1 An angel of Jehovah came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: I led you out of Egypt and brought you to the land about which I swore to your fathers that I would never break my covenant with you.
2 You will make no covenant with people of this land. You will throw down their altars. You have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this?
3 I also said: 'I will not drive them out from before you. They will be thorns in your sides. Their gods will snare (trap) you.'
4 When the angel of Jehovah spoke these words to all the children of Israel the people wept loudly.
5 They called that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there to Jehovah.
6 When Joshua let the people go the children of Israel went, every man, to his inheritance to possess the land.
7 The people served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works Jehovah did for Israel.
8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah, died at the age of a hundred and ten years old.
9 They buried him on the border of his inheritance in Timnath-Serah, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of Gaash hill.
10 After those generations were gathered to their fathers (died) another generation followed them. This new generation did not know Jehovah or the works he had done for Israel.
11 The children of Israel did evil in the sight of Jehovah, and served Baalim:
12 They forsook Jehovah God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them. They bowed to them and provoked Jehovah to anger.
13 They forsook Jehovah and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
14 The anger of Jehovah was hot against Israel. He delivered them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
15 Wherever they went the hand of Jehovah was against them for evil. For Jehovah had sworn to them and as Jehovah had sworn they were greatly distressed.
16 Nevertheless Jehovah established judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them.
17 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but prostituted themselves to other gods. They worshiped them. They turned quickly, out of the way in which their fathers walked obeying the commandments of Jehovah.
18 When Jehovah established judges he supported each judge. He delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days the judge lived. He had compassion for them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them.
19 When the judge was dead they returned and corrupted themselves more than their fathers. They followed other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them. They did not give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
20 The anger of Jehovah was hot against Israel. He said: Because this people have transgressed my covenant, which I commanded their fathers, and have not listened to my voice;
21 I will not drive out any of the nations that Joshua left when he died.
22 That through them I may test Israel, to see whether they will keep the way of Jehovah and walk in it as their fathers did.
23 Therefore Jehovah left those nations, without driving them out. He did not deliver them into the hand of Joshua.