Judges 2:16-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 2:6-23

The beginning of this paragraph is only a repetition of what account we had before of the people's good character during the government of Joshua, and of his death and burial (Josh. 24:29, 30), which comes in here again only to make way for the following account, which this chapter gives, of their degeneracy and apostasy. The angel had foretold that the Canaanites and their idols would be a snare to Israel; now the historian undertakes to show that they were so, and, that this may appear the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 2:16

Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges ,.... Who are particularly mentioned by name, and their exploits recorded, in some following chapters, and from whom the book in general has its name: these were men that God raised up in an extraordinary manner, and spirited and qualified for the work he had to do by them; which was to deliver the people of Israel out of the hands of their oppressors, and restore them to their privileges and liberties, and protect them in them, and administer justice... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 2:17

And yet they would not hearken unto their judges ,.... Afterwards, or not always; but when they admonished them of their sins, and advised them to walk in the good ways of God, and serve him only; they turned a deaf ear to them, and went on in their own ways, which is a sad aggravation of their iniquities: but they went a whoring after their gods, and bowed themselves unto them ; committing spiritual adultery, for such idolatry is, and is often so represented in Scripture; for by it they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 2:18

And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge ,.... Every one of them that he raised up; as he stirred up their spirits for such service, to judge his people, and qualified them for it, he assisted and strengthened them, and abode by them, and succeeded them in whatsoever they engaged for the welfare of the people; the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord was for the help of the judge:" and delivered them out of the hands of their enemies all the days of the judge ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 2:19

And it came to pass, when the judge was dead ,.... Any one of them, the first and so all succeeding ones: that they returned ; to their evil ways and idolatrous practices, from which they reformed, and for which they showed outward repentance during the life of the judge; but he dying, they returned again to them: and corrupted themselves more than their fathers ; in Egypt and in the wilderness; or rather than their fathers that lived in the generation after the death of Joshua;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 2:20

And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel ,.... As at first, so whenever they fell into idolatry; see Judges 2:14 , and he said, because this people have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers ; made at Sinai, in which they were enjoined to have no other gods before him: and have not hearkened to my voice ; in his commands, and particularly what related to his worship and against idolatry. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 2:21

I also henceforth will not drive out and from before them ,.... At least not as yet, not very soon nor hastily, as in Judges 2:23 , of the nations which Joshua left when he died ; that is, unsubdued; which was owing either to the infirmities of old age coming upon him, which made him incapable of engaging further in war with the Canaanites; or to the sloth and indolence of the people, being weary of war, and not caring to prosecute it; or to want of men to cultivate any more land, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 2:22

That through them I may prove Israel ,.... Afflict them by them, and so prove or try them, their faith and patience, which are tried by afflictions; and such were the Canaanites to them, as afflictions and temptations are to the spiritual Israel of God; or rather, whether they would keep in the ways of God, or walk in those the Canaanites did, as follows: whether they will keep the way of the Lord, as their fathers did keep it , or not ; whether they would worship the true God their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 2:23

Therefore the Lord left these nations, without driving them out hastily ,.... Left them unsubdued, or suffered them to continue among the Israelites, and did not drive them out as he could have done; which was permitted, either that it might be seen and known whether Israel would give into the idolatry of these nations or not, Judges 2:22 ; of which there could have been no trial, if they and their idols had been utterly destroyed; or because the children of Israel had transgressed the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 2:16

The Lord raised up judges - That is, leaders, generals, and governors, raised up by an especial appointment of the Lord, to deliver them from, and avenge them on, their adversaries. See the preface. read more

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