Judges 2:2

And 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?

And ye shall make {H3772} no league {H1285} with the inhabitants {H3427} of this land {H776}; ye shall throw down {H5422} their altars {H4196}: but ye have not obeyed {H8085} my voice {H6963}: why have ye done {H6213} this?

you, for your part, are not to make any covenant with the inhabitants of this land but must tear down their altars.' However, you have paid no attention to what I said. What is this you have done?

and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.’ Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done?

and ye shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall break down their altars. But ye have not hearkened unto my voice: why have ye done this?

Commentary

Context of Judges 2:2

This verse delivers a powerful rebuke from the Angel of the Lord (or the Lord Himself) to the Israelites at Bochim, following their partial conquest of Canaan. It directly recalls God's foundational commands given to their fathers through Moses before and during their entry into the Promised Land. The divine instruction was clear: Israel was to utterly dispossess the native inhabitants and destroy all vestiges of their pagan worship to prevent spiritual contamination. This command was crucial for Israel's unique identity as God's chosen people, set apart to worship Him alone.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Command and Covenant Fidelity: The verse highlights the explicit instructions given by God concerning the Canaanites. Israel was forbidden from making "league" (Hebrew: berith, meaning a covenant or treaty) with them, and commanded to "throw down their altars." This was a test of their faithfulness to the covenant God had made with them.
  • Disobedience and Its Consequences: The stark declaration, "but ye have not obeyed my voice," reveals Israel's profound failure. This disobedience was not merely neglect but an active choice that would have severe repercussions, setting the stage for the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, and deliverance seen throughout the Book of Judges.
  • Idolatry and Spiritual Purity: The command to destroy pagan altars underscores God's absolute intolerance for idolatry. These altars were centers of worship for false gods, often involving immoral practices. By failing to dismantle them, Israel left open a door for spiritual corruption and syncretism, where the worship of Yahweh would become mixed with pagan practices.
  • God's Disappointment and Challenge: The rhetorical question, "why have ye done this?", conveys God's deep disappointment and perhaps even grief over His people's actions. It's a direct challenge to their rationale, implying there was no justifiable reason for their rebellion against His clear will.

Linguistic Insights

The term "league" (Hebrew: berith) is significant. It refers to a solemn agreement or treaty, often accompanied by oaths and rituals. God's prohibition against such alliances with the Canaanites was not just about political separation but fundamentally about preventing spiritual compromise and intermarriage, which would inevitably lead to idolatry (see Exodus 34:15-16 and Deuteronomy 7:2). The "altars" represented the very heart of pagan worship, and their destruction was essential for Israel's spiritual integrity.

Practical Application

Judges 2:2 serves as a timeless warning for believers today. Just as ancient Israel was called to be distinct from the surrounding pagan cultures, followers of Christ are called to be "in the world but not of the world". We must examine our own lives for "leagues" or compromises with worldly values that contradict God's Word. This includes identifying and "throwing down" the "altars" of modern idolatry in our lives—anything that takes precedence over God, such as materialism, self-worship, or reliance on human wisdom over divine truth. Obedience to God's commands, even when difficult, is paramount for spiritual vitality and avoiding the negative consequences of spiritual compromise.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 7:2 (4 votes)

    And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

  • Deuteronomy 7:4 (4 votes)

    For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

  • Jeremiah 2:36 (3 votes)

    Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

  • Jeremiah 2:5 (3 votes)

    Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

  • Ezra 9:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

  • Ezra 9:3 (2 votes)

    And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

  • Deuteronomy 7:16 (2 votes)

    And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee.