TRV
Translation
King James Version
And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
Complete Jewish Bible
The people served ADONAI throughout Y'hoshua's life and throughout the lives of all the older men who outlived Y'hoshua and who had seen all the great work of ADONAI which he had done for Isra'el.
Berean Standard Bible
And the people served the LORD throughout the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him, who had seen all the great works that the LORD had done for Israel.
American Standard Version
And the people served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Jehovah that he had wrought for Israel.
World English Bible Messianic
The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD that he had worked for Israel.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the people had serued the Lord al the dayes of Ioshua, and all the dayes of the Elders that outliued Ioshua, which had seene all the great works of the Lord that he did for Israel.
Young's Literal Translation
and the people serve Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who prolonged days after Joshua, who saw all the great work of Jehovah which He did to Israel.
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Commentary on Judges 2 verses 6–23
6 ¶ And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
10 And also all that generation were gathered 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.
11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
12 And they forsook 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.
13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
14 And the 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.
15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
17 And yet they 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.
18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then 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.
19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
20 And the 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;
21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
22 That through 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.
23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
The beginning of this paragraph is only a repetition of what account we had before of the people's good character during the government of Joshua, and of his death and burial (Jos 24:29, Jos 24:30), which comes in here again only to make way for the following account, which this chapter gives, of their degeneracy and apostasy. The angel had foretold that the Canaanites and their idols would be a snare to Israel; now the historian undertakes to show that they were so, and, that this may appear the more clear, he looks back a little, and takes notice, 1. Of their happy settlement in the land of Canaan. Joshua, having distributed this land among them, dismissed them to the quiet and comfortable possession of it (Jdg 2:6): He sent them away, not only every tribe, but every man to his inheritance, no doubt giving them his blessing. 2. Of their continuance in the faith and fear of God's holy name as long as Joshua lived, Jdg 2:7. As they went to their possessions with good resolutions to cleave to God, so they persisted for some time in these good resolutions, as long as they had good rulers that set them good examples, gave them good instructions, and reproved and restrained the corruptions that crept in among them, and as long as they had fresh in remembrance the great things God did for them when he brought them into Canaan: those that had seen these wonders had so much sense as to believe their own eyes, and so much reason as to serve that God who had appeared so gloriously on their behalf; but those that followed, because they had not seen, believed not. 3. Of the death and burial of Joshua, which gave a fatal stroke to the interests of religion among the people, Jdg 2:8, Jdg 2:9. Yet so much sense they had of their obligations to him that they did him honour at his death, and buried him in Timnath-heres; so it is called here, not, as in Joshua, Timnath-serah. Heres signifies the sun, a representation of which, some think, was set upon his sepulchre, and gave name to it, in remembrance of the sun's standing still at his word. So divers of the Jewish writers say; but I much question whether an image of the sun would be allowed to the honour of Joshua at that time, when, by reason of men's general proneness to worship the sun, it would be in danger of being abused to the dishonour of God. 4. Of the rising of a new generation, Jdg 2:10. All that generation in a few years wore off, their good instructions and examples died and were buried with them, and there arose another generation of Israelites who had so little sense of religion, and were in so little care about it, that, notwithstanding all the advantages of their education, one might truly say that they knew not the Lord, knew him not aright, knew him not as he had revealed himself, else they would not have forsaken him. They were so entirely devoted to the world, so intent upon the business of it or so indulgent of the flesh in ease and luxury, that they never minded the true God and his holy religion, and so were easily drawn aside to false gods and their abominable superstitions.
And so he comes to give us a general idea of the series of things in Israel during the time of the judges, the same repeated in the same order.
I. The people of Israel forsook the God of Israel, and gave that worship and honour to the dunghill deities of the Canaanites which was due to him alone. Be astonished, O heavens! at this, and wonder, O earth! Hath a nation, such a nation, so well fed, so well taught, changed its God, such a God, a God of infinite power, unspotted purity, inexhaustible goodness, and so very jealous of a competitor, for stocks and stones that could do neither good nor evil? Jer 2:11, Jer 2:12. Never was there such an instance of folly, ingratitude, and perfidiousness. Observe how it is described here, Jdg 2:11-13. In general, they did evil, nothing could be more evil, that is, more provoking to God, nor more prejudicial to themselves, and it was in the sight of the Lord; all evil is before him, but he takes special notice of the sin of having any other god. In particular, 1. They forsook the Lord (Jdg 2:12, and again Jdg 2:13); this was one of the two great evils they were guilty of, Jer 2:13. They had been joined to the Lord in covenant, but now they forsook him, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband. "They forsook the worship of the Lord," so the Chaldee: for those that forsake the worship of God do in effect forsake God himself. It aggravated this that he was the God of their fathers, so that they were born in his house, and therefore bound to serve him; and that he brought them out of the land of Egypt, he loosed their bonds, and upon that account also they were obliged to serve him. 2. When they forsook the only true God they did not turn atheists, nor were they such fools as to say, There is no God; but they followed other gods: so much remained of pure nature as to own a God, yet so much appeared of corrupt nature as to multiply gods, and take up with any, and to follow the fashion, not the rule, in religious worship. Israel had the honour of being a peculiar people and dignified above all others, and yet so false were they to their own privileges that they were fond of the gods of the people that were round about them. Baal and Ashtaroth, he-gods and she-gods; they made their court to sun and moon, Jupiter and Juno. Baalim signifies lords, and Ashtaroth blessed ones, both plural, for when they forsook Jehovah, who is one, they had gods many and lords many, as a luxuriant fancy pleased to multiply them. Whatever they took for their gods, they served them and bowed down to them, gave honour to them and begged favours from them.
II. The God of Israel was hereby provoked to anger, and delivered them up into the hand of their enemies, Jdg 2:14, Jdg 2:15. He was wroth with them, for he is a jealous God and true to the honour of his own name; and the way he took to punish them for their apostasy was to make those their tormentors whom they yielded to as their tempters. They made themselves as mean and miserable by forsaking God as they would have been great and happy if they had continued faithful to him. 1. The scale of victory turned against them. After they forsook God, whenever they took the sword in hand they were as sure to be beaten as before they had been sure to conquer. Formerly their enemies could not stand before them, but, wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was for them; when they began to cool in their religion, God suspended his favour, stopped the progress of their successes, and would not drive out their enemies any more (Jdg 2:3), only suffered them to keep their ground; but now, when they had quite revolted to idolatry, the war turned directly against them, and they could not any longer stand before their enemies. God would rather give the success to those that had never known nor owned him than to those that had done both, but had now deserted him. Wherever they went, they might perceive that God himself had turned to be their enemy, and fought against them, Isa 63:10. 2. The balance of power then turned against them of course. Whoever would might spoil them, whoever would might oppress them. God sold them into the hands of their enemies; not only he delivered them up freely, as we do that which we have sold, but he did it upon a valuable consideration, that he might get himself honour as a jealous God, who would not spare even his own peculiar people when they provoked him. He sold them as insolvent debtors are sold (Mat 18:25), by their sufferings to make some sort of reparation to his glory for the injury it sustained by their apostasy. Observe how their punishment, (1.) Answered what they had done. They served the gods of the nations that were round about them, even the meanest, and God made then serve the princes of the nations that were round about them, even the meanest. He that is company for every fool is justly made a fool of by every company. (2.) How it answered what God has spoken. The hand of heaven was thus turned against them, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn (Jdg 2:15), referring to the curse and death set before them in the covenant, with the blessing and life. Those that have found God true to his promises may thence infer that he will be as true to his threatenings.
III. The God of infinite mercy took pity on them in their distresses, though they had brought themselves into them by their own sin and folly, and wrought deliverance for them. Nevertheless, though their trouble was the punishment of their sin and the accomplishment of God's word, yet they were in process of time saved out of their trouble, Jdg 2:16-18. Here observe, 1. The inducement of their deliverance. It came purely from God's pity and tender compassion; the reason was fetched from within himself. It is not said, It repented them because of their iniquities (for it appears, Jdg 2:17, that many of them continued unreformed), but, It repented the Lord because of their groanings; though it is not so much the burden of sin as the burden of affliction that they are said to groan under. It is true they deserved to perish for ever under his curse, yet, this being the day of his patience and our probation, he does not stir up all his wrath. He might in justice have abandoned them, but he could not for pity do it. 2. The instruments of their deliverance. God did not send angels from heaven to rescue them, nor bring in any foreign power to their aid, but raised up judges from among themselves, as there was occasion, men to whom God gave extraordinary qualifications for, and calls to, that special service for which they were designed, which was to reform and deliver Israel, and whose great attempts he crowned with wonderful success: The Lord was with the judges when he raised them up, and so they became saviours. Observe, (1.) In the days of the greatest degeneracy and distress of the church there shall be some whom God will either find or make to redress its grievances and set things to rights. (2.) God must be acknowledged in the seasonable rising up of useful men for public service. He endues men with wisdom and courage, gives them hearts to act and venture. All that are in any way the blessings of their country must be looked upon as the gifts of God. (3.) Whom God calls he will own, and give them his presence; whom he raises up he will be with. (4.) The judges of a land are its saviours.
IV. The degenerate Israelites were not effectually and thoroughly reformed, no, not by their judges, Jdg 2:17-19. 1. Even while their judges were with them, and active in the work of reformation, there were those that would not hearken to their judges, but at that very time went a whoring after other gods, so mad were they upon their idols, and so obstinately bent to backslide. They had been espoused to God, but broke the marriage-covenant, and went a whoring after these gods. Idolatry is spiritual adultery, so vile, and base, and perfidious a thing is it, and so hardly are those reclaimed that are addicted to it. 2. Those that in the times of reformation began to amend yet turned quickly out of the way again, and became as bad as ever. The way they turned out of was that which their godly ancestors walked in, and set them out in; but they soon started from under the influence both of their fathers' good example and of their own good education. The wicked children of godly parents do so, and will therefore have a great deal to answer for. However, when the judge was dead, they looked upon the dam which checked the stream of their idolatry as removed, and then it flowed down again with so much the more fury, and the next age seemed to be rather the worse for the attempts that had been made towards reformation, Jdg 2:19. They corrupted themselves more than their fathers, strove to outdo them in multiplying strange gods and inventing profane and impious rites of worship, as it were in contradiction to their reformers. They ceased not from, or, as the word is, they would not let fall, any of their own doings, grew not ashamed of those idolatrous services that were most odious nor weary of those that were most barbarous, would not so much as diminish one step of their hard and stubborn way. Thus those that have forsaken the good ways of God, which they have once known and professed, commonly grow most daring and desperate in sin, and have their hearts most hardened.
V. God's just resolution hereupon was still to continue the rod over them, 1. Their sin was sparing the Canaanites, and this in contempt and violation of the covenant God had made with them and the commands he had given them, Jdg 2:20. 2. Their punishment was that the Canaanites were spared, and so they were beaten with their own rod. They were not all delivered into the hand of Joshua while he lived, Jdg 2:23. Our Lord Jesus, though he spoiled principalities and powers, yet did not complete his victory at first. We see not yet all things put under him; there are remains of Satan's interest in the church, as there were of the Canaanites in the land; but our Joshua lives for ever, and will in the great day perfect his conquest. After Joshua's death, little was done for a long time against the Canaanites: Israel indulged them, and grew familiar with them, and therefore God would not drive them out any more, Jdg 2:21. If they will have such inmates as these among them, let them take them, and see what will come of it. God chose their delusions, Isa 66:4. Thus men cherish and indulge their own corrupt appetites and passions, and, instead of mortifying them, make provision for them, and therefore God justly leaves them to themselves under the power of their sins, which will be their ruin. So shall their doom be; they themselves have decided it. These remnants of the Canaanites were left to prove Israel (Jdg 2:22), whether they would keep the way of the Lord or not; not that God might know them, but that they might know themselves. It was to try, (1.) Whether they could resist the temptations to idolatry which the Canaanites would lay before them. God had told them they could not, Deu 7:4. But they thought they could. "Well," said God, "I will try you;" and, upon trial, it was found that the tempters' charms were far too strong for them. God has told us how deceitful and desperately wicked our hearts are, but we are not willing to believe it till by making bold with temptation we find it too true by sad experience. (2.) Whether they would make a good use of the vexations which the remaining natives would give them, and the many troubles they would occasion them, and would thereby be convinced of sin and humbled for it, reformed, and driven to God and their duty, whether by continual alarms from them they would be kept in awe and made afraid of provoking God.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 6–23. Public domain.
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Origen of AlexandriaAD 253
HOMILIES ON JUDGES 1.4
It mentions “the days of the elders who knew all the works of the Lord.” Who is the person who “knows all the works of the Lord,” except the one who does them himself? For just as it was said that the sons of Eli were “sons of pestilence, having no knowledge of the Lord,” yet not meaning that these men who taught others were ignorant of the Lord, but rather that they behaved like those who did not know the Lord, so also in like manner is this statement to be understood that the elders “knew all the works of the Lord.” Moreover, it does not merely say that “they knew the works of the Lord” but specifies that “they knew every work of the Lord,” that is, that they knew the Lord’s work of justice and work of sanctification and patience and kindness and piety, for everything that comes from the commandments of God is called a “work of the Lord.” … Therefore, they are said to “know” the work of God who do his work. But that its customary use of “to know” and “not to know” may shine still more clearly from the authority of the Scriptures, observe how it is written elsewhere that “he who keeps the commandment,” it says, “will not know an evil word.” Can, therefore, one who keeps the commandments become one who does not know evil? He knows, of course, but “not know” is said of him because he is careful to avoid the evil. It is even said of the Lord and Savior himself that “he did not know sin,” certainly indicating in this case that to be ignorant of sin is equivalent to refraining from every sinful act. In this way, therefore, he is said to “know the works of the Lord” who performs “the works of the Lord,” whereas he who does not do the work of God is ignorant of the work of God.
Origen of AlexandriaAD 253
HOMILIES ON JUDGES 1.2
Who are these elders who either came with Joshua/Jesus or after him, if not the very apostles who illumined our hearts by their writings and precepts, even bringing a certain kind of “day” among us from that “true light” in which they were partakers? Whoever, therefore, is enlightened and instructed from the precepts of the apostles and is ordained according to the apostolic rules for the service of the Lord is the very person who is said to serve the Lord in the days of the elders who came after Jesus. Do you wish to see that the apostles also were the “light of the world,” just as the Savior “was the true light which illumines every person coming into the world”2? The Lord himself said to them, as it is written in the Gospel, “You are the light of the world.” But if the apostles are also the light of the world, then the “days” in which “we serve the Lord” undoubtedly illuminate us through their precepts and commandments.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Judges 2:7 serves as a poignant summary of a fleeting period of national faithfulness in Israel's early history within the Promised Land. It meticulously describes the generation that, under the direct influence of Joshua and the elders who outlived him, remained steadfast in their devoted service to the LORD. This remarkable loyalty was not abstract, but deeply rooted in their personal, undeniable eyewitness experience of God's mighty acts of deliverance, provision, and conquest on behalf of Israel. The verse thus encapsulates a golden age of covenantal obedience, standing in stark and tragic contrast to the subsequent spiritual decline that would plunge Israel into the cyclical patterns of apostasy, oppression, and partial repentance chronicled throughout the remainder of the Book of Judges.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Judges 2:7 employs several significant literary devices that enrich its meaning and underscore its narrative function. Summary is prominently evident as the verse masterfully condenses a significant historical period of approximately twenty to thirty years (the remainder of Joshua's life and the lives of the elders) into a single, concise statement, providing a retrospective overview of Israel's initial, albeit temporary, faithfulness. Contrast is subtly but powerfully established, as this verse sets up a clear and tragic distinction between this faithful generation and the apostate generation described immediately afterward in Judges 2:10. This stark contrast highlights the tragic spiritual decline that is about to unfold and defines the entire narrative of Judges. The phrase "who had seen all the great works of the LORD" functions as etiology, providing the fundamental cause or reason for their sustained faithfulness—their direct, personal experience and vivid memory of God's powerful and redemptive acts. This etiological explanation also serves as a form of foreshadowing, subtly hinting that once this generation of eyewitnesses passes from the scene, the very foundation for their faithfulness will erode, inevitably leading to the spiritual amnesia and subsequent decline that characterizes the rest of the book's cyclical narrative.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 2:7 profoundly highlights the critical role of memory, direct experience, and intergenerational transmission of truth in sustaining a people's covenant relationship with God. The faithfulness of this generation was not an inherent trait but was a direct result of their personal encounter with God's "great works" and the consistent, godly leadership of Joshua and the elders. This underscores a foundational biblical truth: genuine, enduring faith is often nurtured through an active remembrance of God's past faithfulness and a personal, transformative encounter with His power and character. Conversely, the verse subtly but powerfully warns against the insidious dangers of spiritual amnesia, foreshadowing the tragic consequences when a generation forgets or fails to diligently transmit the knowledge of God's redemptive history and covenant demands. It emphasizes that faith is not automatically inherited or a passive legacy but must be personally embraced, actively cultivated, and continually nourished through a conscious, intentional commitment to God and His revealed commands.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 2:7 offers a powerful and convicting mirror for contemporary believers and communities, compelling us to deeply consider the sources of our own spiritual vitality and the indispensable means by which faith is sustained and transmitted across generations. Just as Israel's faithfulness was rooted in their direct, personal experience of God's "great works," so too must our faith be profoundly grounded in a living, personal encounter with the triune God—whether through the transformative power of His Word, the indwelling presence of His Spirit, or His providential, often miraculous, working in our daily lives. This verse serves as a poignant and urgent reminder that while godly leadership is an invaluable gift, it can never be a substitute for individual and corporate commitment to the LORD. We are challenged to actively remember, recount, and celebrate God's faithfulness, both in the grand sweep of biblical history and in the intimate details of our personal testimonies, ensuring that the "great works" of God are not forgotten but become the unshakable foundation for ongoing obedience and worship. Furthermore, it highlights the solemn and weighty responsibility of older generations to faithfully, intentionally, and diligently transmit the knowledge of God and His ways to the younger, recognizing that spiritual heritage is not automatically inherited but must be carefully cultivated, passionately taught, and lovingly passed on.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was this generation so faithful compared to those that followed?
Answer: This generation's remarkable faithfulness, as vividly highlighted in Judges 2:7, was primarily due to their direct, personal, and undeniable experience of God's "great works." They had been eyewitnesses to the miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage, the supernatural provision in the wilderness, and the powerful victories in the conquest of Canaan. This direct encounter with God's immense power, unwavering faithfulness, and covenantal love, coupled with the strong, consistent, and exemplary leadership of Joshua and the elders who had shared these formative experiences, provided an undeniable and deeply personal foundation for their obedience and devoted service to the LORD. In stark contrast, the subsequent generation, as tragically described in Judges 2:10, "knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel," indicating a catastrophic failure in the crucial intergenerational transmission of faith, memory, and covenantal understanding.
What does "served the LORD" truly mean in this context?
Answer: The phrase "served the LORD" (Hebrew: ʿāḇaḏ Yahweh) in Judges 2:7 signifies a deep, comprehensive, and exclusive commitment to God that extends far beyond mere ritualistic or ceremonial worship. It implies a covenantal relationship where Israel acknowledged Yahweh as their sovereign Lord, King, and only God. This "service" involved active, willing obedience to His commands, unwavering devotion to His covenant, and the alignment of their entire lives—moral conduct, worship practices, societal structures, and personal choices—with His divine will, as meticulously outlined in the Law given at Sinai. It reflected a holistic submission to God's authority in all aspects of their lives, standing in stark contrast to the later adoption of syncretistic and idolatrous Canaanite practices (Judges 2:11-13).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 2:7, while describing a fleeting period of Old Testament faithfulness, powerfully foreshadows and finds its ultimate, perfect fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The generation described here served the LORD because they had seen His "great works" and were guided by faithful leaders like Joshua. However, their faithfulness, rooted in a past memory, was temporary and ultimately failed to be passed on, leading to the tragic cycle of sin and judgment. In profound contrast, Jesus Christ is the perfectly obedient Son who always "did what was pleasing to him" (John 8:29). He is the true and greater Joshua, leading His people not into a physical land with temporary rest, but into eternal rest and ultimate salvation (Hebrews 4:8-10). The "great works" of the LORD in the Old Testament—the Exodus, the wilderness provision, the conquest—all pointed forward to the ultimate and singular "great work" of redemption accomplished through Christ's perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection (John 19:30). Our service to the LORD today is not based on fleeting eyewitness accounts or a fading memory of past deeds, but on the enduring, transformative reality of Christ's finished work, which is eternally effective and perpetually remembered and applied through the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:26). He is the one who enables us to truly "serve the LORD" not out of a temporary, external motivation, but out of a new heart and an indwelling Spirit, ensuring a faithfulness that transcends all generations and ultimately leads to His eternal kingdom (Philippians 2:13).