Judges 2

Judges 2:1

AN angel] Some take it for a messenger, or some prophet sent by God, which they think to be Phine has; but the sequell, as others think, sheweth, That he was the angel of the covenant, Jesus Christ, who before appeared to Joshua, Joshua 5:9. seeing he attributeth unto himself the works of God, vers. 1, 2, 3. See Judg. 6. 11, 12.

from Glgal] Where first he appeared to Joshua.

Bochim] So called by anticipation, from the weeping of the people there, vers. .

Judges 2:3

not drive them] 1: e. The Canaanites.

thorns] See Numbers 33:55.

snares] To intangle you to your perdition in their idolatry, by keeping them company. See Exodus 23:33. and Exodus 34:12. Joshua 23:13.

Judges 2:5

sacrificed there] To wit, in Shiloh, which was neer Bochim.

Judges 2:6

And when Joshua] In this verse, to the seventh of the third Chapter, he summaily setteth down the causes why God inflicted his judgements upon the Israelites, and would not drive out the Canaanites from before them, namely, their neglect of Gods commands, idolatry, and back-sliding. These words to the tenth verse, are repeated out of the 24th, 5: 28. of Joshua, and here inserted, to clear the way to the ensuing story.

Judges 2:9

Timmath-heres] So called from the idolatry in that place, committed to the sun. It is called Timnath-Serah by a transposition of letters, Joshua 24:30.

Judges 2:10

knew not the Lord] To wit, by his miraculous works, of which, they were not eye-witnesses, as their fathers were, nor had any holy impression of them in their hearts, by thei relation.

Judges 2:11

did evill] By committing idolatry, the greatest evill in Gods sight.

Baalim] Baal signifieth lord, and was a name generally used with idolaters, for all their gods and goddesses; which being many, they used to distinguish them one from another, by some addition; as Baal-berith. Judges 8:33. Baal-por, Numbers 25:3. Baal-zebub, 2 Kings 1:6. The Israelites thought their worship lawfull, because they worshipped the true God in these idols, Hosea 2:16. So Exod. 2. 4, 5.

Judges 2:13

Asharth] The Heathens called this idoll Astartz, which they worshipped in the female sex, and the Philistims, and Sidonians, under the form of a sheep. See 1 Samuel 31:10. 1 King. 11. 5, 33. And under this, some think they worshipped Venus, or Piana, or the Moon.

Judges 2:14

he sold them] 1: e. Gave them over, as the seller the things sold into the hands of the buyer. So Chapter 4, 9. Psal. 44. 12 13. Isaiah 50:1. Or as they use to sell captives taken in war for slaves.

Judges 2:15

for evill] 1: e. To crosse them in all their enterprises, and to bring upon them all mischiefs and miseries threatned, Lev. 26. and Deut. 28.

Judges 2:16

raised up] Not in an ordinary way, but by the singular motion of his spirit, not for a setled course of government, but for speciall uses upon extraordinary occasion, whom God fitted for this service, by enduing them with Heroicall and extraordinary gifts and vertues. See Chap. 3. 9, 10. and 8. 23.

Judges 2:17

a whoring] 1: e. Defiled themselves with spirituall whoredom, to wit, idolatry with false gods.

Judges 2:18

it repented] 1: e. He altered his course, from executing judgement, to shewing mercy, upon their turning from their sins. See Genesis 6:6.

Judges 2:19

then their fathers] To wit, either in Egypt, or in the wildernesse.

ceased not] They desisted not from their wicked practices.

stubborn way] 1: e. In which they stubbornly walked and persisted.

Judges 2:21

Joshua left] 1: e. Unconquered and unexpelled, Joshua 23:13. besides those which after his death were subdued, as Chap. 1.

Judges 2:22

prove Israel] And now punish them, being disallowed in the tryall, as was threatned. Joshua 23:13. See Genesis 22:1. 2 Chro. 32. 31.