📖 Judges — Chapter 2 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Judges 2:1 RAnd an Tangel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
Judges 2:2 RAnd ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
Judges 2:3 Wherefore RI also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
Judges 2:4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that Rthe people lifted up their voice, and wept.
Judges 2:5 And they called the name of that place RTBochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
Judges 2:6 And when RJoshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
Judges 2:7 And Rthe people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that Toutlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
Judges 2:8 And RJoshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
Judges 2:9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in TTimnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
Judges 2:10 And also all that generation were Rgathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
Judges 2:11 And the children of Israel Rdid evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
Judges 2:12 And they Rforsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
Judges 2:13 And they forsook the LORD, and Rserved Baal and Ashtaroth.
Judges 2:14 And Rthe anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
Judges 2:15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was Ragainst them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
Judges 2:16 Nevertheless Rthe LORD raised up judges, which Tdelivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
Judges 2:17 And yet Rthey would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.
Judges 2:18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, Rthen the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
Judges 2:19 And it came to pass, Rwhen the judge was dead, that they returned, and Tcorrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they Tceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
Judges 2:20 And Rthe anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
Judges 2:21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
Judges 2:22 That Rthrough them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
Judges 2:23 Therefore the LORD Tleft those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 2:1–5 — A warning at Bochim
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The angel of the LORD recalls God's covenant faithfulness and confronts Israel's disobedience. The remaining peoples and their gods will become a snare. The people weep and sacrifice, but the rest of the book tests whether sorrow leads to lasting faithfulness.
Key Truth: Sorrow over disobedience should lead to a changed response to God's word.
Check What You Remember
1. From where did the angel come? (Judges 2:1)
Find it in Judges 2:1 (KJV).
2. What were the people commanded to throw down? (Judges 2:2)
Find it in Judges 2:2 (KJV).
3. What name was given to the place of weeping? (Judges 2:5)
Find it in Judges 2:5 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 2:6–15 — A generation forgets the LORD
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
After recalling Joshua's death, the account describes a generation that does not know the LORD or his works for Israel. Worship of Baal and Ashtaroth replaces covenant loyalty, and Israel falls into distress before its enemies.
Key Truth: Knowing the history of God's works matters for the next generation's faithfulness.
Check What You Remember
1. How old was Joshua when he died? (Judges 2:8)
Find it in Judges 2:8 (KJV).
2. What had the new generation not known, besides the LORD? (Judges 2:10)
Find it in Judges 2:10 (KJV).
3. Which goddess is named alongside Baal? (Judges 2:13)
Find it in Judges 2:13 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 2:16–23 — Deliverance and repeated relapse
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
God raises judges in compassion for oppressed Israel. Yet the people return to worse corruption after each judge dies. The remaining nations become a test of whether Israel will walk in the LORD's way.
Key Truth: Deliverance does not remove the need for sustained obedience.
Check What You Remember
1. Whom did the LORD raise up to deliver Israel? (Judges 2:16)
Find it in Judges 2:16 (KJV).
2. When did the people return to greater corruption? (Judges 2:19)
Find it in Judges 2:19 (KJV).
3. What relationship had Israel transgressed? (Judges 2:20)
Find it in Judges 2:20 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Deuteronomy 6:7 — Teaching the next generation is part of Israel's covenant responsibility.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What would help you remember and pass on what God has done, rather than relying only on another person's faithfulness?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What contrast forms the angel’s rebuke?
2. What consequence is announced concerning the remaining inhabitants and their gods?
3. How is the generation after Joshua’s elders distinguished?
4. What pattern follows a judge’s death?
5. What purpose is stated for leaving the nations?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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