New Living Translation | NET Bible |
1The 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. | 1The LORD's angelic messenger went up from Gilgal to Bokim. He said, "I brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land I had solemnly promised to give to your ancestors. I said, 'I will never break my agreement with you, |
2For 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? | 2but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.' But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing? |
3So 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.” | 3At that time I also warned you, 'If you disobey, I will not drive out the Canaanites before you. They will ensnare you and their gods will lure you away.'" |
4When the angel of the LORD finished speaking to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. | 4When the LORD's messenger finished speaking these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. |
5So they called the place Bokim (which means “weeping”), and they offered sacrifices there to the LORD. The Death of Joshua | 5They named that place Bokim and offered sacrifices to the LORD there. |
6After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them. | 6When Joshua dismissed the people, the Israelites went to their allotted portions of territory, intending to take possession of the land. |
7And 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. | 7The people worshiped the LORD throughout Joshua's lifetime and as long as the elderly men who outlived him remained alive. These men had witnessed all the great things the LORD had done for Israel. |
8Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110. | 8Joshua son of Nun, the LORD's servant, died at the age of one hundred ten. |
9They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. Israel Disobeys the LORD | 9The people buried him in his allotted land in Timnath Heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. |
10After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. | 10That entire generation passed away; a new generation grew up that had not personally experienced the LORD's presence or seen what he had done for Israel. |
11The Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight and served the images of Baal. | 11The Israelites did evil before the LORD by worshiping the Baals. |
12They 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. | 12They abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods--the gods of the nations who lived around them. They worshiped them and made the LORD angry. |
13They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth. | 13They abandoned the LORD and worshiped Baal and the Ashtars. |
14This 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. | 14The LORD was furious with Israel and handed them over to robbers who plundered them. He turned them over to their enemies who lived around them. They could not withstand their enemies' attacks. |
15Every 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. The LORD Rescues His People | 15Whenever they went out to fight, the LORD did them harm, just as he had warned and solemnly vowed he would do. They suffered greatly. |
16Then the LORD raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers. | 16The LORD raised up leaders who delivered them from these robbers. |
17Yet 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. | 17But they did not obey their leaders. Instead they prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. They quickly turned aside from the path their ancestors had walked. Their ancestors had obeyed the LORD's commands, but they did not. |
18Whenever 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. | 18When the LORD raised up leaders for them, the LORD was with each leader and delivered the people from their enemies while the leader remained alive. The LORD felt sorry for them when they cried out in agony because of what their harsh oppressors did to them. |
19But 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. | 19When a leader died, the next generation would again act more wickedly than the previous one. They would follow after other gods, worshiping them and bowing down to them. They did not give up their practices or their stubborn ways. |
20So 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, | 20The LORD was furious with Israel. He said, "This nation has violated the terms of the agreement I made with their ancestors by disobeying me. |
21I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. | 21So I will no longer remove before them any of the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. |
22I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the LORD as their ancestors did.” | 22Joshua left those nations to test Israel. I wanted to see whether or not the people would carefully walk in the path marked out by the LORD, as their ancestors were careful to do." |
23That is why the LORD left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all. | 23This is why the LORD permitted these nations to remain and did not conquer them immediately; he did not hand them over to Joshua. |
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