An interesting juxtaposition in the book of Judges.
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:41 am
Judges 1-2 are a mishmash of summaries and stories which seem to follow no overall chronology or logical arrangement.
Notice that Joshua is already dead in 1.1-36 but still dismissing the people before his death in 2.6-10. The episode with the angel of the Lord in 2.1-5 intrudes, and in 2.11-23 the pattern for the rest of the book is set up.
What a mess.
But I want to look at those middle two episodes more closely:
The transition between these two episodes is abrupt... unless Joshua is the angel of Yahweh, in which case the angel of Yahweh comes up from Gilgal to Bochim and rebukes the people of Israel, the people respond with tears of contrition, and then Joshua (= the angel of Yahweh??) dismisses the people and they go to their own lands.
I highly doubt that this was all written by a single pen at one go precisely in order to convey this point, since the two episodes, just like the rest of chapters 1-2, seem to be divergent traditions collected together. But was some redactor making a point by juxtaposing the two like this? Did someone read Joshua as the angel of Yahweh (perhaps on the basis of Exodus 23.20-23)?
What do you think?
Ben.
Judges 1.1-36: After the death of Joshua, the people conquer some cities but fail to conquer others.
Judges 2.1-5: The angel of the Lord rebukes the people.
Judges 2.6-10: Joshua dismisses the people and then dies.
Judges 2.11-23: A cycle is set up whereby the people commit idolatry in an anarchic state and then repent under the rule of judges; this cycle will characterize most of the rest of the book.
Judges 2.1-5: The angel of the Lord rebukes the people.
Judges 2.6-10: Joshua dismisses the people and then dies.
Judges 2.11-23: A cycle is set up whereby the people commit idolatry in an anarchic state and then repent under the rule of judges; this cycle will characterize most of the rest of the book.
Notice that Joshua is already dead in 1.1-36 but still dismissing the people before his death in 2.6-10. The episode with the angel of the Lord in 2.1-5 intrudes, and in 2.11-23 the pattern for the rest of the book is set up.
What a mess.
But I want to look at those middle two episodes more closely:
Judges 2.1-5: 1 Now the angel of Yahweh came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you, 2 and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done? 3 Therefore I also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; but they will become as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.'" 4 When the angel of Yahweh spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. 5 So they named that place Bochim; and there they sacrificed to Yahweh.
Judges 2.6-10: 6 When Joshua had dismissed the people, the sons of Israel went each to his inheritance to possess the land. 7 The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Yahweh which He had done for Israel. 8 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of one hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know Yahweh, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.
Judges 2.6-10: 6 When Joshua had dismissed the people, the sons of Israel went each to his inheritance to possess the land. 7 The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Yahweh which He had done for Israel. 8 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of one hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know Yahweh, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.
The transition between these two episodes is abrupt... unless Joshua is the angel of Yahweh, in which case the angel of Yahweh comes up from Gilgal to Bochim and rebukes the people of Israel, the people respond with tears of contrition, and then Joshua (= the angel of Yahweh??) dismisses the people and they go to their own lands.
I highly doubt that this was all written by a single pen at one go precisely in order to convey this point, since the two episodes, just like the rest of chapters 1-2, seem to be divergent traditions collected together. But was some redactor making a point by juxtaposing the two like this? Did someone read Joshua as the angel of Yahweh (perhaps on the basis of Exodus 23.20-23)?
What do you think?
Ben.