“And the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said: I made
you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I swore
unto your fathers. And I said: I will never break My covenant with you.”
Abravanel follows ancient Jewish predecessors to explain the identity of our verse’s “angel of
God.” Either the angel was a man who had received prophecy from the Maker or possibly, the
angel was Phineas. Either way, the angel heard God’s word in Gilgal. He then left Gilgal and
went to a place called Bochim. In Hebrew it means to cry or weep. Abravanel continues. The
place had another name (though we don’t know what) and only later, after the Hebrews heard
the angel’s words and internalized the fraught message that brought people to tears, did the
place get its new name – Bochim.
The angel of God commenced his speech. “And he said: I made you go up out of Egypt, and
have brought you unto the land which I swore unto your fathers…” What was the angel driving
at with his rousing words? What did he want to impart at this very historic juncture, so shortly
after Joshua’s death?
Chilling words they were. “And I said: I will never break My covenant with you.” Explanation, or
better qualification followed, according to Abravanel. The angel taught the Children of Israel
that the Creator hadn’t budged, nor would He ever budge from His affection for His people.
Here’s the thing about God’s love for His people, evidenced by divine covenant with the nation.
It’s conditional. “And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land. You shall
break down their altars. But you have not hearkened unto My voice. What is this you have
done?” God made matters crystal clear. If the Jews desired to commit themselves to the
covenant with the Maker, then the nation would not be at liberty to sign side agreements with
Canaanites, seeing that they are God’s enemies.
Abravanel simplifies matters. Whereas, God is the One Who brought the Jews out of Egypt, and
whereas, He is their Master and Ruler, it would be the height of chutzpah and injudicious
conduct to go behind the Master’s back for purposes of consummating a compact with the
Master’s foes. It just isn’t done.
Yet, the Jews did precisely that. They had not driven out the Canaanites from the Holy Land.
Worse still, the Jews entered into agreements with the pagans. “But you have not hearkened
unto My voice. What is this you have done?”
God said more. “Wherefore I also said: I will not drive them out from before you. But they shall
be unto you as snares, and their gods shall be a trap unto you.” Since the Jews made their bed,
so to speak, they would face the consequences of their infidelity to God. “I will not drive them
out…” Of course, the Maker knew exactly what would transpire: “They shall be unto you as
snares, and their gods shall be a trap…”
Abravanel concludes his remarks. The reason why God communicated this message at this
juncture had to do with the facts on the ground after Joshua’s death. The tribes had been lax in
ousting Canaanite pockets within their respective territories, as we read in Judges 1. Hence,
God’s words serve as a rebuke and warning for not having expelled Canaanites from Israel.
The Jews reaction came quickly. “And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spoke these
words unto all the Children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they
called the name of that place Bochim; and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.”