Judges 2 6

Judges 2:6 kjv

And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.

Judges 2:6 nkjv

And when Joshua had dismissed the people, the children of Israel went each to his own inheritance to possess the land.

Judges 2:6 niv

After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to their own inheritance.

Judges 2:6 esv

When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land.

Judges 2:6 nlt

After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them.

Judges 2 verses

Judges 2 6 Meaning

Judges 2:6 describes a pivotal moment when Joshua, having completed his leadership and allocation of tribal territories, formally dismisses the Israelite community. This dismissal signifies the transition from a centralized military campaign under Joshua to the individual tribes and families going forth to their divinely appointed parcels of land. The verse conveys their departure with the specific purpose of fully taking possession of and settling into their inheritances within the promised land.

Judges 2 6 Context

Judges 2:6 marks a significant transition point in the historical narrative of Israel, bridging the period of conquest and settlement under Joshua with the turbulent era of the Judges. Historically, this verse signals the close of the strong, centralized leadership established by Moses and continued by Joshua, and the beginning of a period characterized by tribal autonomy. Following the successful initial conquest and the allocation of land as described in the Book of Joshua, this verse shows the Israelite tribes taking individual responsibility for securing their assigned territories. However, it immediately precedes the Lord's rebuke and the description of a new generation that apostatized (Judges 2:1-10), setting the stage for the cyclical pattern of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance that defines the rest of the Book of Judges.

Judges 2 6 Word analysis

• "When Joshua had sent" (וַיְשַׁלַּח יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - vayĕshalach Y'hosha')
  • וַיְשַׁלַּח (vayĕshalach): The Hebrew verb "shalach" (to send, dispatch, dismiss) is used here with the "vav-consecutive," indicating a sequential action. It implies a formal and authorized sending away or disbandment. This signals the official end of Joshua's collective military and administrative authority over the united tribes for the purpose of land settlement.
  • יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Y'hosha'u'a): Joshua, meaning "the Lord is salvation" or "the Lord saves." He led Israel into the promised land as Moses' successor. His "sending away" signifies the completion of his specific mission of conquest and initial distribution.
• "the people away" (אֶת־הָעָם - 'et-ha'am)
  • הָעָם (ha'am): The people. Refers to the entire congregation of Israel, collectively present under Joshua's leadership at Shiloh or Shechem. The dismissal signifies the delegation of responsibility back to individual tribal and family units.
• "the people of Israel went" (וַיֵּלְכוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל - vayyelkhu v'nei-Yisra'el)
  • וַיֵּלְכוּ (vayyelkhu): The Hebrew verb "halak" (to go, walk, depart), also with a "vav-consecutive." This emphasizes the immediate and direct action taken by the people following Joshua's dismissal. It conveys purposeful movement.
  • בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל (v'nei-Yisra'el): "The sons of Israel" or "the children of Israel," a common biblical designation for the descendants of Jacob. It underscores their identity as the covenant people and recipients of God's promises.
• "each to his inheritance" (אִישׁ לְנַחֲלָתוֹ - 'ish l'nakhalato)
  • אִישׁ ('ish): "Each man," signifying individuality and decentralization. The focus shifts from the unified national body to the specific responsibilities of individual families and tribes.
  • נַחֲלָתוֹ (nakhalato): From "nachalah" (inheritance, possession, patrimony). This term is central to the land theology in Israel. Each tribe, clan, and family had been allotted a specific parcel of land as an "inheritance" from God. This was their perpetual possession, reflecting God's faithfulness to His promises. Going to their inheritance means entering into the fulfillment of these promises.
• "to take possession" (לָרֶשֶׁת - lareshet)
  • לָרֶשֶׁת (lareshet): From "yarash" (to inherit, possess, dispossess, take possession). The infinitive construct indicates the purpose or objective of their going. While land was allotted, the full physical "possession" often involved driving out remaining inhabitants. This highlights the ongoing, uncompleted task the tribes faced, which becomes a key theme in Judges 1-2.
• "of the land" (אֶת־הָאָרֶץ - 'et-ha'aretz)
  • הָאָרֶץ (ha'aretz): "The land." Specifically, the land of Canaan, which God had promised to Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:7) and was now being inherited by Israel. It is the locus of God's covenant blessings and a test of Israel's faithfulness.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When Joshua had sent the people away, the people of Israel went...": This opening phrase establishes the end of one era and the beginning of another. It highlights the change in leadership structure from a central authority (Joshua) to the dispersed, individual tribal units. This repetition and immediate transition indicate that the period of conquest was officially concluded by Joshua's charge.
• "...each to his inheritance to take possession of the land.": This phrase captures the immediate purpose of their dispersion. It underscores the divine allocation of land ("his inheritance") and the continuing, but now individualized, task of fully establishing their presence and removing all adversaries ("to take possession"). This points to the fact that while the land was allotted, it was not fully secured by many tribes, setting the stage for their future struggles due to partial obedience. The language echoes the divine command given repeatedly throughout Deuteronomy and Joshua.

Judges 2 6 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces the fragmentation of Israel. Under Moses and Joshua, the people generally acted as a unified body, moving, fighting, and worshiping together. Joshua's dismissal marks a deliberate dispersal, leading each tribe and family to its own allocated territory. While intended to fulfill the divine promise and allow for settlement, this decentralization contributed to the spiritual isolation and eventual breakdown of inter-tribal accountability. The unity previously maintained by strong, divinely appointed leadership was replaced by a more localized tribal identity, which, in the absence of continued spiritual commitment, allowed for widespread compromises with the surrounding pagan cultures.

Judges 2 6 Commentary

Judges 2:6 functions as a pivotal hinge in the narrative of Israel. It serves as a near-verbatim repetition of Joshua 24:28, drawing a direct link to the close of Joshua's life and leadership. On the surface, it portrays an obedient act: the people, upon Joshua's dismissal, depart to settle their promised inheritance. This appears as the successful conclusion of the conquest phase. However, in the context of Judges, this verse takes on a tragic irony. While they went "to take possession of the land," the subsequent chapters reveal their profound failure to fully do so, both physically by failing to drive out all the inhabitants (Judg 1:21-36) and spiritually by succumbing to idolatry (Judg 2:10-13). Thus, this seemingly positive verse is, in fact, the calm before the storm, setting up the grim narrative of Israel's apostasy and the ensuing divine discipline that marks the era of the Judges. It highlights the shift from collective, unified obedience under Joshua to fragmented, individualistic responsibility that tragically led to widespread unfaithfulness.