Israel Fails and Judges Rise

Dei Break

Judges 2:1 – 3:31

"The angel of the Lord" is the pre-incarnate Christ. Here He explains that the enemy nations surrounding Israel would stay in the land because of Israel's disobedience.

Verse 10 says that a new generation has now become Israel. Those who entered the land under Joshua have passed away. There were numerous Baals (false gods) in Canaan and the new generation would fall under the spell of them all. "Baal" could also mean husband which fits well with Israel's later comparison to a "harlot" or "unfaithful wife" to God.

Having rebelled against God and ended up subjugated by neighboring nation, Israel would cry to God, who would raise up a judge to rescue Israel, but according to verse 19 as soon as good times returned and the judge died, the cycle described in the introduction to Judges 1 began again, spiraling even deeper into sin.

At least 146 years is covered in this chapter, including peaceful years and two periods of domination. In our own nation, only 90 years separated the Declaration of Independence and the end of the Civil War.

Israel had fallen into the trap foretold by Moses and Joshua. The surrounding nations that had not been destroyed now moved to dominate Israel in two ways: First by marrying into Israel and peacefully introducing pagan cultures to the people (3:6) and second through military strength (vs.8). Both were working well.

In response to Israel's cries for help in their weakness, God began sending a succession of leaders whom He raised up in response to various enemies. Ehud, for instance, defeated the king of the Moabites, distant cousins of Israel descended from the daughters of Lot, Abraham's nephew. The Moabites, Ammonites, and Amalekites were the first enemies confronted after leaving Egypt decades before.

It would appear that a judge's charisma or the strength of the defeated enemy may have influenced the nation's memories. Ehud's assassination of King Eglon of Moab is written in detail, while Shamgar's work includes only one verse.

Next time: Who were the Judges and the Kings?