Judges 2:1-5

Judges 2:1-5. The angel of Jehovah moves from Gilgal; he rebukes Israel's unfaithfulness. Origin of Bochim

This section connects with ch. 1. The going up of the Angel of Jehovah from Gilgal to Beth-el marks the close of the period of invasion (Judges 2:1 a); the settlement of the tribes in Canaan involves a transference of the sanctuary (Judges 2:5 b); the intervening verses (1b 5a) connect the preceding narrative with the History of the Judges (Judges 2:6 to Judges 16:31). The latter verses were probably composed by the post-exilic editor who introduced ch. 1 into its present place, not by the author of the Introduction Judges 2:6 to Judges 3:6; contrast, for example, Judges 2:3 with Judges 2:22 f., and again with Judges 3:1-3. The appeal to past history, and the tone of remonstrance upbraiding Israel's neglect to exterminate the Canaanites, betray the later historian. Most of the phrases in Judges 2:1; Judges 2:1 a are borrowed from earlier writings.