Judges 2:1-5 begins by describing the travel path of the angel of the Lord.

Now the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim  (v 1). Gilgal, located near Jericho, was the first campsite of the Israelites after crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Joshua 4:19). Bochim, meaning "weepers," symbolizes the sorrow and repentance of Israel, and is a place not previously mentioned. This celestial figure, the angel of the Lord, may be the same one who appears to Hagar in Genesis 16 and prevents Abraham from killing Isaac in Genesis 22, as well as appearing as a burning bush before Moses in Exodus 3. The word angel is translated from the Hebrew “mal'āḵ,” meaning “messenger” or “representative.” Many believe that the definite article the in the phrase the angel of the Lord indicates that this angel is God or Christ appearing, rather than an angel of no particular distinction. In the Old Testament, whenever the angel of the Lord appears, he speaks directly for God. This may mean that the angel of the Lord was the Son of God before He came to earth as the man Jesus of Nazareth.

The angel’s message recalls God's faithfulness and speaks directly for God: “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’” (v 1).

This reference to the Exodus out of Egypt and the promise to the fathers (the patriarchs of the Israelites: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) yet again solidifies God's unchanging commitment. Judges 2:1 lies among countless instances where God reassured the Israelites of His promise to them. He says He will never break His covenant with them, and yet, they continue to doubt and disobey. Part of the covenant are provisions for punishments if the Israelites fail to fulfill their responsibilities as vassals to the Suzerain (ruler) God (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

The angel then unleashes a rebuke against the Israelites: “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?” (v 2). The Israelites were commanded to refrain from making treaties with the Canaanites and to destroy their places of worship (Deuteronomy 7:2-5). Their failure to do so, as described in Judges 1, continues their narrative of disobedience and compromise, leading to spiritual contamination and idolatry.

God declares the consequences of their disobedience: “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’” (v 3). This warning refers to God’s initial command that the Israelites' failure to follow God's commands would result in the Canaanites remaining in the land as a persistent source of trouble and temptation (Exodus 23:33). The illustration of thorns in your sides suggests constant pain and difficulty, while their gods will be a snare to you predicts spiritual seduction leading to idolatry (Exodus 34:12; Numbers 33:55; Joshua 23:13; Psalm 106:36; Deuteronomy 7:16).

Hearing these words, the people lifted up their voices and wept (v 4). The Israelites show their recognition of their failure and the seriousness of the consequences. This communal grief leads to the naming of the place Bochim, meaning "weepers." The Israelites are displaying repentance, which means they regret their disobedience and want to be faithful to God.

In response to their repentance, there they sacrificed to the Lord (v 5). This act of worship and sacrifice signifies a return to God, seeking forgiveness and restoration. Sacrifices were an essential aspect of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, serving as a means to atone for sins and renew commitment to God's commands. In the Psalms, David writes about these kinds of sacrifice:

“For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
(Psalm 51:16-17)

It is not the act of sacrificing an animal that pleases the Lord, but the humble and repentant hearts of His people. Judges 2:1-5 shows the steadfastness and mercy of God as He continues to reiterate His covenant with them and communicate with them. The Israelites, however, display their inconsistency. They have not kept their side of the covenant and must again be brought to their knees in confession.

In the early stages of Israel's history, following their conquest of Canaan, a profound moment occurred that highlights their spiritual trajectory. The Israelites, having witnessed God's powerful deliverance from Egypt, faced a pivotal challenge: remaining faithful to the covenant established through Moses. This chapter introduces the theme of their struggle with disobedience and the dire consequences of abandoning God's commandments. God sends an angel to remind them of His covenant and the importance of driving out the remaining Canaanites, a command they had failed to fully execute. The failure to fully honor God’s law opened a pathway for the influence of foreign gods.

In Judges 2:1, the message delivered by the angel serves as both a warning and a reminder of the consequences of their disobedience. Their plight serves as a template for understanding the cyclic nature of sin and redemption that permeates the Book of Judges. This notion of spiritual complacency leading to apostasy is a recurring theme not only in Israel's history but in the personal lives of believers today.