Judges 2:2

this land After -this land" the LXX inserts -nor shall ye worship their gods, but their graven images ye shall break to pieces," an addition of no critical value.

break down their altars Exodus 34:13; cf. Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy 12:3.

hearkened unto my voice Cf. Exodus 23:21 f., where the -voice" is that of the Angel who was to lead Israel into Canaan.

why have ye done this? what have you done, with emphasis on -what"; cf. Judges 15:11; Genesis 3:13 etc. The reproof is grounded upon Israel's failure to exterminate the Canaanites. In the ancient narrative, ch. 1, Israel's failure is due to inferiority in battle; here it is ascribed to neglect of religious duty. The command to refuse all alliances with the native inhabitants, and to drive them out, is found in the old legislation (Exodus 23:31-33, part of the -Book of the Covenant," and Exodus 34:12 J), and thence incorporated into the Deuteronomic Code (Deuteronomy 7:2-4; Deuteronomy 7:16; Deuteronomy 12:29-31; Deuteronomy 20:16-18). This law originated at a period, long after the original occupation of Canaan, when it could no longer be obeyed literally; it stood, therefore, for an ideal, and witnesses to an intense conviction of the distinctive character of Israel's religion, and to the constant danger which threatened it from contact with the Canaanites. The Books of Kings and the prophets give ample evidence of the deteriorating effect of Canaanite influences; and it is to be noted that the Codes which deal with this topic belong to the period before the exile.