2:1 The LORD’s angelic messenger¹ went up from Gilgal to Bokim. He said, “I brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land I had solemnly promised to give to your ancestors.² I said, ‘I will never break my agreement³ with you, 2:2 but you must not make an agreement⁴ with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.’⁵ But you have disobeyed me.⁶ Why would you do such a thing?⁷ 2:3 At that time I also warned you,⁸ ‘If you disobey,⁹ I will not drive out the Canaanites¹⁰ from before you. They will ensnare you¹¹ and their gods will lure you away.’”¹²

2:4 When the LORD’s messenger finished speaking these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly.¹³ 2:5 They named that place Bokim¹⁴ and offered sacrifices to the LORD there.

2:6 When Joshua dismissed¹⁵ the people, the Israelites went to their allotted portions of property,¹⁶ intending to take possession of the land. 2:7 The people worshiped¹⁷ the LORD throughout Joshua’s lifetime and as long as the elderly men who outlived him remained alive. These men had witnessed¹⁸ all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.¹⁹ 2:8 Joshua son of Nun, the LORD’s servant, died at the age of 110. 2:9 The people²⁰ buried him in his allotted land²¹ in Timnath Heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 2:10 That entire generation passed away;²² a new generation came along²³ that had not personally experienced the LORD’s presence or seen what he had done for Israel.²⁴

2:11 The Israelites did evil before²⁵ the LORD by worshiping²⁶ the Baals. 2:12 They abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors²⁷ who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods—the gods of the nations who lived around them. They worshiped²⁸ them and made the LORD angry. 2:13 They abandoned the LORD and worshiped²⁹ Baal and the `Ashtars.³⁰

2:14 The LORD was furious with Israel³¹ and handed them over to robbers who plundered them.³² He turned them over to³³ their enemies who lived around them. They could not withstand their enemies’ attacks.³⁴ 2:15 Whenever they went out to fight,³⁵ the LORD did them harm,³⁶ just as he had warned and solemnly vowed he would do.³⁷ They suffered greatly.³⁸

2:16 The LORD raised up leaders³⁹ who delivered them from these robbers.⁴⁰ 2:17 But they did not obey⁴¹ their leaders.⁴² Instead they prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped⁴³ them. They quickly turned aside from the path⁴⁴ their ancestors⁴⁵ walked. Their ancestors obeyed the LORD’s commands, but they did not.⁴⁶ 2:18 When the LORD raised up leaders⁴⁷ for them, the LORD was with each leader⁴⁸ and delivered the people⁴⁹ from their enemies while the leader⁵⁰ remained alive. The LORD felt sorry for them⁵¹ when they cried out in agony because of what their harsh oppressors did to them.⁵² 2:19 When a leader⁵³ died, the next generation⁵⁴ would again⁵⁵ act more wickedly than the previous one.⁵⁶ They would follow after other gods, worshiping⁵⁷ and bowing down to them. They did not give up⁵⁸ their practices or their stubborn ways.

2:20 The LORD was furious with Israel.⁵⁹ He said, “This nation⁶⁰ has violated the terms of the agreement I made with their ancestors⁶¹ by disobeying me.⁶² 2:21 So I will no longer remove from before them any of the nations which Joshua left unconquered when he died. 2:22 Joshua left those nations⁶³ to test⁶⁴ Israel. I wanted to see⁶⁵ whether or not the people⁶⁶ would carefully walk in the path⁶⁷ marked out by⁶⁸ the LORD, as their ancestors⁶⁹ were careful to do.” 2:23 This is why⁷⁰ the LORD permitted these nations to remain and did not conquer them immediately;⁷¹ he did not hand them over to Joshua.