel of the Covenant

(Ex 23:20;

Jos 5:14);

the same who appeared in human form and announced himself captain of

the Lord's host. His coming from Gilgal had a peculiar significance,

for there the Israelites made a solemn dedication of themselves to God

on their entrance into the promised land

[Jos 4:1-9];

and the memory of that religious engagement, which the angel's arrival

from Gilgal awakened, gave emphatic force to his rebuke of their

apostasy.

Bochim--"the weepers," was a name bestowed evidently in allusion

to this incident or the place, which was at or near Shiloh.

I said, I will never break my covenant with you . . . but ye have not

obeyed my voice--The burden of the angel's remonstrance was that God

would inviolably keep His promise; but they, by their flagrant and

repeated breaches of their covenant with Him, had forfeited all claim

to the stipulated benefits. Having disobeyed the will of God by

voluntarily courting the society of idolaters and placing themselves in

the way of temptation, He left them to suffer the punishment of their

misdeeds.

4, 5. when the angel of the Lord spake these words . . . the people

lifted up their voice, and wept--The angel's expostulation made a deep

and painful impression. But the reformation was but temporary, and the

gratifying promise of a revival which this scene of emotion held out,

was, ere long, blasted by speedy and deeper relapses into the guilt of

defection and idolatry.

6-10. And when Joshua had let the people go--This passage is a

repetition of

Jos 24:29-31.

It was inserted here to give the reader the reasons which called forth

so strong and severe a rebuke from the angel of the Lord. During the

lifetime of the first occupiers, who retained a vivid recollection of

all the miracles and judgments which they had witnessed in Egypt and

the desert, the national character stood high for faith and piety. But,

in course of time, a new race arose who were strangers to all the

hallowed and solemnizing experience of their fathers, and too readily

yielded to the corrupting influences of the idolatry that surrounded

them.

Jud 2:11-19.

WICKEDNESS OF THE

NEW

GENERATION AFTER

JOSHUA.

11-19. the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord--This

chapter, together with the first eight verses of the next

[Jud 2:11-3:8],

contains a brief but comprehensive summary of the principles developed

in the following history. An attentive consideration of them,

therefore, is of the greatest importance to a right understanding of

the strange and varying phases of Israelitish history, from the death

of Joshua till the establishment of the monarchy.

served Baalim--The plural is used to include all the gods of the

country.

13. Ashtaroth--Also a plural word, denoting all the female divinities,

whose rites were celebrated by the most gross and revolting impurities.

14. the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them

into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them--Adversities in close and

rapid succession befell them. But all these calamities were designed

only as chastisements--a course of correctional discipline by which God

brought His people to see and repent of their errors; for as they

returned to faith and allegiance, He "raised up judges"

(Jud 2:16).

16. which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled

them--The judges who governed Israel were strictly God's vicegerents

in the government of the people, He being the supreme ruler. Those who

were thus elevated retained the dignity as long as they lived; but

there was no regular, unbroken succession of judges. Individuals,

prompted by the inward, irresistible impulse of God's Spirit when they

witnessed the depressed state of their country, were roused to achieve

its deliverance. It was usually accompanied by a special call, and the

people seeing them endowed with extraordinary courage or strength,

accepted them as delegates of Heaven, and submitted to their sway.

Frequently they were appointed only for a particular district, and

their authority extended no farther than over the people whose

interests they were commissioned to protect. They were without pomp,

equipage, or emoluments attached to the office. They had no power to

make laws; for these were given by God; nor to explain them, for that

was the province of the priests--but they were officially upholders of

the law, defenders of religion, avengers of all crimes, particularly of

idolatry and its attendant vices.