Judges 2 2

Judges 2:2 kjv

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?

Judges 2:2 nkjv

And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this?

Judges 2:2 niv

and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this?

Judges 2:2 esv

and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.' But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?

Judges 2:2 nlt

For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this?

Judges 2 verses

Judges 2 2 Meaning

This verse recounts the Lord's clear command to the Israelites: they were forbidden from forming covenants or treaties with the pagan inhabitants of Canaan, and they were explicitly ordered to destroy their idolatrous altars. The Lord then directly confronts them for their profound failure to obey this directive, posing a rhetorical question that highlights their inexplicable disobedience and its detrimental implications. It marks a pivotal moment where divine expectation meets human failure, setting the stage for the tumultuous period of the Judges.

Judges 2 2 Context

Judges 2:2 forms a critical turning point within the book of Judges. The preceding verses (Judges 2:1) describe the "Angel of the Lord" appearing at Bochim (meaning "weepers"), specifically to rebuke Israel. This rebuke stems from their failure to fully dispossess the Canaanite inhabitants as commanded by God upon their entry into the promised land under Joshua. Verse 2 elaborates on the precise nature of their disobedience: failing to make no treaties and to destroy pagan altars. This failure is directly contrasted with God's clear covenant obligations, particularly the exclusive worship of Yahweh. The verse highlights God's grief and frustration, explaining why the era of the Judges would be marked by cycles of sin, oppression, and temporary deliverance rather than a lasting period of peace and prosperity. It is a divine diagnosis of the spiritual illness that would plague Israel for centuries, setting the narrative for the rest of the book and beyond.

Judges 2 2 Word analysis

• And: Connects this command/reproof to the initial statement by the Angel of the Lord in Judges 2:1, indicating a direct continuation of the divine message.
• ye shall make no league: The Hebrew term is berith (בְּרִית), signifying a covenant or solemn treaty. This was not a casual agreement but a binding oath. The prohibition was crucial because making berith with the Canaanites would imply accepting their gods and customs, directly compromising Israel's exclusive covenant with Yahweh and leading to idolatry. It signifies a fundamental spiritual separation God demanded.
• with the inhabitants: Refers specifically to the Canaanite peoples whom God had condemned for their pervasive wickedness and idolatry, including abhorrent practices like child sacrifice (Deut 12:31).
• of this land;: Points to the land of Canaan, given by covenant to Israel, yet still occupied by idolaters. Their presence was a constant spiritual danger.
• ye shall throw down: The Hebrew verb is natats (נָתַץ), meaning "to break down," "to demolish," "to pull down." This is a strong, emphatic verb implying utter destruction. God demanded not merely avoidance but active eradication of the symbols of pagan worship.
• their altars: Mizbechoteihem (מִזְבְּחֹתֵיהֶם). Altars were central to religious worship in the ancient world. Destroying them meant dismantling the very infrastructure of their idolatry and rejecting the false gods to whom sacrifices were offered.
• but ye have not obeyed: A sharp contrast indicated by "but." This reveals the divine assessment: despite clear, repeated commands, Israel consciously chose not to comply. The Hebrew shama (שָׁמַע) implies not just hearing but hearkening and acting upon the word. Their failure was volitional disobedience.
• my voice: Refers to the commandments, instructions, and covenant stipulations given directly by God (through Moses, then Joshua), emphasizing the divine authority and explicit nature of the disobeyed directives.
• why have ye done this?: A rhetorical question from God expressing profound disappointment, exasperation, and even bewilderment at their inexplicable disobedience. It highlights the irrationality and foolishness of their actions from a divine perspective, implying their self-inflicted spiritual harm.
• "make no league with the inhabitants of this land": This phrase underlines God's demand for purity and exclusive devotion. Any alliance with those deeply entrenched in idolatry was viewed as a direct spiritual contamination that would inevitably lead Israel astray.
• "ye shall throw down their altars": This action was a non-negotiable step for taking possession of the land in a way that preserved Israel's unique identity as Yahweh's chosen people. It was a physical manifestation of their spiritual separation.
• "but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?": This forms the core of the divine lament and accusation. It shifts from divine instruction to divine confrontation, marking a pivotal moment of accountability for Israel's deliberate rebellion against their God and covenant Lord.

Judges 2 2 Bonus section

The phrase "why have ye done this?" isn't just a question; it functions as a prophetic statement of judgment. By failing to remove the altars and make no covenants, Israel preserved the very mechanisms of idolatry that would later entrap them. God, in His omniscience, knew the future ramifications of their present disobedience. This failure to drive out the Canaanites fully meant that these nations would remain as "thorns in their sides" (Num 33:55) and a perpetual test for future generations (Judges 2:22-23), teaching them warfare through divine discipline. The Lord’s query encapsulates both His perfect knowledge and His unwavering disappointment, setting a sorrowful tone for the era.

Judges 2 2 Commentary

Judges 2:2 delivers God's stark rebuke to Israel for their covenant failure. The initial command not to make "league" with the inhabitants signifies God's absolute insistence on Israel's spiritual purity and exclusive devotion. A "league" or berith was a solemn treaty, a bond of mutual commitment. Forming such a bond with pagan nations implicitly acknowledged their deities and practices, undermining Israel's covenant with Yahweh (Exo 23:32). Similarly, the command to "throw down their altars" was not merely about demolition but about eradicating the very places where idolatrous worship occurred, ensuring no spiritual compromise (Deut 7:5).

Israel's failure was volitional and severe. The phrase "but ye have not obeyed my voice" is a direct indictment, highlighting a deliberate choice against divine command. The rhetorical "why have ye done this?" conveys God's profound grief, disappointment, and indignation. It underscores the lack of wisdom in their actions, implying their disobedience was illogical and would lead to devastating consequences. This verse acts as the divine explanation for the impending period of moral decline and cyclical oppression in the book of Judges; Israel's compromise laid the foundation for their suffering.

Examples: Just as God commanded Israel to remove spiritual stumbling blocks, believers today are called to identify and remove "altars" (i.e., idols of the heart, habits, or associations that compromise their devotion to Christ) from their lives. The temptation to "make league" with the world (2 Cor 6:14-17) by compromising core biblical truths remains a perennial challenge, just as it was for ancient Israel.