1Yahweh’s angel came from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you out of Egypt and led you to the land I promised your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my agreement with you.’
2‘You must not make any agreement with the people who live in this land. You must tear down their altars.’ But you haven’t listened to me. Why have you done this?
3Therefore, I also said, ‘I will not drive them out from before you, but they will be a constant trouble to you, and their gods will trap you.’
4When Yahweh’s angel finished saying these things to all the people of Israel, they cried out loudly and wept.
5They named that place Bochim, and they offered sacrifices to Yahweh there.
6After Joshua sent the people away, each person of Israel went to take possession of their inherited land.
7The people served Yahweh throughout Joshua’s lifetime and throughout the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua, those who had seen all the great things Yahweh had done for Israel.
8Joshua, son of Nun, Yahweh’s servant, died when he was 110 years old.
9They buried him within the borders of his inherited land in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
10After that entire generation passed away, another generation grew up that did not know Yahweh, or remember what he had done for Israel.
11The people of Israel did what Yahweh considered evil and worshipped the Baals.
12They abandoned Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed other gods, the gods of the people around them, and bowed down to them. They made Yahweh angry.
13They abandoned Yahweh and served Baal and the Asherah idols.
14Yahweh became furious with Israel and handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, so they could no longer stand against their enemies.
15Wherever they went, Yahweh was against them, bringing disaster, just as Yahweh had warned and solemnly promised them. They were in deep distress.
16Then Yahweh raised up judges, who rescued them from the power of those who plundered them.
17However, they did not listen to their judges. Instead, they were unfaithful to other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned away from the path their ancestors had followed, which was obeying Yahweh’s commands. They did not follow their ancestors’ example.
18Whenever Yahweh raised up judges for them, Yahweh was with the judge and rescued them from their enemies throughout the judge's lifetime. For Yahweh was moved by their groaning because of those who oppressed and troubled them.
19But when the judge died, they would go back to their corrupt ways, acting even worse than their ancestors. They would follow other gods, serve them, and bow down to them. They did not stop their evil practices or stubborn behavior.
20Yahweh was very angry with Israel. He said, "Because this nation broke my agreement that I commanded their ancestors to keep, and they have not listened to me,
21I will no longer remove any of the nations that Joshua left behind when he died.
22I will use these nations to test Israel, to see if they will follow Yahweh’s path as their ancestors did, or not."
23So Yahweh let those nations remain; he did not quickly drive them out or hand them over to Joshua.