The angel of Hashem comes up from Gilgal to Bochim and rebukes the broken covenant; the generation that knew Hashem dies, Israel serves the Baalim, and Hashem raises up judges — the pattern of the whole book is set.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And the angel of Hashem came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said: ‘...I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said: I will never break My covenant with you;
verse value 6208
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 99 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֤ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·angel·of·Hashem" (מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָ֛ה, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 461: you, you, with·you. 10 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "from·Gilgal" (מִן־הַגִּלְגָּ֖ל), "to·Bochim" (אֶל־הַבֹּכִ֑ים), "I·will·bring·up" (אַעֲלֶ֨ה). The root עלה appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Bochim·and·he·said" (root אמר, 268x in Judges); "that" (root אשר, 178x in Judges); "to·the·land" (root איל, 114x in Judges). First appearance of the root מלאך ("the·angel·of·Hashem") in Judges. First appearance of the root מצרים ("from·Egypt") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Bochim', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 15 words.
Rashi
"And the angel of the Lord went up." We learned in Seder Olam (Chapter 19): This was Pinchas.
To the weepers. The name of the place:
"I will bring you up." Thus was My intention from the beginning to bring you up from Egypt, and so I did, in order to dispossess My enemies.
Radak
And the angel of the Lord went up. Jonathan translated: “And the prophet ascended on a mission from before the Lord.” And our Sages of blessed memory said that this prophet was Phinehas.
"From Gilgal." There this prophecy was told to him, which he would speak to Israel in this place; perhaps he gathered them there by the word of the LORD, or perhaps they were gathered there for another matter.
To the weepers. The place is called so because they wept there, as it says:
"I will bring you up." The future tense is used in place of the past tense, and there are many examples like this.
Ralbag
And the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim. Meaning, to the place which they later called Bochim, on account of the weeping with which Israel wept there. And this angel was a prophet, for it cannot be that the angel of the Lord would speak to many together in this manner, as we have mentioned in places in our commentary on the words of the Torah. And likewise Yonatan the Translator translated that this angel was a prophet. And it seems that this prophet was Pinchas, as our Sages of blessed memory said. And the text says he went up from Gilgal because that is where he was when this prophecy came to him.
Metzudat David
"Angel of the Lord": "Prophet of the Lord," as the Targum translates it. And our Sages of blessed memory said (Leviticus Rabbah 1:1) that this refers to Pinchas.
"From Gilgal." There the prophecy came to him.
“to the weepers.” There the Israelites gathered.
"And He said, I will bring [you] up." He said to them, in place of the Lord: "Behold, I have assured you that I will bring you up from Egypt, etc."
Metzudat Zion
An angel. The sense of a messenger [shaliach]:
Bochim ['the weeping']. Named after its end-result, that the place was called 'Bochim' [weeping]:
I will annul. From the word for breaking and nullification:
Malbim
Questions (2): Why does the verse "I will bring you up" use the future tense instead of the past tense? (11) Why does the narrative here return to the death of Joshua and the elders, which was already mentioned at the end of the Book of Joshua? From verse 11 to the end of the chapter, there are repeated and superfluous statements, most of which have no relevance to this context at all.
"And he went up." After they had made a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, the angel of the Lord—who is a prophet [sent] on a mission from the Lord—went up to reprove them for this matter.
"And He said, I will bring you up." This reproof revolves around two matters: 1) from the aspect of the evil inherent in the act itself, in the manner of "your evil shall punish you"; 2) from the aspect of the damage that results from it. Regarding the first point, He says, "Did I not think, I will bring you up, etc.," meaning: 1) the elevation from the greatest lowliness, namely the state of Egypt; 2) the attainment of the highest level, which is "and I will bring you into the land." And therefore I said that you would recognize this good as eternal, and that you are obligated to Me for it with gratitude and service. And therefore I will not break My covenant with you forever, but only conditionally.
and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars; but you have not hearkened to My voice; what is this you have done?
verse value 6955
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 66 letters. Verse gematria: 6955 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "and·you" (וְאַתֶּ֗ם, 4 letters) and the longest is "their·altars" (מִזְבְּחוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם, 9 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "you·shall·not·cut" (לֹֽא־תִכְרְת֤וּ), "to·inhabitants·of" (לְיֽוֹשְׁבֵי֙), "their·altars" (מִזְבְּחוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם). The root זאת appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "you·have·done" (root עשה, 87x in Judges); "to·inhabitants·of" (root ישב, 69x in Judges); "earth" (root ארץ, 56x in Judges). First appearance of the root אתה ("and·you") in Judges. First appearance of the root כרת ("you·shall·not·cut") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you·must·tear·down', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְאַתֶּ֗ם [and·you] (447) + לֹֽא־תִכְרְת֤וּ [you·shall·not·cut] (1057) + בְרִית֙ [covenant] (612) + לְיֽוֹשְׁבֵי֙ [to·inhabitants·of] (358) + הָאָ֣רֶץ [earth] (296) + הַזֹּ֔את [this] (413) + מִזְבְּחוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם [their·altars] (518) + תִּתֹּצ֑וּן [you·must·tear·down] (946) + וְלֹא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֥ם [and·not·you·have·heard] (887) + בְּקוֹלִ֖י [voice] (148) + מַה־זֹּ֥את [what·is·this] (453) + עֲשִׂיתֶֽם [you·have·done] (820) = 6955.
Metzudat David
“And you.” On the condition that you too will heed Me, and you shall not cut a covenant, etc.
"And you did not heed My voice." To fulfill the condition:
"What have you done? Is this not a great folly?"
Metzudat Zion
You shall tear down. From the word for demolition and breaking:
Malbim
"And you shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land." After this covenant with the enemies of God contradicts the covenant that is between Me and you, for it is impossible for the love of God to coexist with the love of His enemies and those who curse Him; and now, since you did not heed My voice and forgot all the rewards I have bestowed upon you, what have you done? Is this not an evil deed in and of itself, as it is stated, "Know and see that it is evil and bitter that you have forsaken the Lord your God"?
Wherefore I also said: I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be to you as snares, and their gods shall be a trap to you.’
verse value 2907
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "and·also" (וְגַ֣ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·their·God" (וֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: to·you, to·you. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "not·I·will·drive·out" (לֹא־אֲגָרֵ֥שׁ), "and·they·shall·be" (וְהָי֤וּ), "to·sides" (לְצִדִּ֔ים). The root היה appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "I·utteranced" (root אמר, 268x in Judges); "and·they·shall·be" (root היה, 120x in Judges); "and·their·God" (root אלהים, 57x in Judges). First appearance of the root גרש ("not·I·will·drive·out") in Judges. First appearance of the root לכם ("to·you") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·your·face', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְגַ֣ם [and·also] (49) + אָמַ֔רְתִּי [I·utteranced] (651) + לֹא־אֲגָרֵ֥שׁ [not·I·will·drive·out] (535) + אוֹתָ֖ם [them] (447) + מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם [from·your·face] (240) + וְהָי֤וּ [and·they·shall·be] (27) + לָכֶם֙ [to·you] (90) + לְצִדִּ֔ים [to·sides] (174) + וֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם [and·their·God] (97) + יִהְי֥וּ [they·will·be] (31) + לָכֶ֖ם [to·you] (90) + לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ [to·snare] (476) = 2907.
Rashi
"And I also said." Now I said in My anger:
"To be as flanks." [Meaning] those who ally alongside you in troops and legions, to plunder and to pillage:
Radak
"To hunters." The verse is elliptical, and its meaning is "to the thorns, to the hunters." Jonathan translated it "oppressors," as if [the word were spelled] with a resh. And there are those who explain it from the root "tzud" [to hunt], as in "tzeduni" [Lamentations 3:52], with the dagesh replacing the omitted second root letter, like "u-fturei tzitzim" [the carved flowers, 1 Kings 6:18] — meaning that they will hunt and capture you.
Metzudat David
"And I also said." This means: Just as you have done, so too will I do. And I said now, that it will not be within your power to expel them, even if you wish to expel them from this time forth.
"For a snare." When you go astray after them, and thereby you will stumble, being delivered into the hand of the enemy.
Metzudat Zion
Capturing. A term of hunting [tsidyah], meaning to capture souls:
Malbim
"And also." (He elucidates the matter of the previous verse): "Will not harm befall you from your deeds? For because of this, I said, 'I will not drive them out from before you,' and they will harm you, both in governance, for they will be snares to you, and in faith, for their gods will be a trap to you." He clarified for them that they sinned: a) against that which is good in its own right, b) against that which is beneficial.
And it came to pass, when the angel of Hashem spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
verse value 2820
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 59 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "the·people" (הָעָ֛ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·words" (אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "when·speaking" (כְּדַבֵּ֞ר), "the·words" (אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים), "to·all·sons·of" (אֶֽל־כׇּל־בְּנֵ֖י). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "and·it·was" (root היה, 120x in Judges); "to·all·sons·of" (root איל, 114x in Judges). First appearance of the root אלה ("these") in Judges. First appearance of the root נשא ("and·they·lifted") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֗י [and·it·was] (31) + כְּדַבֵּ֞ר [when·speaking] (226) + מַלְאַ֤ךְ [messenger] (91) + יְהֹוָה֙ [Hashem] (26) + אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים [the·words] (662) + הָאֵ֔לֶּה [these] (41) + אֶֽל־כׇּל־בְּנֵ֖י [to·all·sons·of] (143) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ [and·they·lifted] (323) + הָעָ֛ם [the·people] (115) + אֶת־קוֹלָ֖ם [voice] (577) + וַיִּבְכּֽוּ [and·they·wept] (44) = 2820.
Malbim
"And it came to pass." At that time they were stirred to weep, for they saw that they had acted foolishly.
And they called the name of that place Bochim; and they sacrificed there to Hashem.
verse value 1378
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 34 letters. Verse gematria: 1378 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "that" (הַה֖וּא, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·they·sacrificed·there" (וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־שָׁ֖ם, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "name·of·the·place" (שֵֽׁם־הַמָּק֥וֹם), "Bochim" (בֹּכִ֑ים), "and·they·sacrificed·there" (וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־שָׁ֖ם). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "that" (root הוא, 71x in Judges); "and·they·called" (root קרא, 38x in Judges). First appearance of the root מקום ("name·of·the·place") in Judges. First appearance of the root זבח ("and·they·sacrificed·there") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Bochim', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַֽיִּקְרְא֛וּ [and·they·called] (323) + שֵֽׁם־הַמָּק֥וֹם [name·of·the·place] (531) + הַה֖וּא [that] (17) + בֹּכִ֑ים [Bochim] (72) + וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־שָׁ֖ם [and·they·sacrificed·there] (379) + לַיהֹוָֽה [to·Hashem] (56) = 1378.
Metzudat David
Bochim. Named after the weeping.
And they sacrificed. Because they repented of their deeds and brought sacrifices to appease the Lord:
Now when Joshua had sent the people away, the children of Israel went every man to his inheritance to possess the land.
verse value 4398
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 47 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֥ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Israel" (בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל, 8 letters). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "man" (root איש, 190x in Judges); "sons·of·Israel" (root בן, 116x in Judges); "and·they·went" (root הלך, 109x in Judges). First appearance of the root נחלה ("to·his·inheritance") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·people', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח [and·sent] (354) + יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ [Joshua] (391) + אֶת־הָעָ֑ם [the·people] (516) + וַיֵּלְכ֧וּ [and·they·went] (72) + בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל [sons·of·Israel] (603) + אִ֥ישׁ [man] (311) + לְנַחֲלָת֖וֹ [to·his·inheritance] (524) + לָרֶ֥שֶׁת [to·possess] (930) + אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ [the·land] (697) = 4398.
Rashi
"And Joshua sent the people" etc. This incident occurred earlier; however, since the text comes to state (verse 11): "And they did evil," it began by stating thus: "Joshua." When he died and they had taken upon themselves before him to serve the Lord, he sent them, each to his inheritance. And they served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders, and afterward: "And the children of Israel did evil."
Radak
"And Joshua sent" [the people away]. He had already sent them, and [the author] wrote these matters again here, since the Israelites had done evil in the eyes of the LORD; and it says that all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived him, they did not do evil — because they had seen the wondrous deeds He had done for Israel: that He brought them across the Jordan on dry land, the standing still of the sun and moon, and the defeat of the kings.
Ralbag
And Joshua sent the people away. Meaning, that he had already sent the people away before this, and the text returns to mention this because it was necessary to state that Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the deeds of the Lord in Egypt and by the sea and in the wilderness and in the days of Joshua.
Metzudat David
And he sent them, etc. Although it was already stated at the end of the Book of Joshua (24:28), it is repeated here to teach that even though Joshua sent them, each man to his inheritance, under his vine and under his fig tree:
Malbim
“And he sent.” The entire preceding narrative took place while the elders who outlived Joshua were still alive; in their days, the people still served the Lord, only that they had been negligent in conquering the land. An angel came and rebuked them regarding this, and they repented, wept, and offered sacrifices to the Lord. Now the text begins to relate what occurred after the death of the elders. It first states that Joshua initially sent the people to inherit the land in accordance with the commandment of the Torah, and they maintained their service of the Lord.
And the people served Hashem all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Hashem, that He had wrought for Israel.
verse value 6023
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 95 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "all" (כֹּ֖ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·they·served" (וַיַּעַבְד֤וּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that, that. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "the·old·men" (הַזְּקֵנִ֗ים), "made·long" (הֶאֱרִ֤יכוּ), "Joshua" (יְהוֹשׁ֔וּעַ). The root יום appears 3 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 178x in Judges); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "for·Israel" (root ישראל, 114x in Judges). First appearance of the root עבד ("and·they·served") in Judges. First appearance of the root כל ("all") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Joshua', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 17 words.
Rashi
“Which prolonged days, etc.”—They prolonged days, but they did not prolong years, because they were lazy in eulogizing him. This is what is stated (verse 9): “Mount Gaash,” meaning that the mountain quaked upon them to kill them.
Metzudat David
"And the people served." And they too recognized the good.
"And they served the Lord all the days..." Nevertheless, they quickly forgot the deeds of the Lord and did evil after the death of Joshua and the elders, as is explained subsequently.
"asher ra'u" – These are the elders who saw, etc., and by this they straightened the hearts of Israel to serve the Lord.
Malbim
“And they served.” And similarly, they held fast to their integrity, and they served the Lord all the days of Joshua and the elders who succeeded him, because the elders had seen the deeds of the Lord with their own eyes, they instructed the people and guided them in the paths of righteousness.
And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Hashem, died, being a hundred and ten years old.
verse value 2181
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 34 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "servant·of" (עֶ֣בֶד, 3 letters) and the longest is "Joshua" (יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ, 5 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "son·of·Nun" (בִּן־נ֖וּן), "servant·of" (עֶ֣בֶד), "son·of·hundred" (בֶּן־מֵאָ֥ה). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "son·of·Nun" (root בין, 50x in Judges); "and·he·died" (root מות, 43x in Judges). First appearance of the root שנה ("years") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיָּ֛מׇת [and·he·died] (456) + יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ [Joshua] (391) + בִּן־נ֖וּן [son·of·Nun] (158) + עֶ֣בֶד [servant·of] (76) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + בֶּן־מֵאָ֥ה [son·of·hundred] (98) + וָעֶ֖שֶׂר [and·ten] (576) + שָׁנִֽים [years] (400) = 2181.
And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
verse value 3846
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 47 letters. The shortest word is "in·mountain·of" (בְּהַ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·Timnath-heres" (בְּתִמְנַת־חֶ֖רֶס, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "his·inheritance" (נַחֲלָת֔וֹ), "in·Timnath-heres" (בְּתִמְנַת־חֶ֖רֶס), "to·mountain·of·Gaash" (לְהַר־גָּֽעַשׁ). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·mountain·of" (root הר, 28x in Judges). First appearance of the root קבר ("and·they·buried") in Judges. First appearance of the root צפון ("north") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Ephraim', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְבְּר֤וּ [and·they·buried] (324) + אוֹתוֹ֙ [him] (413) + בִּגְב֣וּל [in·border·of] (43) + נַחֲלָת֔וֹ [his·inheritance] (494) + בְּתִמְנַת־חֶ֖רֶס [in·Timnath-heres] (1160) + בְּהַ֣ר [in·mountain·of] (207) + אֶפְרָ֑יִם [Ephraim] (331) + מִצְּפ֖וֹן [north] (266) + לְהַר־גָּֽעַשׁ [to·mountain·of·Gaash] (608) = 3846.
Rashi
In Tmanat Charas. Named because they set up an image of the sun over his grave, meaning: woe to the man who made the sun stand still and yet lies in a grave.
Metzudat Zion
"Cheres." This is [the same as] "Serach," mentioned in the book of Joshua (22:30), and its letters are transposed, like "keves" and "kesev" [two forms of the word for "lamb," with transposed letters]:
And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them, that knew not Hashem, nor yet the work which He had wrought for Israel.
verse value 5189
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 79 letters. The shortest word is "and·also" (וְגַם֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·his·fathers" (אֶל־אֲבוֹתָ֑יו, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "all·the·generation" (כׇּל־הַדּ֣וֹר), "to·his·fathers" (אֶל־אֲבוֹתָ֑יו), "the·deed" (אֶת־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה). The root גם appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 178x in Judges); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "to·his·fathers" (root איל, 114x in Judges). First appearance of the root אסף ("were·gathered") in Judges. First appearance of the root קום ("and·arose") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·his·fathers', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 12 words.
Ralbag
And indeed it was clarified in the matter of Yiftach that the time of Joshua and the elders was no more than about twenty-seven years. Therefore it is necessary that the meaning of 'and also all that generation were gathered to their fathers' be that they had already been gathered to their fathers, namely the elders, all of them who had seen all the deed of the Lord. For from the Exodus from Egypt until this time there were only sixty-six years, and it is remote that there would be found in Israel then anyone whose days were more than sixty-seven years. But without doubt there were many there who were eighty years old and more. But since they were not wise men, all the deed of the Lord did not help them to save Israel from doing evil in the sight of the Lord. But as for the elders, because they were leading the people, they saved them from this as long as they lived.
Metzudat David
"They did not know." In terms of intellectual knowledge:
“And also the deed.” They did not know even the deed, for it had been forgotten by them.
Metzudat Zion
Were gathered. The sense of death, as in (Numbers 20:24) 'Aaron shall be gathered [to his people]':
And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Hashem, and served the Baalim.
verse value 2495
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 41 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה, 4 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Israel" (בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל, 8 letters). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "sons·of·Israel" (root בן, 116x in Judges); "and·they·did" (root עשה, 87x in Judges). First appearance of the root רעע ("the·evil") in Judges. First appearance of the root עין ("in·eyes·of") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיַּעֲשׂ֧וּ [and·they·did] (392) + בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל [sons·of·Israel] (603) + אֶת־הָרַ֖ע [the·evil] (676) + בְּעֵינֵ֣י [in·eyes·of] (142) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + וַיַּעַבְד֖וּ [and·they·served] (98) + אֶת־הַבְּעָלִֽים [the·Baalim] (558) = 2495.
Radak
“And they served the masters.” The idols and carved images are called by this name, for they are like a master to their worshippers.
Malbim
(From verse 11 through verse 20, it is a parenthetical statement, serving as a kind of presentation and introduction to the entire book and to all the narratives of the days of the Judges):
"And they made." He considers that they collapsed in three stages, one after the other: a) First, they did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, meaning they sinned against the commandments of the Torah; b) Afterwards, they reached the extreme of rebellion, to the point that they served the Baalim. And now he explains that within this rebellion, in which they served idolatry, there were also two degrees: for there is one who serves idolatry in conjunction [with the recognition of the true God], and there is one who forgets that God made him, absolutely. And initially, they served in conjunction. And this is what is stated—
And they forsook Hashem, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples that were round about them, and worshipped them; and they provoked Hashem.
verse value 5666
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 103 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱלֹהִ֣ים) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁר֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "their·around" (סְבִיב֣וֹתֵיהֶ֔ם, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 427: Hashem, Hashem. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "who·brought·out" (הַמּוֹצִ֣יא), "of·the·gods·of" (מֵאֱלֹהֵ֤י), "the·peoples" (הָֽעַמִּים֙). The root אלהים appears 3 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 178x in Judges); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "and·they·went" (root הלך, 109x in Judges). First appearance of the root עזב ("and·they·forsook") in Judges. First appearance of the root סביב ("their·around") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 18 and 2 words.
Ralbag
And it is mentioned that after the death of those elders Israel did evil and served the idols.
Malbim
“And they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers.” (There is a distinction for me everywhere between when the Name of the Lord is mentioned simply, in which case it speaks of Him from the aspect of His being the Creator of the world and its Renewer, and when the Name Elohim is mentioned in a designation (such as God of Israel, God of their fathers), in which case it speaks of Him from the aspect of the connection He has with Israel and with their fathers, whom He chose as His portion and watched over with extraordinary providence.) From this aspect, it is forbidden for them to engage in idolatrous association, because they are not subject to any ministering angel or star, but only under the providence of the Lord, as it is said, “which the LORD allotted to all the peoples, but you, the LORD has taken.” And at the time they engage in idolatrous association, even though they do not forsake the Lord in His own essence—since they still believe that He is the Creator of the world and its Renewer—nevertheless, they forsake the Lord, God of Israel, or the Lord, God of their fathers. That is to say, they forsake Him in His capacity as the God of Israel and the God of their fathers, by virtue of which they are under the command of His providence and there is no strange god with them. This is what is meant when it says first that they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers: that they began to engage in idolatrous association and forsook the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, from whom they received complete, unique providence, and who set them apart as His portion. And they went after other gods, and by this they angered the Lord in that they associated the Divine Name with something else. And afterwards they collapsed further and descended to astonishing depths.
And they forsook Hashem, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
verse value 2170
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 30 letters. The shortest word is "to·the·Baal" (לַבַּ֖עַל, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·to·the·Ashtaroth" (וְלָעַשְׁתָּרֽוֹת, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "and·to·the·Ashtaroth" (וְלָעַשְׁתָּרֽוֹת). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "to·the·Baal" (root בעל, 33x in Judges); "and·they·served" (root עבד, 23x in Judges). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיַּעַזְב֖וּ [and·they·forsook] (101) + אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (427) + וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ [and·they·served] (98) + לַבַּ֖עַל [to·the·Baal] (132) + וְלָעַשְׁתָּרֽוֹת [and·to·the·Ashtaroth] (1412) = 2170.
Radak
"To Baal and to the Ashtaroth." Images made in the form of ewes, which are female sheep.
Metzudat Zion
To Baal and to Ashtaroth. Names of idolatrous deities:
Malbim
“And they forsook the Lord.” This is also from the perspective that He is the Lord, the Creator of reality, for they denied the Lord and said, “He is not,” and they served Baal and Ashtaroth.
And the anger of Hashem was kindled against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and He gave them over into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
verse value 3726
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 83 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 3726 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "in·hand·of" (בְּיַ֤ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "into·hand·of·spoilers" (בְּיַד־שֹׁסִ֔ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 74: enemy, enemy. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "into·hand·of·spoilers" (בְּיַד־שֹׁסִ֔ים), "and·they·plundered" (וַיָּשֹׁ֖סּוּ), "and·not·they·were·able" (וְלֹא־יָכְל֣וּ). The root איב appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "in·Israel" (root ישראל, 114x in Judges); "in·hand·of" (root יד, 75x in Judges). First appearance of the root חרה ("and·was·kindled·anger·of") in Judges. First appearance of the root מכר ("and·sold·them") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'them', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 9 words.
Radak
"Into the hand of plunderers, and they plundered them." These are two [different] roots, yet the matter is one, and their meaning here is the same.
Metzudat David
“Around.” Those who sit nearby are more pressing [in their influence] than the enemy who comes from afar and departs.
And they could no longer stand. The fact that in these matters it is generally recounted their deeds and their recompense throughout all the days of the Judges, and it says: If at first they had some measure of revival, yet in the end they could not stand and endure.
Metzudat Zion
Crushing. Treading down and trampling, as in (Zechariah 14:2) "the houses shall be trampled":
And He sold them. Handed them over, as if selling them:
Malbim
"And He became angry." Just as they sinned in three stages, so too He brought their punishment in three stages: 1) First, He delivered them into the hand of plunderers, who came to plunder their wealth and property.
b) Afterwards, "and He sold them into the hand of their enemies around them," who were enemies to them themselves because they were their evil neighbors. And the meaning of "and He sold them" is that He delivered them into their hands, for by removing His providence from them, the shadow [of protection] over them departed, and they were abandoned to nature and chance, and they could no longer stand before their enemies, who were stronger than them by nature.
c) And afterwards, He added to punish them in actuality, not merely by withdrawing His providence, so that—
Whithersoever they went out, the hand of Hashem was against them for evil, as Hashem had spoken, and as Hashem had sworn to them; and they were sore distressed.
verse value 3696
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 63 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "in·them" (בְּכֹ֣ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·hand·of·Hashem" (יַד־יְהֹוָה֙, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 75: to·them, to·them. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "they·went·out" (יָצְא֗וּ), "the·hand·of·Hashem" (יַד־יְהֹוָה֙), "was·among·them" (הָֽיְתָה־בָּ֣ם). The root אשר appears 3 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 178x in Judges); "the·hand·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "was·among·them" (root היה, 120x in Judges). First appearance of the root רע ("for·evil") in Judges. First appearance of the root מאד ("very") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 3 words.
Rashi
In all that they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil. Regarding Avimelekh, Mahlon, and Kilion, it is stated in Seder Olam (Chapter 12):
Radak
“Concerning all that they went out.” In every place where they went out to wage war, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, and they were struck down before their enemies. And according to the homiletical interpretation, it was concerning Avimelekh, Machlon, and Chilyon that it is said that they went out from the Land of Israel to dwell in the field of Moab, and all three of them died there.
"Vayeitzer lahem" [and they were distressed]. Its root is י-צ-ר, not as per the words of Rabbi Yehuda Chayyuj. And likewise, "vayeitzer lo" [Genesis 32:8] and "tzaru tzaadei ono" [Job 18:7] — their sense is that of distress. [These reflect] two roots, but the meaning is one.
Metzudat David
"In all that they went out." In every place where they went out to war, evil came upon them, and they collapsed and fell.
Metzudat Zion
Distressed. From the word for strait and pressure:
Malbim
"In all that they went out, the hand of the Lord was upon them for evil." This means that initially, when there was only the concealment of the Divine Countenance, the evil did not occur by the hand of the Lord, but came naturally of itself. Now, however, He punished them in actuality and by the stroke of His hand. Initially, when there was only the concealment of the Divine Countenance, it could be conceived that at times they would also succeed, by way of nature, against an enemy who was weak by nature. Now, however, that He punished them in actuality with His own hand, behold, in all that they went out, even though it was fitting that they should succeed by way of nature, the hand of the Lord was upon them so that they would not succeed, as He had spoken to them: that when they would serve idolatry, He would punish them in actuality. And thus He continued to do evil to them until they were greatly distressed, and they recognized the evil they had done, and began to return.
And Hashem raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
verse value 1538
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 29 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "from·hand·of" (מִיַּ֖ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·saved·them" (וַיּ֣וֹשִׁיע֔וּם, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "and·they·saved·them" (וַיּ֣וֹשִׁיע֔וּם), "who·spoiled·them" (שֹׁסֵיהֶֽם). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "from·hand·of" (root יד, 75x in Judges); "and·he·raised·up" (root קום, 43x in Judges). First appearance of the root שפט ("judgment") in Judges. First appearance of the root ישע ("and·they·saved·them") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'judgment', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיָּ֥קֶם [and·he·raised·up] (156) + יְהֹוָ֖ה [Hashem] (26) + שֹׁפְטִ֑ים [judgment] (439) + וַיּ֣וֹשִׁיע֔וּם [and·they·saved·them] (448) + מִיַּ֖ד [from·hand·of] (54) + שֹׁסֵיהֶֽם [who·spoiled·them] (415) = 1538.
Rashi
"And the Lord raised up judges." Always from generation to generation, as He counts and continues in this book, one judge after another:
Metzudat David
"And they saved them." In order to save them from the enemy, for they will admonish the people to return to God, and if they listen, they will be saved.
Malbim
"And the Lord raised up judges." I have already written that this statement, in its entirety, from the tenth verse until the end of the section, serves as a comprehensive introduction to the entire book. The book relates the affairs of Israel throughout the days of the Judges, up to Samuel the Prophet. The author of the book writes that during that period, their sin persisted in one of the three levels mentioned above, and their punishment came in one of the three types of punishments mentioned above. Now, it will relate how the matter of the Judges who arose in every generation to save Israel unfolded. Initially, it states in general terms: "And the Lord raised up judges, and He saved them"—meaning that whenever they were in distress, He raised up judges for them, and likewise, the judges who were appointed for them saved them from the hands of their oppressors. In this regard, all the Judges were equal, in that salvation came to Israel through them. However, there was a difference in the duration of the salvation. We find Judges whose salvation lasted for the entire lifetime of the Judge, such as Othniel, Deborah, and their like. And we find Judges in whose lifetime the enemies returned to rule over them, such as Ehud, Samson, and their like. It explains that this depended on the generation: if they heeded the voice of the Judge throughout his lifetime, then they were saved for the entire lifetime of the Judge until his death, after which they returned to their wickedness. And sometimes they rebelled and turned aside quickly while the Judge was still alive, and an enemy ruled over them during the Judge's lifetime. And this is what it says—
And yet they hearkened not to their judges, for they went astray after other gods, and worshipped them; they turned aside quickly out of the way wherein their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Hashem; they did not so.
verse value 5759
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 89 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱלֹהִ֣ים) = 86, equal to Elohim. Verse gematria: 5759 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·their·judges" (אֶל־שֹֽׁפְטֵיהֶם֙, 8 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "to·their·judges" (אֶל־שֹֽׁפְטֵיהֶם֙), "they·commited·fornication" (זָנ֗וּ), "they·turned·aside" (סָ֣רוּ). The root שמע appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 178x in Judges); "the·commandments·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "to·their·judges" (root איל, 114x in Judges). First appearance of the root זנה ("they·commited·fornication") in Judges. First appearance of the root סור ("they·turned·aside") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 10 words.
Metzudat David
And also. This means: but it did not help in this matter, for they did not listen even to their judges.
"They turned aside quickly." This means: with great speed, they turned aside completely and utterly from the path in one single act, and not by gradually withdrawing little by little.
To heed. Which they heeded:
They did not do so, as their forefathers did:
Metzudat Zion
They played the harlot. Compared them to a harlot who abandons the husband of her youth and loves another:
Malbim
"And also." This means that at times they did not even listen to their judges, for they went astray, etc. They turned aside quickly during the lifetime of the judge, and by this they deviated from the path upon which their fathers had walked, namely to heed the commandments of the Lord. For their fathers’ way was to heed the commandments of their prophets and judges, as it is stated (in verse 7): "And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders." But they did not act in this manner. And at this time, an enemy grew strong while the judge was still alive.
And when Hashem raised them up judges, then Hashem was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for it repented Hashem because of their groaning by reason of them that oppressed them and crushed them.
verse value 3687
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 92 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֥ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "all" (כֹּ֖ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·when·he·raised" (וְכִי־הֵקִ֨ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 26: Hashem, and·it·shall·be, Hashem, Hashem. 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "and·when·he·raised" (וְכִי־הֵקִ֨ים), "with·the·judge" (עִם־הַשֹּׁפֵ֔ט), "and·saved·them" (וְהֽוֹשִׁיעָם֙). The root יהוה appears 3 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "and·it·shall·be" (root היה, 120x in Judges); "day" (root יום, 76x in Judges). First appearance of the root נחם ("for·He·relented") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'that·judges', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 6 words.
Rashi
"And He raised up" – this is in the present tense, indicating that just as He would raise up judges for them, and the Lord would be with the judge, etc.
"Ki yenachem." That He would relent for their sake concerning the harm; thus Targum Yonatan renders it.
Mena'akatam. Because of their moaning, which rises up before Him on account of their enemies:
Ralbag
And the text relates in general how was their custom in the days of the judges, until they would not settle to serve the Lord except in the days of the judge, and when he died they would return to corrupt their ways.
Metzudat David
"And when He raised up." That is, when He would raise up judges for them:
With the judge. With every judge of his time:
"and He saved them." This refers to the Lord:
"From their moaning." Because they cried out to pray and return to God, not out of love of the Omnipresent, but rather out of the pressure of the enemy.
Metzudat Zion
Relented. The sense of reversing a thought [i.e., changing one's mind]:
Their cry. The sense of a cry from heartache, as in (Exodus 6:5) 'I have heard their cry':
Their affliction and their distress. This is the repetition of one idea in different words to strengthen the matter, and it is a great rule in the words of the prophets:
Malbim
"And he died." But Joshua died, and also that entire generation was gathered in [i.e., passed away], and another generation arose which did not know the Lord through investigation and study, nor did they know the deeds [of God] according to what their eyes had seen. From then on, they began to abandon the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness.
"וכי" – this means that at times He raised up judges, and the Lord would have compassion on them because of their groaning under their oppressors, and He would save them all the days of the judge's life. And this too was according to the deeds of the generation: for as long as they stood in their righteousness and cried out to the Lord, He would relent from the evil all the days of the judge. As for the phrase "their oppressors and their pressers," the "oppressor" refers to those who pressed upon them with taxation and servitude, whereas the "presser" came in its stead, constricting them in their space, as it is said, "Let no man press his neighbor" (Joel 2). Nevertheless, in all this...
But it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to worship them; they left nothing undone of their practices, nor of their stubborn way.
verse value 5983
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 89 letters. Notable word values: "and·it·shall·be" (וְהָיָ֣ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֤א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·to·bow·down" (וּלְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֣ת, 8 letters). 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "at·death·of" (בְּמ֣וֹת), "and·dealt·corruptly" (וְהִשְׁחִ֣יתוּ), "from·their·fathers" (מֵֽאֲבוֹתָ֔ם). The root אחר appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·shall·be" (root היה, 120x in Judges); "to·go" (root הלך, 109x in Judges); "not" (root לא, 77x in Judges). First appearance of the root שוב ("they·turned·back") in Judges. First appearance of the root שחת ("and·dealt·corruptly") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 5 words.
Rashi
They did not cast down. They left nothing undone, so that they would be reproved by all that came upon them.
Radak
They did not abandon their deeds. They did not abandon a single evil deed from the deeds of their fathers; rather, they did all their evil.
Metzudat David
"And it came to pass when the judge died." This means to say that even that repentance was nothing but due to the reproofs of the judge, and as soon as he died and was no longer there to reprove them, they returned and corrupted their way, in the manner of the ways of their fathers, who did evil before that judge arose.
"They did not diminish." They did not diminish from the deeds and ways of their fathers, which were harsh and evil.
Metzudat Zion
Did not diminish. Did not lessen, and its parallel is (Job 12:3) 'I do not fall short of you':
Their deeds. Their actions:
Malbim
"And it came to pass, when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers." This was the cause that after the death of the judge they were given over to plunder and spoil.
And the anger of Hashem was kindled against Israel; and He said: ‘Because this nation have transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened to My voice;
verse value 5600
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 72 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 5600 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "because" (יַ֩עַן֩, 3 letters) and the longest is "covenant" (אֶת־בְּרִיתִי֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "because" (יַ֩עַן֩), "they·transgressed" (עָבְר֜וּ), "the·nation" (הַגּ֣וֹי). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 268x in Judges); "that" (root אשר, 178x in Judges); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges). First appearance of the root עבר ("they·transgressed") in Judges. First appearance of the root גוי ("the·nation") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 13 words.
Ralbag
And therefore the anger of the Lord burned against Israel. And it says that He would not add to drive out any man from before them of the nations which Joshua left, that He died before driving them out.
Metzudat Zion
It burned [i.e., God was angry]. The sense of anger:
Because. On account of:
Malbim
And He was angry. After having introduced this preamble from verse 11 up to here, he returns to what he concluded in verse 10: "And a generation arose after them who did not know the Lord," etc. Therefore, "And the anger of the Lord burned against Israel," because after God saw that they had collapsed from their faith, His anger burned against those generations, and He said, "Because they transgressed My covenant" (and they did not listen to My voice; and above [in verse 2] it says, "And you did not listen to My voice." Hearing "in the voice" [בקול] is accepting the commandment or the matters on their own merit, whereas hearing "to the voice" [לקול] is that one hears the argument and the proof from the side of reason, as in "And he listened to the voice of my adversaries" (Jeremiah 18) and "Give ear to the voice of the shofar" (ibid. 6), meaning their arguments, and the testimony of the shofar, which indicates calamity; and he adds that they did not set their hearts to listen on the basis of the argument and the proof).
I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died;
verse value 2960
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 49 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "from·the·nations" (מִן־הַגּוֹיִ֛ם, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "I·will·add" (אוֹסִ֔יף), "from·their·face" (מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם), "from·the·nations" (מִן־הַגּוֹיִ֛ם). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "man" (root איש, 190x in Judges); "that·he·left" (root אשר, 178x in Judges); "not" (root לא, 77x in Judges). First appearance of the root יסף ("I·will·add") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·their·face', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: גַּם־אֲנִי֙ [also·I] (104) + לֹ֣א [not] (31) + אוֹסִ֔יף [I·will·add] (157) + לְהוֹרִ֥ישׁ [to·dispossess] (551) + אִ֖ישׁ [man] (311) + מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם [from·their·face] (225) + מִן־הַגּוֹיִ֛ם [from·the·nations] (154) + אֲשֶׁר־עָזַ֥ב [that·he·left] (580) + יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ [Joshua] (391) + וַיָּמֹֽת [and·he·died] (456) = 2960.
Metzudat David
"Also I." Just as they have done, so will I repay in kind, also I.
"Who left them, etc." This means that he left them in their place of his own accord and died, for he did not wish to drive them all out during his lifetime, as it is stated in the verse (Exodus 23:30), "Little by little I will drive them out."
Metzudat Zion
To dispossess. To drive out:
He left. He abandoned:
Malbim
I too will not add to dispossess any man from before them. Rather, the nations will remain in the Land of Israel to be like thorns.
"Which Joshua had left." This is a parenthetical remark, meaning that Joshua's having left them and not dispossessed them during his lifetime was already a cause from the Lord, and it is—
that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Hashem to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.’
verse value 5091
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 57 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֜ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "in·them" (בָּ֖ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "Israel" (אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 42: in·them, in·them. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "to·test" (נַסּ֥וֹת), "way" (אֶת־דֶּ֨רֶךְ), "kept" (שָׁמְר֥וּ). The root בם appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "as" (root אשר, 178x in Judges); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "to·go" (root הלך, 109x in Judges). First appearance of the root נסה ("to·test") in Judges. First appearance of the root בם ("in·them") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 10 words. Full calculation: לְמַ֛עַן [so·that] (190) + נַסּ֥וֹת [to·test] (516) + בָּ֖ם [in·them] (42) + אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (942) + הֲשֹׁמְרִ֣ים [that·keep] (595) + הֵם֩ [abundance] (45) + אֶת־דֶּ֨רֶךְ [way] (625) + יְהֹוָ֜ה [Hashem] (26) + לָלֶ֣כֶת [to·go] (480) + בָּ֗ם [in·them] (42) + כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר [as] (521) + שָׁמְר֥וּ [kept] (546) + אֲבוֹתָ֖ם [their·fathers] (449) + אִם־לֹֽא [if·not] (72) = 5091.
Rashi
"Are they keeping?" [Hashomerim heim]. The letter heh is vocalized with a chataf patach, because it is an expression of inquiry and testing.
Ralbag
For He left them to test Israel by them—[to see] whether they would keep the way of the Lord. And this, that this was a cause to reveal the blemish of Israel and their not being strong in the faith of the Lord, blessed be He. And therefore Israel was not worthy that the destruction of all these nations be completed for them in the days of Joshua.
Metzudat David
"For the purpose of testing." This means that for this reason the Lord chose this particular punishment and not another, namely, in order to test the Israelites, to see whether they would serve their God or not. And this is what is written: "Those who keep..." etc.
Metzudat Zion
To test. From the word for trial [nisayon]:
Malbim
"For the purpose of testing": He desired to test the generation that followed Joshua, to see whether they would observe the way of the Lord by dispossessing the nations, and that they would not make a covenant with them. And for this reason—
So Hashem left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered He them into the hand of Joshua.
verse value 2868
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 48 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "quickly" (מַהֵ֑ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "into·hand·of·Joshua" (בְּיַד־יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ, 8 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Judges. Unique to this verse in Judges (hapax): "and·he·deposited" (וַיַּנַּ֤ח), "the·nations" (אֶת־הַגּוֹיִ֣ם), "dispossessing·them" (הוֹרִישָׁ֖ם). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 171x in Judges); "and·not" (root לא, 77x in Judges); "into·hand·of·Joshua" (root יד, 75x in Judges). First appearance of the root נוח ("and·he·deposited") in Judges. First appearance of the root בלתי ("and·not·to") in Judges. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'quickly', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיַּנַּ֤ח [and·he·deposited] (74) + יְהֹוָה֙ [Hashem] (26) + אֶת־הַגּוֹיִ֣ם [the·nations] (465) + הָאֵ֔לֶּה [these] (41) + לְבִלְתִּ֥י [and·not·to] (472) + הוֹרִישָׁ֖ם [dispossessing·them] (561) + מַהֵ֑ר [quickly] (245) + וְלֹ֥א [and·not] (37) + נְתָנָ֖ם [he·gave·them] (540) + בְּיַד־יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ [into·hand·of·Joshua] (407) = 2868.
Metzudat David
And He left. For this reason, He chose this punishment and left these nations mentioned below:
“Lest He drive them out quickly.” This means that His wisdom decreed that He would not drive them out quickly, but rather little by little. For this reason, “He did not give them into the hand of Joshua from the beginning,” and on account of the punishment, and in order to test them, etc., He left them entirely and did not continue to displace any person from that time on.
Malbim
"And the Lord left these nations, to not drive them out quickly." And the days of the conquest were prolonged until after the death of Joshua, in order to see whether the generation after him would keep the Torah of the Lord to drive them out, and that they would not make a covenant with them. And all of this is a parenthetical statement, from which he derives what he stated afterward: that since they did not stand the test and did not drive them out, and as he explained at length in Chapter 1, therefore, when the anger of the Lord burned, He decreed that He would not add to driving out any man from before them, and they could no longer overcome them. And as Joshua foretold to them (Joshua 23:12-13), "If you turn back... you shall know for certain that the Lord will not add to driving them out from before you, and they shall be to you as a snare until your destruction," etc. And this was fulfilled after his death.
Rashi
Radak
Ralbag
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion
Malbim