---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Judges 2"
description: "CHAPTER 2   :-. 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 authoritat"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/judges/2"
---

CHAPTER 2

. 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 ([Exodus 23:20](../../../kjv/exodus/23/20);
[Joshua 5:14](../../../kjv/joshua/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 [[Joshua 5:14](../../../kjv/joshua/5/14)]; 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 . 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.
. 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 [], 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" ().

**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 [], 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.

**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.

**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 [], 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.

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