Judges 2:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 2:1-5

It was the privilege of Israel that they had not only a law in general sent them from heaven, once for all, to direct them into and keep them in the way of happiness, but that they had particular messages sent them from heaven, as there was occasion, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, when at any time they turned aside out of that way. Besides the written word which they had before them to read, they often heard a word behind them, saying, This is the way, Isa.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 2:1

And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim ,.... The Targum calls him a prophet F25 So Maimonides, Moreh Nevochim, par. 1. c. 15. & par. 2. c. 6. ; and the Jewish commentators in general interpret it of Phinehas F26 The Rabbins in Maimon. Moreh Nevochim, par. 2. c. 42. ; and that a man is meant is given into by others, because he is said to come from a certain place in Canaan, and not from heaven, and spoke in a public congregation, and is not said to disappear;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 2:2

And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land ,.... This the Lord charged them not to do, when he covenanted with them, and assured them of bringing them into the land; and yet they had done it, as some instances in the preceding chapter show, which were the occasion of the angel's coming to them to rebuke them, see Deuteronomy 7:2 , you shall throw down their altars ; this they aught to have done as soon as they were come into the land, and possessed of the places... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 2:3

Wherefore I also said ,.... Supposing, or on condition of their being guilty of the above things, which was foreseen they would: I will not drive them out from before you ; the seven nations of the Canaanites entirely, and which accounts for the various instances related in the preceding chapter; where it is observed, that they could not, or did not, drive the old inhabitants out of such and such places, because they sinned against the Lord, and he forsook them, and would not assist them... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 2:1

An angel of the Lord - In the preceding chapter we have a summary of several things which took place shortly after the death of Joshua; especially during the time in which the elders lived (that is, the men who were contemporary with Joshua, but survived him), and while the people continued faithful to the Lord. In this chapter, and some parts of the following, we have an account of the same people abandoned by their God and reduced to the heaviest calamities, because they had broken... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 2:3

I will not drive them out from before you - Their transgressions, and breach of the covenant, were the reasons why they were not put in entire possession of the promised land. See note at the end of this chapter, Judges 2:23 ; (note). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 2:1

The angel of the Lord (not an angel). - The phrase is used nearly 60 times to designate the Angel of God’s presence. See Genesis 12:7 note. In all cases where “the angel of the Lord” delivers a message, he does it as if God Himself were speaking, without the intervening words “Thus saith the Lord,” which are used in the case of prophets. (Compare Judges 6:8; Joshua 24:2.)When the host of Israel came up from Gilgal in the plain of Jericho, near the Jordan Joshua 4:19 to Shiloh and Shechem, in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 2:2

The two articles of the covenant here specified (compare margin references) are those which the Israelites had at this time broken. The other important prohibition Deuteronomy 7:3 is not specified by the Angel, and this is an indication that at the time the Angel spoke, intermarriages with the pagan spoken of Judges 3:6 had not taken place; and this again is another evidence of the early date of this occurrence. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 2:3

“Wherefore I also said” - Rather because ye have done the things mentioned in Judges 2:2, “I have now said (i. e. I now protest and declare) that I will not drive them out from before you” (compare Judges 19:29). And it was the annonncement of this resolution by the Angel that caused the people to weep.The word thorns in this verse is supplied by the King James Version from the similar passage in Joshua (see the marginal reference). Other versions adopt a different reading of the original text,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 2:1

Judges 2:1. An angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal This, no doubt, was the Angel of the covenant, the same divine being that appeared to Joshua near Jericho, Joshua 5:13-14; to whom the conduct of Israel out of Egypt into Canaan, and their conquests and success there, are frequently ascribed. He alone could speak the following words in his own name and person; whereas created angels and prophets universally usher in their message with, Thus saith the Lord, or some equivalent expression.... read more

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