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| 1 And the messenger of Yahweh came up from Gilgal, unto Bochim. And he said–I led you up out of Egypt, and brought you into the land, which I had sworn unto your fathers, And I said, I will not break my covenant with you, to times age-abiding; |
Never break my covenant – The centuries since have shown the persistency of God's mercy. R5598:6
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| 2 But, ye, must not solemnise a covenant with the inhabitants of this land, Their altars, must ye tear down,–But ye have not hearkened unto my voice, what is this ye have done? |
No league – The Lord's people should make no truce with their fleshly weaknesses. R5598:2
Truces with the flesh mean that love for the Lord has gradually cooled. R5646:1
The Inhabitants – Corresponds to the perverted appetites of the flesh, earthly hopes and ambitions, oppositions to the Lord and righteousness. R5598:2
Altars – Passion, avarice. R5598:2
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| 3 Wherefore also I said, I will not drive them out from before you,–but they shall be your adversaries, and, their gods, shall become unto you a snare. |
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| 4 And it came to pass, when the messenger of Yahweh had spoken these words unto all the sons of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. |
And wept – The New Creature cries to the Lord for deliverance. R5598:2
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| 5 So they called the name of that place, Bochim, and offered sacrifice there, unto Yahweh. |
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| 6 Now, when Joshua had let the people go, the sons of Israel went their way, every man to his inheritance, to take possession of the land. |
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| 7 And the people served Yahweh all the days of Joshua,–and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Yahweh which he had wrought for Israel. |
Served the LORD – Things went well with the Israelites because their leaders realized the importance of being on the Lord's side. R5598:4
The days of – Covering a break between the division of the land and the first recorded period of eight years. (Jud. 3:8) HG45:4
The elders – The elders who had witnessed God's miraculous interposition were the judges of Israel. R5645:2, R3102:2, R4192:3
So spiritual Israelites of every congregation are to select fit men for services needed. R5645:5
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| 8 So then Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died,–being a hundred and ten years old. |
Joshua – The first judge. R3102:2; PD38/48
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| 9 And they buried him within the bounds of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim,–on the north of Mount Gaash. |
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| 10 All that generation also, were gathered unto their fathers,–and there arose another generation, after them, who had not known Yahweh, nor even the work which he had wrought for Israel. |
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| 11 So the sons of Israel did the thing that was wicked in the sight of Yahweh,–and served the Baals; |
Children of Israel – Many of them, not all. R5646:2, R3102:6
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| 12 and forsook Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, and went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were round about them, and bowed themselves down unto them,–and angered Yahweh. |
Other gods – Represented by idols. R5598:4
Christians have made idols, not of stone, wood or bronze; but more hideous misrepresentations of the divine character--our printed creeds. R5598:5
Gods of the people – Typifying forms of godliness taking the place of true heart-worship, reverence. R5598:5
Bowed themselves – The idols would appear to be an excellent way of keeping religion before the mind, but it was not God's way. R5598:4
False religions appealed to the baser passions, combining a form of godliness with gratification of the flesh, dancings, etc. R5598:5
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| 13 Yea, they forsook Yahweh,–and did service unto the Baal and unto Ashtaroth. |
Baal – Signifying overseer, caretaker. R5627:2
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| 14 Then kindled the anger of Yahweh upon Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of spoilers, who plundered them,–and he sold them into the hand of their enemies round about, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. |
Anger of the LORD – Not that the period of the judges was basically idolatrous, the record passes by the happy periods of Israel's prosperity. So, reading today's newspapers would give only a bleak picture of our day. R5645:6
The Lord's displeasure does not delay until one goes fully into idolatry, but reproves early to correct. R5646:2
He delivered them – Chastisements are evidences of special care, protection and relationship. R5646:2
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| 15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of Yahweh was found to be against them for misfortune, as spake Yahweh, and as sware Yahweh unto them,–and they were distressed exceedingly. |
Hand of the LORD – His divine power. SM623:1
Evil – Ra, signifying calamity, not sin. R1350:2
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| 16 And, though Yahweh raised up judges,–who saved them out of the hand of them that plundered them, |
Raised up – Divinely appointed. R5645:2
To deliver and bless the people, not to condemn and punish them. R1869:3
Picturing God's dealing with spiritual Israel during this Gospel age, raising up special counselors, deliverers, ministers. R5645:3, R3102:2
Judges – Deliverers. R5598:6
Israel's government was a republic under divine autocracy and law supervision. R4192:3
Not a republic in the present day understanding of that term. R3216:3
Covering a period of 450 years. (Acts 13:20) B49
Israel's spiritual interests were more advanced under judges than kings. Centralization does not always mean greater blessings, but less individuality and personal progress. R4201:4 God's representatives. R4192:6
Pre-figured resurrected Ancient Worthies. R4201:4
"I will restore thy judges as at the first." (Isa. 1:26) R5645:6
Typical of the world's eventual rule--heavenly wisdom directing incorruptible earthly judges communicating and enforcing divine law. R5646:5
The office in which Jesus comes to judge the world in righteousness. R1869:3
Which delivered them – Spiritual leaders of divine appointment will always be marked by spiritual victories. R5645:3
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| 17 yet, even unto their judges, did thy not hearken, for they went unchastely astray after other gods, and bowed themselves down to them,–they turned aside speedily out of the way wherein their fathers who hearkened unto the commandments of Yahweh, walked, they did not so. |
Their judges – This verse and its connections seem to indicate that verses 1-19 cover a long period of time of Israel's experiences, under many judges. R5598:5
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| 18 And, when Yahweh raised them up judges, then was Yahweh with the judges, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies, all the days of the judge,–for Yahweh was grieved at their outcry, because of them who oppressed them, and ill-treated them. |
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| 19 But, when the judge was dead, they again broke faith more than their fathers, by going their way after other gods, by serving them, and bowing themselves down to them,–they ceased not from their doings nor from their stubborn way. |
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| 20 So then the anger of Yahweh kindled upon Israel, and he said–Forasmuch as this nation have transgressed my covenant, which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice, |
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| 21 I also, will no further dispossess a man from before them,–from among the nations which Joshua left remaining, when he died; |
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| 22 that I may, by them, put Israel to the proof,–whether they are going to be observant of the way of Yahweh, to walk therein as their fathers observed it, or not. |
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| 23 Thus then Yahweh left these nations, not dispossessing them speedily,–neither had he delivered them into the hand of Joshua |
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