The Book of Judges

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

The angel of Yahweh went up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, “I brought you up from Egypt, and have brought you to the land I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ’I will never break my covenant with you.

You must make no covenant with those who live in this land. You must tear down their altars.’ But you have not listened to my voice. What is this that you have done?

So now I say, ‘I will not drive the Canaanites out before you, but they will become thorns in your sides, and their gods will become a trap for you.’”

When the angel of Yahweh spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people shouted and wept.

They called that place Bochim. There they offered sacrifices to Yahweh.

Joshua’s Death and Burial

(Joshua 24:29–33)

Now when Joshua had sent the people on their way, the people of Israel each went to the place assigned, to take ownership of their land.

The people served Yahweh during the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him, those who had seen all of Yahweh’s great deeds he had done for Israel.

Joshua son of Nun the servant of Yahweh, died at the age of 110 years old.

They buried him within the border of the land he was assigned in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

(Isaiah 43:22–28; Jeremiah 2:23–37)

All that generation was also gathered to their fathers. Another generation grew up after them who did not know Yahweh or what he had done for Israel.

The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and they served the Baals.

They broke away from Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, the very gods of the peoples who were around them, and they bowed down to them. They provoked Yahweh to anger because

they broke away from Yahweh and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.

The anger of Yahweh burned against Israel, and he gave them to the raiders who stole their possessions from them. He sold them as slaves who were held by the strength of their enemies around them, so they could no longer defend themselves against their enemies.

Wherever Israel went out to fight, Yahweh’s hand was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them and they were in terrible distress.

Judges Raised Up

Then Yahweh raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who were stealing their possessions.

Yet they would not listen to their judges. They were unfaithful to Yahweh and gave themselves like prostitutes to other gods and worshiped them. They soon turned aside from the way their fathers had lived-those who had obeyed the commandments of Yahweh-but they themselves did not do so.

When Yahweh raised up judges for them, Yahweh helped the judges and rescued them from the hand of their enemies all the days the judge lived. Yahweh had pity on them as they groaned because of those who oppressed them and afflicted them.

But when the judge died, they would turn away and do things that were even more corrupt than their fathers had done. They would go after other gods to serve them and worship them. They refused to give up any of their evil practices or their stubborn ways.

The anger of Yahweh burned against Israel; he said, “Because this nation has broken the terms of my covenant that I had set in place for their fathers-because they have not listened to my voice-

I will not, from now on, drive out from before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died.

I will do this so that I may test Israel, whether or not they will keep the way of Yahweh and walk in it, as their fathers kept it.”

That is why Yahweh left those nations and did not drive them out quickly and give them into the hand of Joshua.

The LORD’s angel came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, “I brought you out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to give your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you.

You shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land. You shall break down their altars.’ But you have not listened to my voice. Why have you done this?

Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.’”

When the LORD’s angel spoke these words to all the children of Israel, the people lifted up their voice and wept.

They called the name of that place Bochim,(a) and they sacrificed there to the LORD.

Joshua’s Death and Burial

(Joshua 24:29–33)

Now when Joshua had sent the people away, the children of Israel each went to his inheritance to possess the land.

The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD that he had worked for Israel.

Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being one hundred ten years old.

They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

(Isaiah 43:22–28; Jeremiah 2:23–37)

After all that generation were gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who didn’t know the LORD, nor the work which he had done for Israel.

The children of Israel did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and served the Baals.

They abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger.

They abandoned the LORD, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.

The LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.

Wherever they went out, the LORD’s hand was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken, and as the LORD had sworn to them; and they were very distressed.

Judges Raised Up

The LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.

Yet they didn’t listen to their judges; for they prostituted themselves to other gods, and bowed themselves down to them. They quickly turned away from the way in which their fathers walked, obeying the LORD’s commandments. They didn’t do so.

When the LORD raised up judges for them, then the LORD was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for it grieved the LORD because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and troubled them.

But when the judge was dead, they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers in following other gods to serve them and to bow down to them. They didn’t cease what they were doing, or give up their stubborn ways.

The LORD’s anger burned against Israel; and he said, “Because this nation transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not listened to my voice,

I also will no longer drive out any of the nations that Joshua left when he died from before them;

that by them I may test Israel, to see if they will keep the LORD’s way to walk therein, as their fathers kept it, or not.”

So the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily. He didn’t deliver them into Joshua’s hand.

Footnotes

(a)2:5 “Bochim” means “weepers”.