Introduction:
Bochim is a significant location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Judges. The name "Bochim" translates to "weepers" in Hebrew, reflecting the sorrowful events that transpired there. This entry explores the biblical context, historical background, and theological implications of Bochim.

Biblical Context:
Bochim is primarily referenced in Judges 2:1-5. The passage describes a poignant moment in Israel's history when the Angel of the LORD delivers a message of rebuke to the Israelites. The Angel reminds them of God's covenant faithfulness and their failure to uphold their part of the covenant by making treaties with the inhabitants of the land and not tearing down their altars.

Scriptural Reference:
Judges 2:1-5 states:
"The Angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, 'I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land I had promised your fathers. I said, "I will never break My covenant with you, and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars." Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.' When the Angel of the LORD had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people lifted up their voices and wept. So they called that place Bochim and offered sacrifices there to the LORD."

Historical Background:
The event at Bochim occurs during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by a cyclical pattern of Israel's disobedience, oppression by enemies, cries for deliverance, and subsequent deliverance by judges raised by God. The Israelites' failure to fully obey God's commands regarding the conquest of Canaan led to ongoing struggles with idolatry and assimilation of pagan practices.

Theological Implications:
Bochim serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God's commands. The weeping of the Israelites at Bochim signifies their recognition of sin and the gravity of their covenant unfaithfulness. It underscores the importance of repentance and the need for a renewed commitment to God's covenant.

The presence of the Angel of the LORD at Bochim is significant, as it represents a theophany—a visible manifestation of God. This encounter emphasizes God's active involvement in the lives of His people and His desire for their holiness and obedience.

Lessons from Bochim:
1. Covenant Faithfulness: Bochim highlights the importance of remaining faithful to God's covenant. The Israelites' failure to fully obey led to spiritual and physical consequences, serving as a warning to future generations.

2. Repentance and Sacrifice: The Israelites' response of weeping and offering sacrifices at Bochim illustrates the necessity of genuine repentance and seeking reconciliation with God.

3. Divine Presence and Guidance: The Angel of the LORD's message at Bochim reassures believers of God's continued presence and guidance, even in times of failure and disobedience.

Conclusion:
While Bochim is a place of sorrow and rebuke, it also offers hope through the possibility of repentance and restoration. The events at Bochim remind believers of the seriousness of sin, the need for obedience, and the ever-present grace of God in the journey of faith.Bochim

the place of weeping; or of mulberry-trees

Bochim

(the weepers) a place on the west of Jordan, above Gilgal; so named from the weeping of Israel. (Judges 2:1,6)

Bochim

Weepings, a place near Gilgal, where the angel of the Lord reproved Israel for their remissness, Jud 2:1-5.

Weepers, a place where the angel of the Lord reproved the Israelites for entering into a league with the people of the land. This caused them bitterly to weep, and hence the name of the place (Judges 2:1, 5). It lay probably at the head of one of the valleys between Gilgal and Shiloh. BOCHIM

bo'-kim (ha-bokhim): A place on the mountain West of Gilgal said to have been so named (literally "the weepers") because Israel wept there at the remonstrance of the angel (Judges 2:1, 5). No name resembling this has been discovered. Given on the occasion mentioned, it may not have endured. Many, following Septuagint, identify it with Bethel.

1066. Bokim -- "weepers," a place in Palestine
... Bokim. 1067 . "weepers," a place in Palestine. Transliteration: Bokim Phonetic
Spelling: (bo-keem') Short Definition: Bochim. ... NASB Word Usage Bochim (2). Bochim ...
/hebrew/1066.htm - 6k

A Summary of Israel's Faithlessness and God's Patience
... THE BOOK OF JUDGES A SUMMARY OF ISRAEL'S FAITHLESSNESS AND GOD'S PATIENCE. 'And
an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a summary of israels faithlessness.htm

The Life of Mr. John Davidson.
... them to these duties, the whole meeting were in tears, every one provoking another
by his example, whereby that place might have justly been called Bochim. ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr john 3.htm

Meditations of the Blessed State of a Regenerate Man in Heaven.
... And if our loving God hath thus provided us so many excellent delights, for our
passage through this Bochim (Judges 2:5), or valley of tears, what are those ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations of the blessed state.htm

A Believer's Privilege at Death
... The world is a Bochim. Judges 2:2. Rachel wept for her children: some grieve that
they have no children, and others grieve that their children are undutiful. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/2 a believers privilege at.htm

Human Responsibility
... one solemn truth to your consciences this morning, this Hall of Music would be turned
into a house of mourning, and this place would become a Bochim, a place ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/human responsibility.htm

Apart
... if ever families were marked off the one from the other by a most manifest line
of demarcation, it was in the night of weeping when, as at Bochim, they drew ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 43 1897/apart.htm

Hebrews i. 8-Jun
... For apart from the Law, Angels sent from God enjoined many things: for instance
at Bochim, in the Judges, in [the history of] Samson. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily iii hebrews i 8-jun.htm

Spiritual Revival, the Want of the Church
... But if I have spoken truly, lay it to your hearts, and turn your houses into a
"Bochim." Weep men apart, and women apart, husbands apart, and wives apart. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 44 1898/spiritual revival the want of.htm

The Life of Mr. William Guthrie.
... plainness and affection, he laid before them their own sins, and the sins of the
land and age they lived in; and indeed the place was a Bochim""At the ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr william 2.htm

God's Barriers against Man's Sin
... But how many of you, may dear hearers, have sinned like this. I would to God, that
he would turn this house into a Bochim, that you might weep over your guilt. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/gods barriers against mans sin.htm

Bochim (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BOCHIM. ... Multi-Version Concordance Bochim (2
Occurrences). Judges 2:1 The angel of Yahweh came up from Gilgal to Bochim. ...
/b/bochim.htm - 7k

Bodices (1 Occurrence)

/b/bodices.htm - 6k

Bocheru (2 Occurrences)

/b/bocheru.htm - 7k

Bokim (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Bokim (1 Occurrence). Judges 2:1 The angel of
Yahweh came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, "I made you ...
/b/bokim.htm - 6k

Guiding (69 Occurrences)
... number, and gave him Isaac. (BBE). Judges 2:1 Now the angel of the Lord
came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, *** I took you ...
/g/guiding.htm - 26k

Gilgal (39 Occurrences)
... En Rogel. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Judges 2:1 The
angel of Yahweh came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, "I ...
/g/gilgal.htm - 27k

Sacrificed (112 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Judges 2:5 They called the name
of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there to Yahweh. ...
/s/sacrificed.htm - 38k

Sware (90 Occurrences)
... Judges 2:1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made
you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware ...
/s/sware.htm - 35k

Sworn (118 Occurrences)
... enemies into their hand. (DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV). Judges 2:1 And the angel of
the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said: '...I ...
/s/sworn.htm - 39k

Sacrifices (186 Occurrences)
... tabernacle. (KJV WBS NIV). Judges 2:5 And they called the name of that place
Bochim; and they sacrificed there unto the LORD. (See NIV). ...
/s/sacrifices.htm - 39k

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