Juízes 2:1

An angel of the Lord. — The words “Maleak Jehovah” are used of Haggai, in Ageu 1:13; of prophets in Isaías 42:19; Malaquias 3:6; of priests in Malaquias 2:7. Hence from very ancient times these words have been interpreted as, “a messenger of the Lord” (as in the margin of our Bible). The Targum paraphrases it by “a prophet with a message from Jehovah.” R. Tanchum, from Juízes 2:6, infers that it was Joshua himself. Kimchi and others have supposed that it was Phinehas. No indications are given of anything specially miraculous. On the other hand, there is much room to suppose that the writer intended “the Angel of the Presence,” because (1) he constantly uses the phrase in this sense (Juízes 6:11; Juízes 6:21; Juízes 13:3; Juízes 13:13; Juízes 13:15, &c.); (2) the same phrase occurs in this sense elsewhere, as in Gênesis 16:7; Gênesis 22:11; Êxodo 2:2; Êxodo 2:6; Êxodo 2:14; Números 22:22, &c; (3) the angel speaks in the first person, and does not introduce his words by “Thus saith Jehovah,” as the prophets always do (but see below). It seems probable, therefore, that by “the angel of the Lord” the writer meant “the captain of the Lord’s host,” who appeared to Joshua at Jericho (Josué 5:13). Against this conclusion may be urged the fact that in no other instance does an angel appear to, or preach to, multitudes. Angels are sent to individuals, but prophets to nations.

Came up from Gilgal to Bochim. — This notice is by no means decisive against the conclusion that an angel is intended. The writer may mean to intimate that the Angel Prince of the host (Êxodo 23:20), the Angel of the Covenant, left his station in the camp of Gilgal and came up to the new camp or assembly of the people in Central Palestine (Josué 4:19; Josué 5:9; Josué 10:7; Josué 10:15; Josué 10:33; Josué 14:6). Ha-Bochim means “the weepers.” The locality is not known, but the LXX. render it “to the weeping-place,” and add “and to Bethel, and to the House of Israel.” Hence it has been inferred that Bochim was near Bethel. Possibly however, the LXX. may have been led to this interpretation by the vicinity to Bethel of Allon-Bachuth, “the oak of weeping” (Gênesis 35:8).

And said, I made you to go up out of Egypt. — The LXX. have “the Lord, the Lord brought you out of Egypt” (Cod. Alex.). Houbigant, from the repetition of the word, precariously conjectures the loss of some words, “Thus saith the Lord, I the Lord,” &c., as in the Peshito; and, indeed, in some MSS. a blank (Piska) is left, implying at least a suspicion that this formula has accidentally fallen out of the text.

I will never break my covenant with you. — See Gênesis 17:7; Gênesis 29:12; Salmos 89:28; Salmos 89:34; Lucas 1:54, &c; Êxodo 3:6.