Judges 2:6 is a transition verse, a bridge between the book of Joshua and the book of Judges. It summarizes the initial success of the Israelite conquest and sets the stage for the challenges that are to come. Let's break it down:
"Now when Joshua had sent the people away...": This refers back to the end of the book of Joshua. Joshua, the leader who succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land, had completed the initial military campaigns and divided the land among the tribes. He had dismissed the army, and the people were free to return to their tribal territories.
"...the children of Israel each went to his inheritance...": Each of the tribes of Israel, having received their assigned territories, dispersed to those lands. This implies that the initial conquest was deemed successful enough to allow settlement. "Inheritance" refers to the land allotted to each tribe as their divinely promised and deserved possession.
"...to possess the land.": This is the key purpose: to fully occupy, cultivate, and control the land assigned to them. "Possess" means more than just living on the land; it includes subduing any remaining Canaanites, establishing their own communities, and living according to God's laws. This implies an ongoing process, not a fully completed one.
In essence, this verse means:
The initial stage of conquering the Promised Land, under Joshua's leadership, was over. The tribes of Israel, having received their land allotments, dispersed to their respective territories with the intention of fully settling and taking control of their inheritance.
Importance of the verse in the context of Judges:
This verse creates a sense of optimism and promise. The Israelites have been given their land and are poised to fulfill God's covenant. However, the rest of the book of Judges will show that this initial promise was not fully realized. The Israelites failed to completely drive out the Canaanites and, more importantly, they began to worship other gods. The book of Judges details the consequences of their disobedience: cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance.
Therefore, Judges 2:6 acts as a setup, a contrast to the disappointing events that follow. It highlights the potential for success, which makes the subsequent failures of Israel even more tragic. The verse suggests that the Israelites had the opportunity to fully possess the land, but they squandered it through disobedience and lack of faith.
Judges 2:6 is a transition verse, a bridge between the book of Joshua and the book of Judges. It summarizes the initial success of the Israelite conquest and sets the stage for the challenges that are to come. Let's break it down:
"Now when Joshua had sent the people away...": This refers back to the end of the book of Joshua. Joshua, the leader who succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land, had completed the initial military campaigns and divided the land among the tribes. He had dismissed the army, and the people were free to return to their tribal territories.
"...the children of Israel each went to his inheritance...": Each of the tribes of Israel, having received their assigned territories, dispersed to those lands. This implies that the initial conquest was deemed successful enough to allow settlement. "Inheritance" refers to the land allotted to each tribe as their divinely promised and deserved possession.
"...to possess the land.": This is the key purpose: to fully occupy, cultivate, and control the land assigned to them. "Possess" means more than just living on the land; it includes subduing any remaining Canaanites, establishing their own communities, and living according to God's laws. This implies an ongoing process, not a fully completed one.
In essence, this verse means:
The initial stage of conquering the Promised Land, under Joshua's leadership, was over. The tribes of Israel, having received their land allotments, dispersed to their respective territories with the intention of fully settling and taking control of their inheritance.
Importance of the verse in the context of Judges:
This verse creates a sense of optimism and promise. The Israelites have been given their land and are poised to fulfill God's covenant. However, the rest of the book of Judges will show that this initial promise was not fully realized. The Israelites failed to completely drive out the Canaanites and, more importantly, they began to worship other gods. The book of Judges details the consequences of their disobedience: cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance.
Therefore, Judges 2:6 acts as a setup, a contrast to the disappointing events that follow. It highlights the potential for success, which makes the subsequent failures of Israel even more tragic. The verse suggests that the Israelites had the opportunity to fully possess the land, but they squandered it through disobedience and lack of faith.