Judges 1:1 to Judges 2:5. The Conquests and Settlements of the Israelites in Western Palestine. From this introduction, which is one of the most valuable parts of early Hebrew history, we learn that the various tribes invaded the land either singly or in small groups; that they had failures as well as successes; that in many instances they did not destroy the older population, but settled peacefully among them; and that, in particular, the larger cities of Canaan, as well as the fertile valleys and the Maritime Plain, remained in the possession of the Canaanites. The conquests of Judah were separated from those of Joseph by a belt of walled cities with Jerusalem in its centre. Another line of strongholds, extending from Bethshan near the Jordan to Dor on the sea coast, shut up Ephraim and Manasseh in the central highlands, and separated them from the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, which settled in Galilee. The fortunes of Israel in the time of the Judges were largely determined by these facts.
Judges 2:1-5. The Consecration of Bethel. The Israelites having now entered the land of Canaan, the religious centre was changed from Gilgal, in the plain of Jericho, to Bethel, in the central highlands, where sacrifice was offered to Yahweh. The angel of Yahweh (Genesis 16:7 *) is not a prophet, as the Rabbis taught, but Yahweh Himself manifesting His presence, here in some undefined way, often in human form (e.g. Judges 6:11, Judges 13:3). His moving from Gilgal, where He appeared as the captain of the host of the Lord, to Bethel suffices to create a new sanctuary. The LXX reads Bethel instead of Bochim, the latter finding its fitting place only in Judges 2:5. The speech (of the nature of a Midrash) contained in Judges 2:1 b - Judges 2:3, reproving the Israelites for associating with the Canaanites and not breaking down their altars, is post-exilic in spirit and diction.
Judges 2:3. The words as thorns are taken over from Numbers 33:55 to make sense, the Hebrew textthey shall be sides to you being evidently at fault. The LXX suggests they shall be enemies to you. The name Bochim (weepers) is found only here: cf. the Oak of Weeping (Genesis 35:8), and the Valley of Weeping (Psalms 84:6). Perhaps Bochim may be another form of Bekaim (balsam trees, 2 Samuel 5:23 f.). Probably Judges 2:5 b originally followed Judges 2:1.