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five great cities. This conquest, however, was not permanent (14:19; 16:1), nor were the
inhabitants of the valley driven out, "because they had chariots of iron."^180
But the zeal of Israel did not long continue. In fact, all that follows after the campaign
of Judah and Simeon is a record of failure and neglect, with the single exception of the
taking of Bethel by the house of Joseph. Thus the tribes were everywhere surrounded by
a fringe of heathenism. In many parts, Israelites and heathens dwelt together, the
varying proportions among them being indicated by such expressions as that the
"Canaanites dwelt among" the Israelites, or else the reverse. Sometimes the Canaanites
became tributary. On the other hand, the Amorites succeeded in almost wholly^181
driving the tribe of Dan out of their possessions, which induced a considerable
proportion of the Danites to seek fresh homes in the far north (Judges 18).
Israel was settling down in this state, when their false rest was suddenly broken by the
appearance among them of "the Angel of Jehovah."^182 No Divine manifestation had
been vouch-safed them since the Captain of Jehovah's host had stood before Joshua in
the camp at Gilgal (Joshua 5:13-15). And now, at the commencement of a new period,
and that one of spiritual decay, He "came" from Gilgal to Bochim, not to announce the
miraculous fall of a Jericho before the ark of Jehovah, but the continuance of the
heathen power near them in judgment upon their unfaithfulness and disobedience.
"From Gilgal to Bochim!" There is much in what these names suggest - and that even
although Gilgal may have been the permanent camp,^183 where leading representatives of
the nation were always assembled, to whom "the Angel of Jehovah" in the first place
addressed Himself, and Bochim, or "weepers," the designation given afterwards to the
meeting-place by the ancient sanctuary (either Shechem or more probably Shiloh),
where the elders of the people gathered to hear the Divine message.
And truly what had passed between the entrance into Canaan and that period might be
thus summed up: "From Gilgal to Bochim!" The immediate impression of the words of
the Angel of Jehovah was great. Not only did the place become Bochim, but a sacrifice
was offered unto Jehovah, for wherever His presence was manifested, there might
sacrifice be brought (comp. Deuteronomy 12:5; Judges 6:20, 26, 28; 13:16; 2 Samuel
24:25).
But, alas! the impression was of but short continuance. Mingling with the heathen
around, "they forsook Jehovah, and served Baal and Ashtaroth."^184 Such a people
could only learn in the school of sorrow. National unfaithfulness was followed by
national judgments.
Yet even so, Jehovah, in His mercy, ever turned to them when they cried, and raised up
"deliverers." In the truest sense these generations "had not known all the wars of
(^)