Judges 2 Footnotes

2:1 Who brought the Israelites out of Egypt: the Lord (Ex 13:9; Dt 16:1) or the angel of the Lord? Scripture sometimes uses the terms interchangeably (see Jos 5:13-15), although the phrase “the angel of the LORD” suggests a created being, rather than God himself. Some have identified the “angel” as: (1) an angelic being who uniquely represented God with a special commission (e.g., Gn 16:7; Dn 6:22; Lk 1:26); (2) God the Father manifesting himself in a humanlike form (Gn 18; 22:24-25, though the term angel is not used in these instances); or (3) God the Son who, before becoming incarnate as Jesus Christ, was made visible for a temporary purpose. The context here, with its reference to God’s covenant with his people, would indicate that the one who led Israel out of Egypt was either God the Father or the preincarnate God the Son. But sometimes it is wise not to press such distinctions too far, as this can be intruding into “hidden things” that are beyond human comprehension (Dt 29:29).

2:6-9 How could Joshua be dead in 1:1, alive in 2:6, then die and be buried in vv. 8-9? Writing to make their theological point, the authors of Scripture did not always compose their historical accounts in chronological order. The author of the book of Judges used the flashback technique here, repeating Jos 24:28-31 (see Jdg 17–21). This technique occurs elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Is 36:1–38:8 repeats 2Kg 18:13–20:11; Ezr 1:1-3 repeats 2Ch 36:22-23).

2:11-23 This passage presents the scheme, or “philosophy,” of the narrative of the book of Judges and, to a degree, that of OT history in general. Events unfold in a pattern of oscillation between times when Israel is faithful to the Lord, receiving his blessing, and then turns away from him and must undergo his judgments. Only the total obedience of Jesus Christ (2Co 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1Pt 2:22; 1Jn 3:5) breaks that pattern for Israel.