2The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said to the Israelites, "I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break my covenant with you.H4397H3068H5927H1537H1066H559H5927H4714H935H776H7650H1H559H5769H6565H12852For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this?H3772H1285H3427H776H5422H4196H8085H6963H62133So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you."H559H1644H6440H6654H430H41704When the angel of the LORD finished speaking to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly.H4397H3068H1696H1697H1121H3478H5971H5375H6963H10585So they called the place Bokim (which means "weeping"), and they offered sacrifices there to the LORD.H7121H8034H4725H1066H2076H3068
The Death of Joshua
6After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them.H3091H5971H7971H1121H3478H3212H376H5159H3423H7767And the Israelites served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him—those who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.H5971H5647H3068H3117H3091H3117H2205H748H3117H310H3091H7200H1419H4639H3068H6213H34788Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110.H3091H1121H5126H5650H3068H4191H3967H6235H8141H11219They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.H6912H1366H5159H8556H2022H669H6828H2022H1608
Israel Disobeys the Lord
10After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.H1755H622H1H6965H312H1755H310H3045H3068H4639H6213H347811The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight and served the images of Baal.H1121H3478H6213H7451H5869H3068H5647H116812They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the LORD.H5800H3068H430H1H3318H776H4714H3212H310H312H430H430H5971H5439H7812H3068H370713They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth.H5800H3068H5647H1168H625214This made the LORD burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.H639H3068H2734H3478H5414H3027H8154H8155H4376H3027H341H5439H3201H5750H5975H6440H34115Every time Israel went out to battle, the LORD fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress.H3318H3027H3068H7451H3068H1696H3068H7650H3966H3334
The Lord Rescues His People
16Then the LORD raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers.H3068H6965H8199H3467H3027H815417Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the LORD's commands.H8085H8199H2181H310H312H430H7812H5493H4118H1870H1H1980H8085H4687H3068H621318Whenever the LORD raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge's lifetime. For the LORD took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.H3068H6965H8199H3068H8199H3467H3027H341H3117H8199H5162H3068H6440H5009H3905H176619But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.H8199H4194H7725H7843H1H3212H310H312H430H5647H7812H5307H4611H7186H187020So the LORD burned with anger against Israel. He said, "Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands,H639H3068H2734H3478H559H1471H5674H1285H6680H1H8085H696321I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died.H3254H3423H376H6440H1471H3091H5800H419122I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the LORD as their ancestors did."H5254H3478H8104H1870H3068H3212H1H810423That is why the LORD left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.H3068H3240H1471H1115H3423H4118H5414H3027H3091
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, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you."H559
