Judges 2:1

THE NATION REBUKED, Judges 2:1-5.

1. Angel of the Lord This was not an inspired human messenger, because, (1) The name of such was usually prophet, or man of God; (2) The expression, angel of Jehovah, is never, in ordinary historical narrative, descriptive of a mere human being; (3) He speaks with a superhuman authority, and lays claim to the acts of Jehovah himself. He assumes to be the same Angel who led the Israelites from Egypt and went before them in the desert journey. Compare Exodus 23:20-25. We have here, therefore, an undoubted theophany. The occasion, the critical condition of the chosen nation, was worthy of such a manifestation of God. Godlike are his words.

Gilgal The first place of encampment in the Jordan valley, where this same angel appeared to Joshua and announced himself as captain of Jehovah’s host. Joshua 5:14, note. There the angel announced the capture of Jericho, and prepared Joshua for the work of conquest. Now he comes again comes to rebuke the nation for their disobedience, and warn them of the certain punishment that shall follow their lack of faith. The words, came up from Gilgal, indicate that, in the mind of the sacred writer, this Angel was conceived of as having long lingered at the sacred spot of the old camp where he last revealed himself, and now comes from that spot to speak again to Israel. So in Judges 5:4, Jehovah is conceived of as marching out of Mount Seir and the fields of Edom, in the fearful thunder-storm that ruined the army of Sisera. See notes there. So in Judges 6:11, the Angel of the Lord “came and sat under an oak.” So, too, in Genesis 18:16; Genesis 18:22; Genesis 18:33, the three angels, one of whom was called Jehovah, passed from Mamre to Sodom.

Bochim The weepers; so called from the great weeping that occurred here when the people had heard the reproving words of the angel. Compare Judges 2:4-5. It is impossible to identify this place, though it seems to have been in the vicinity of Shiloh, where the tabernacle then was, since all Israel were wont to assemble there. Fuerst suggests that it is identical with Allon-bacuth, the oak of weeping, beneath which Deborah was buried. Genesis 35:8.

I made you to go up out of Egypt No human being, not even Moses, could have used this language; nor could any angel, save the Angel of the Covenant, Jehovah of the Old Testament, (Isaiah 63:9,) and Jesus of the New. Malachi 3:1.

Which I sware Promised in connexion with the solemn covenant with Abraham, (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 17:7-8,) and in substance repeated to Jacob and Moses.

I will never break Jehovah will assuredly meet his part of the covenant, so that if there is any failure in its perfect fulfilment it must be the fault of Israel, not of God.