Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 2:20
And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
20 22. These verses are clearly not the sequel of Jdg 2:11-19; Jdg 2:20 continues Jdg 2:13 (see note); the opening words repeat Jdg 2:14; the nations in Jdg 2:21 are not on the frontiers, round about Israel ( Jdg 2:14), but those left by Joshua in the midst of Israel; they are spared not only to punish Israel’s sin, but to test its loyalty. The change of view indicates a different hand: Jdg 2:20-21 seem to come from E; the source of Jdg 2:22 is not so evident, D (Moore, Nowack), half E and half D (Budde), a later gloss (Lagrange). The three verses have been worked over and expanded in the editorial process, but the main contents may be assigned to E. For hearkened unto my voice in E cf. Exo 15:26; Exo 18:24.
transgressed my covenant which I commanded ] Jos 7:11? Rje, Jos 23:16 D; cf. Jos 7:15, Deu 17:2 , 1Ki 11:11, Jer 34:18. The covenant inaugurated at Sinai, renewed at Shechem (Jos 24:24-25), imposed obligations upon Israel which practically amounted to commands; hence Jehovah could be said to “command His covenant,” i.e. the obligations involved in the covenant. Thus in Deu 4:13 the covenant is identified with the Decalogue, in ib. Deu 5:2-3 it is followed by the Decalogue; cf. Deu 33:9 (|| thy promise), Psa 111:9.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This verse is connected with Jdg 2:13. The intermediate verses refer to much later times; they have the appearance of being the reflections of the compiler interspersed with the original narrative. But Jdg 2:20 catches up the thread only to let it fall immediately. All that follows, down to the end of Jdg 3:7, seems to be another digression, closing with words like those of Jdg 2:13.
It does not appear how this message was given to Israel, whether by Angel, or prophet, or Urim, nor indeed is it certain whether any message was given. The words may be understood as merely explaining what passed through the divine mind, and expressing the thoughts which regulated the divine proceeding.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. The anger of the Lord was hot] They were as fuel by their transgressions; and the displeasure of the Lord was as a fire about to kindle and consume that fuel.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel,…. As at first, so whenever they fell into idolatry; see Jud 2:14;
and he said, because this people have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers; made at Sinai, in which they were enjoined to have no other gods before him:
and have not hearkened to my voice; in his commands, and particularly what related to his worship and against idolatry.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Chastisement of the Rebellious Nation. – Jdg 2:20, Jdg 2:21. On account of this idolatry, which was not only constantly repeated, but continued to grow worse and worse, the anger of the Lord burned so fiercely against Israel, that He determined to destroy no more of the nations which Joshua had left when he died, before the people that had broken His covenant. In order to set forth this divine purpose most distinctly, it is thrown into the form of a sentence uttered by God through the expression . The Lord said, “Because this people has transgressed my covenant, … I also will no longer keep my covenant promise (Exo 23:23, Exo 23:27., Exo 34:10.), and will no more drive out any of the remaining Canaanites before them” (see Jos 23:13).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Proverbs of Israel, vs. 20-23
The hot anger of the Lord was due to the people’s transgression of His covenant to which they had agreed. He had warned them of turning from Him, and they had still refused to hearken to Him. Consequently the Lord would not drive out of Canaan any more of the nations which were left therein at the time of Joshua’s death. There would be many things among these people to provoke the Israelites, for they would cling to their pagan ways. Thus they would prove whether Israel would serve the Lord or serve the gods of Canaan. Since Israel must now dwell with the Canaanites it will be seen whether they will be witnesses for the Lord to influence these pagans to turn to God, or whether they will succumb to the pollution of idolatry and themselves be driven out of the land. Verse 23 indicates that the Lord had not hastily driven out the nations so that it might be proven whether the people of Israel truly wished to serve Him and keep His law, (1Jn 2:19).
What can we learn 1 from this second chapter of ?Judges 1) We learn that God does not judge without warning His people first; 2) we learn that some people sorrow over evil conditions which bring judgment on their land, while others ignore it; 3) godly men and women have a longlasting influence in the community where they live; 4) some things happen to prove us before God.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(20) This people.Comp. Isa. 6:9-10, Go, and tell this people; Jdg. 8:12.
Hath transgressed my covenant.The same expression is used in Jos. 23:16.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. Anger hot Compare Jdg 2:14, note.
He said Repeatedly, by Joshua (Jos 23:13) and the angel at Bochim. Jdg 2:3.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he said, “Because this people have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not listened to my voice”.’
Again we read of God’s anger kindled against them, compare verse 14. Everything is repeated to bring out either its heinousness or its severity. God had delivered their fathers and had made a covenant with them at Sinai. And they had renewed that covenant with Him time and time again, especially at the times when they had experienced His deliverance, meeting again at the central sanctuary and renewing their oaths. But they had not really listened for they soon broke that covenant, and neglected it, time and time again. They had sworn to have no other gods but Him, but as soon as the memory of their deliverances died down they were back to their old ways and forgot the covenant that they had renewed, flirting with Baal and Ashtaroth and the other gods of the land.
This continued repetition may seem a little tedious, but its purpose was to get over to the hearer the continual danger of relapsing into sin, and to remind him how easily and how often it could happen. If we are not aware that this describes many of our lives, we too are in danger.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 2:20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
Ver. 20. And the anger of the Lord was hot. ] He is not made all of mercy, as some dream, but can be angry: and “who knoweth the power of his wrath?” Psa 90:11 It is such as men can neither avoid nor abide.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
people = nation.
transgressed. Hebrew. ‘abar. App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the anger: Jdg 2:14, Jdg 3:8, Jdg 10:7, Exo 32:10, Exo 32:11, Deu 32:22
transgressed: Exo 24:3-8, Deu 29:10-13, Jos 23:16, Jos 24:21-25, Jer 31:32, Eze 20:37
Reciprocal: Num 25:3 – the anger Deu 7:4 – so will Deu 17:2 – in transgressing Deu 31:16 – break my Jos 7:11 – transgressed Jdg 2:2 – but ye have Jdg 4:1 – did evil Jdg 6:1 – did evil 1Sa 8:8 – General 1Ki 9:21 – left Psa 78:58 – moved Psa 81:14 – I should Psa 106:40 – the wrath
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
None of the Israelites’ conflicts in the Book of Judges involved the conquest of new territory; they all simply concerned throwing off the yoke of an oppressor. The writer explained the type of test that the continuation of the Canaanites among the Israelites constituted more fully in the next section.
". . . in a real sense the book of Judges actually involves multiple replayings of the pattern found already in the Torah, especially the book of Exodus: God delivers the people, who then disobey, experiencing not only the destructive results of their disobedience (the guilty are by no means cleared, as Exo 34:7 says) but also the steadfast love and faithfulness of a God who cannot finally let the people go . . ." [Note: Ibid., p. 15. Cf. Genesis 6:5; 8:21; Exodus 34:6-10.]