Judges — Chapter 2

The Angel of the Lord who speaks at Bochim is understood by some as the Word of God Himself, by others as the Archangel Michael. He rebukes Israel for making league with the Canaanites. The \"Bochim\" (weepers) are named from the tears shed there — true repentance is the gateway to mercy.

The Lord raised up judges to deliver them. Lapide: every Judge was a type (typus) of Christ the Saviour, raised up to free God's people from servitude — as Christ was raised up to free us from sin, death, and the devil. The pattern of apostasy, chastisement, repentance, and salvation recurs throughout the book, foreshadowing the whole economy of Redemption.

No sooner was each judge dead than Israel relapsed into worse idolatry. Lapide cites S. Augustine: corruptio optimi pessima — the fall of one who has known grace is worse than the fall of those who never had it. The remnant Canaanites serve as tests of fidelity.