Judges 2

1 Now the angel [messenger, representative] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] went up [ascended, rose] from Gilgal [a region in Palestine, a wheel or rolling] to Bochim [a place of weeping, near Gilgal or Bethel] and said, “I brought you up [led you out, guided you] out of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] and led you into the land [the soil, ground, or territory] that I had promised [sworn, vowed] to your fathers [ancestors, forefathers], and I said, ‘I will never [not, under no circumstances] break [split, violate] My covenant [promise, agreement, treaty] with you [in a close relationship, near to you], word study 2 and you [as individuals, personally] are not to make [form, establish, or ratify] a covenant [promise, agreement, or treaty] with the people of this land [the inhabitants, residents, or dwellers], but you shall tear down [destroy, demolish, or overthrow] their altars [places of sacrifice, worship, or idolatry].’ Yet you have not obeyed [listened to, heeded, or followed] My voice [command, instruction, or word]. What [thing, matter, or issue] is this [action, deed, or decision] you have done [performed, accomplished, or carried out]? word study 3 So now I tell you that I will not [refuse to, utterly decline to] drive out these people [nations, enemies] before you; they will be [like, as] thorns [sharp points of pain, troublesome] in your sides [flanks, areas of vulnerability], and their gods [idols, false deities, Elohim] will be a snare [trap, source of entanglement] to you [leading you astray, causing you to stumble].” word study 4 When the angel [messenger] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had spoken these words [Chronicles, a matter or affair] to all [every single one] the Israelites [descendants of Jacob], the people [a nation or tribe] lifted up their voices [a sound or cry] and wept [to cry or shed tears, often in grief]. word study 5 So they called [named, invoked] that place [location, region] Bochim [weeping, tears] and offered [presented, sacrificed] sacrifices [offerings, gifts] there [in that location, at that time] to the LORD [Yehovah]. word study 6 After Joshua [the leader, Yahweh is salvation] had dismissed [sent away, let go] the people [nation, community], the Israelites [descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen] went out [to walk, to journey] to take possession [to occupy, to inherit] of the land [earth, territory], each [every man, individually] to his own inheritance [property, heritage] [passed down, allotted to them]. word study 7 And the people [a nation, Israel] served [worshiped, obeyed] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] throughout the days [all the time, continually] of Joshua [a leader, helper] and of the elders [old, experienced men] who outlived [prolonged their days after] him, who had seen [experienced, witnessed] all the great [mighty, powerful] works [deeds, actions] that the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] had done [accomplished, performed] for Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 8 And Joshua [Yahweh’s servant, a leader] son of Nun, the servant [or slave, devoted one] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], died [passed away, came to the end of his life] at the age of 110 [a hundred and ten years old, a full life]. word study 9 They buried [laid to rest, interred] him in the land [territory, possession] of his inheritance [portion, heritage], at Timnath-heres [Timnath-serah, portion of the sun] in the hill country [mountainous region] of Ephraim [doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph’s son], north [on the north side, towards the north] of Mount Gaash [a hill in Palestine, meaning quaking or shaking]. word study 10 After that whole [entire, complete] generation [period of time, group of people] had also [too, even] been gathered [brought together, collected] to their fathers [ancestors, heritage], another [different, next] generation [group of people, era] rose up [stood up, arose] who did not know [were unaware of, had no knowledge of] the LORD [Yehovah, God] or [nor, neither] the works [deeds, actions] that He had done [accomplished, performed] for Israel [God’s chosen people, the descendants of Jacob]. word study 11 And the Israelites [children of Israel, descendants of Jacob] did evil [what was morally wrong, bad] in the sight [eye, presence] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] and served [worshiped, became slaves to] the Baals [false gods, Phoenician deities]. word study 12 Thus they forsook [abandoned, turned away from] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme deity] of their fathers [ancestors, forefathers], who had brought them out of the land [country, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa], and they followed after [pursued, went behind] various [other, different] gods [deities, idolatrous objects of worship] of the peoples [nations, tribes] around them [surrounding, neighboring]. They bowed down [prostrated themselves, worshiped] to them and provoked [angered, offended] the LORD [Yehovah, the God of Israel] to anger [wrath, indignation], word study 13 for they forsook [abandoned, turned away from] Him [Yehovah] and served [worshiped, became slaves to] Baal [the Phoenician deity, a false god] and the Ashtoreths [Ashtaroth, the Sidonian goddess, associated with stars]. word study 14 Then the anger [burning fury, intense wrath] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] burned [was kindled, ignited] against Israel [the chosen people, descendants of Jacob], and He delivered [handed over, gave] them into the hands [power, control] of those who plundered [spoiled, despoiled] them. He sold [gave, surrendered] them into the hands [power, authority] of their enemies [adversaries, foes] all around [surrounding, encompassing], whom they were no longer able [had no power, were unable] to resist [stand against, withstand]. word study 15 Wherever Israel marched out [whithersoever they went], the hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] was against them [for evil] to bring calamity [adversity, affliction], just as He had sworn [made a promise or vow] to them [as the Lord had spoken, and as He had vowed]. So they were greatly [exceedingly, very] distressed [in a tight spot, narrow or cramped]. word study 16 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] raised up [stood up, established] judges [to govern, vindicate], who saved [delivered, rescued] them from the hands [power, direction] of those who plundered [spoiled, despoiled] them. word study 17 Israel, however, did not listen [refused to hear, disobeyed] to their judges [leaders, rulers]. Instead, they prostituted [committed fornication, went a whoring] themselves with other gods [idols, false deities] and bowed down [worshiped, gave reverence] to them. They quickly [hastily, with urgency] turned from the way [path, manner of life] of their fathers [ancestors, forefathers], who had walked [lived, conducted themselves] in obedience [faithfulness, loyalty] to the LORD’s [Yehovah, the supreme God] commandments [laws, instructions]; they did not do [failed to obey, neglected] as their fathers [ancestors, predecessors] had done [lived, acted]. word study 18 Whenever the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] raised up [established, appointed] a judge [leader, ruler, one who governs with justice] for the Israelites, He was with [accompanied, supported] that judge and saved [rescued, delivered] them from the hands [power, control] of their enemies [adversaries, those who oppose] while the judge was still alive [during their lifetime, as long as they lived]; for the LORD was moved to pity [felt compassion, had mercy] by their groaning [deep sighs, expressions of sorrow] under those who oppressed [treated cruelly, exploited] them and afflicted [caused them pain, troubled] them. word study 19 But when the judge [leader, ruler] died, the Israelites became even more corrupt [ruined, destroyed] than their fathers [ancestors, forefathers], going after other [different, foreign] gods [Elohim, divine beings] to serve [worship, obey] them and bow down [prostrate themselves, worship] to them. They would not give up [cease, abandon] their evil [wicked, sinful] practices [deeds, actions] and stubborn [hard-hearted, rebellious] ways [paths, lifestyles]. word study 20 So the anger [wrath, fierce indignation] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] burned [was kindled, ignited] against Israel [the descendants of Jacob], and He said, “Because [since, for the reason that] this nation [people, Gentile] has transgressed [broken, disobeyed] the covenant [promise, agreement] I laid down [commanded, ordained] for their fathers [ancestors, forefathers] and has not heeded [listened to, obeyed] My voice [sound, word], word study 21 I [also, even] will no longer [from now on, henceforth] drive out [dispossess, expel] before them any of the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples] Joshua [the leader who succeeded Moses] left [forsaken, abandoned] when he died [passed away, came to an end]. word study 22 In this way [to prove their faithfulness] I will test [try, examine, or prove] whether Israel [the descendants of Jacob] will keep [obey, guard, or protect] the way [path, journey, or manner of life] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] by walking [living, journeying, or following] in it as their fathers [ancestors, forefathers, or predecessors] did [kept, obeyed, or followed].” word study 23 That is why the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had left [allowed to remain, did not drive out] those nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples] in place and had not driven them out [dispossessed, expelled] immediately [hastily, without delay] by delivering them into the hand [power, control] of Joshua [leader, successor of Moses]. word study