Judges 2: The Cycle Begins
An angel rebukes Israel at Bochim, a faithful generation passes, and the book lays bare the recurring cycle of sin, suffering, and rescue.
Judges 2 (WEB)
1 Yahweh’s angel came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, “I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you:
2 and 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?
3 Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.”
4 When Yahweh’s angel spoke these words to all the children of Israel, the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
5 They called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there to Yahweh.
6 Now when Joshua had sent the people away, the children of Israel went every man to his inheritance to possess the land.
7 The people served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Yahweh that he had worked for Israel.
8 Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being one hundred ten years old.
9 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.
10 Also all that generation were gathered to their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, who didn’t know Yahweh, nor yet the work which he had worked for Israel.
11 The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals;
12 and they abandoned Yahweh, 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 Yahweh to anger.
13 They abandoned Yahweh, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
14 Yahweh’s anger was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of raiders who plundered them; and he sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
15 Wherever they went out, the hand of Yahweh was against them for evil, as Yahweh had spoken, and as Yahweh had sworn to them: and they were very distressed.
16 Yahweh raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.
17 Yet they didn’t listen to their judges; for they played the prostitute after other gods, and bowed themselves down to them: they turned aside quickly out of the way in which their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Yahweh. They didn’t do so.
18 When Yahweh raised them up judges, then Yahweh was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it grieved Yahweh because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and troubled them.
19 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 from their doings, nor from their stubborn way.
20 Yahweh’s anger was kindled against Israel; and he said, “Because this nation have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not listened to my voice;
21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died;
22 that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Yahweh to walk therein, as their fathers kept it, or not.”
23 So Yahweh left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
Judges 2 (KJV)
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 Timnath–heres, 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.
Judges 2 (ASV)
1 And the angel of Jehovah came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he 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 covenant with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall break down their altars. But ye have not hearkened unto 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 Jehovah 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 Jehovah.
6 Now when Joshua had sent the people away, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
7 And the people served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Jehovah that he had wrought for Israel.
8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah, died, being a hundred and ten years old.
9 And 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.
10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, that knew not Jehovah, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel.
11 And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and served the Baalim;
12 and they forsook Jehovah, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples that were round about them, and bowed themselves down unto them: and they provoked Jehovah to anger.
13 And they forsook Jehovah, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
14 And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that despoiled 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 Jehovah was against them for evil, as Jehovah had spoken, and as Jehovah had sworn unto them: and they were sore distressed.
16 And Jehovah raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those that despoiled them.
17 And yet they hearkened not unto their judges; for they played the harlot after other gods, and bowed themselves down unto them: they turned aside quickly out of the way wherein their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Jehovah; but they did not so.
18 And when Jehovah raised them up judges, then Jehovah was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented Jehovah because of their groaning by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
19 But it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their doings, nor from their stubborn way.
20 And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel; and he said, Because this nation have 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 that Joshua left when he died;
22 that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Jehovah to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
23 So Jehovah left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
Summary
Yahweh's angel comes up from Gilgal to Bochim and confronts Israel with their broken covenant: God brought them out of Egypt and swore never to break his covenant, yet they have made peace with the land's inhabitants and failed to tear down their altars. Therefore, the angel announces, God will not drive these nations out, and their gods will be a snare. The people weep and sacrifice, naming the place Bochim, which means weeping. Then the narrator steps back to interpret the whole era. Joshua's generation served Yahweh, having seen his great works, but after them arose a generation who did not know Yahweh nor what he had done for Israel. They forsook the Lord, served the Baals and Ashtaroth, and provoked him to anger, so he handed them over to plunderers. In mercy God raised up judges to save them, and he was with each judge; yet as soon as the judge died the people turned back, more corrupt than before. Here the book hands us the pattern that will repeat for chapters: sin, oppression, crying out, rescue, and relapse—a cycle that exposes how desperately Israel needs a Deliverer who will not die.
Main Characters
- Yahweh's angel — The messenger who comes from Gilgal to Bochim to remind Israel of the covenant they have broken and to announce its consequences.
- The new generation — Those who arose after Joshua and did not know Yahweh nor the work he had done for Israel, turning quickly to the Baals.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The covenant God who is provoked by Israel's idolatry yet, moved by their groaning, repeatedly raises up judges to save them.
- The judges — The deliverers Yahweh raised up and stood with, who saved Israel from their oppressors for as long as they lived.
Key Verse
Judges 2:18 (WEB)
When Yahweh raised them up judges, then Yahweh was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it grieved Yahweh because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and troubled them.
Lessons Learned
- Faith is not inherited automatically; each generation must come to know the Lord for itself.
- Forgetting what God has done is the first step toward forsaking the God who did it.
- God disciplines his people, yet his heart is moved by their groaning to send help again and again.
- Every human deliverer dies, and the cycle resumes; only an undying Savior can finally break it.
- God keeps covenant even when we break it. The angel recalls God's vow, “I will never break my covenant with you” (Judges 2:1, WEB), even as Israel forfeits its blessings.
- Knowing God must be passed on. A generation arose “who didn’t know Yahweh, nor yet the work which he had worked for Israel” (Judges 2:10, WEB). What is not taught is soon lost.
- God is moved by our misery. “It grieved Yahweh because of their groaning” (Judges 2:18, WEB). His compassion, not their merit, prompts each rescue.
- Human saviors cannot finally save. “When the judge was dead, they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers” (Judges 2:19, WEB). The pattern itself cries out for a greater Deliverer.
- What charge does the angel bring against Israel at Bochim, and why is their weeping not the same as true repentance?
- How could a whole generation arise that “didn’t know Yahweh” (2:10) so soon after his mighty works? What does this warn us about?
- Trace the stages of the cycle described in verses 11-19. Where do you see God's justice and where do you see his mercy?
- Verse 18 says it “grieved Yahweh” because of Israel's groaning. What does this reveal about God's heart toward suffering people?
- The judges all eventually die and the people relapse. How does this longing for a Savior who will not die point us to Jesus?
- The angel charges Israel with disobeying God's voice by sparing the land's inhabitants and their altars (2:1-3). The people weep, but their tears at Bochim do not become lasting change; the very next verses show them turning to the Baals. Distinguish for the group between emotion and true turning.
- The works of God were not faithfully handed down, so a generation grew up ignorant of him (2:10). It is a sober reminder that faith must be taught and lived before our children. Discuss practical ways we pass on the knowledge of God.
- The cycle runs: Israel sins and serves idols, God's anger gives them to enemies, they are distressed, God raises a judge and saves them, then they relapse worse than before (2:11-19). Justice falls in the oppression; mercy rises in every deliverer God sends.
- Yahweh is not coldly distant; their groaning grieves him and moves him to act (2:18). This anticipates the gospel, where God sees our helplessness and comes to save. Let the group rest in a God who is touched by our suffering.
- Each judge brings temporary relief, then dies, and Israel sinks lower (2:19). The repeating need exposes the limits of every mortal savior and stirs hope for one whose deliverance is permanent—fulfilled in the risen Christ who lives forever to save.