Judg 2:6-3:6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Judg 2:6-3:6: 2:6–3:6 The second prologue also follows from the events of Josh 23–24 (see study note on Judg 1:1–3:6), adding the element of a third generation (2:10 ) who had no personal experience of the Lord’s mighty acts.

Summary for Judg 2:6-3:6: 2:6–3:6 ^a The second prologue also follows from the events of Josh 23–24 ^b (see study note on Judg 1:1–3:6), adding the element of a third generation (2:10 ^c) who had no personal experience of the Lord’s mighty acts.
2:8 ^d Cp. 1:1 ^e; Josh 24:29-31 ^f.
Summary for Judg 2:10-19: 2:10-19 ^g Joshua was dead, the new generation had not experienced God’s saving power, and the Canaanites continued to live in the land. What resulted was the cycle of rebellion and partial restoration. This section introduces that cycle, which the body of the book exemplifies.
Summary for Judg 2:11-13: 2:11-13 ^h Israel rebelled against the Lord and began serving the gods of their neighbors, especially the Canaanite deities Baal and Asherah.

• Baal means “lord”; Ashtoreth might be a Hebrew form of the Canaanite “Astarte,” a goddess with various manifestations. See also 6:25-32 ⁱ and study notes.
Summary for Judg 2:14-15: 2:14-15 ^j As Israel served other gods, God withdrew his support. Their rebellion brought great distress from military defeat by their enemies.
2:15 ^k God was not simply absent; he was actively involved in Israel’s defeat, and the outcome of the battle belonged to the Lord (cp. 2 Chr 20:15 ^l).
Summary for Judg 2:16-19: 2:16-19 ^m The Lord raised up judges whose leadership brought partial, temporary restoration. They were later described as “judging” Israel (e.g., 3:10 ⁿ; 4:4 ^o; 10:2-3 ^p), but they were primarily known for their military victories.
Summary for Judg 2:20-23: 2:20-23 ^q The remaining Canaanites and their religion would become a source of temptation to the Israelites, offering an alternative to faithfully following the Lord and his covenant ways. This result was known and even planned by God (cp. 3:4 ^r), but God does not deliberately set his people up to sin (Jas 1:12-15 ^s). Temptations abound, but the choice to obey God or yield to temptation rests with those who claim to know him. Israel had a duty to possess the land fully, but God, not humankind, determines victory or failure.

‏ Judges 3:1-6

Summary for Judg 3:1-4: 3:1-4 ^t The ongoing presence of the Philistines and Canaanites in the land had an instructional purpose. Skills in warfare were necessary for survival in the ancient world. God allowed a continuing presence of enemies, but they would become his provision for Israel’s training and well-being.
3:3 ^u The Philistines were never listed with the native Canaanite tribes; they were invaders from the sea who settled on the southwest coast of Israel in about 1200 BC. The Philistines were organized into five cities, each with its own ruler (cp. 1 Sam 6:16-17 ^v). They are included here with the Canaanites, anticipating the prominent role they would have as Israel’s major foe from Samson’s time onward.

• The text includes Sidonians and northern Hivites to show that Israel’s ideal boundaries were well to the north and east of what they actually possessed.

• The Hivites were Canaanite (Hamitic) peoples (Gen 10:17 ^w); little is known about them. The Gibeonites, who tricked Joshua (Josh 9:3-27 ^x) were Hivites.

• Baal-hermon is possibly the largest of the three peaks that make up Mount Hermon in the northeast corner of Israel; Lebo-hamath, in southern Lebanon, marks Israel’s northernmost ideal boundary (1 Kgs 8:65 ^y).
Summary for Judg 3:5-6: 3:5-6 ^z Israel failed God’s test (3:1-4 ^aa). Intermarriage led Israel to worship in the fertility cult of the Canaanite gods.