Single lesson
The Angel's Message at Bochim
Judges 2:1–5
In this lesson, children will hear the angel’s message at Bochim, put the account in order, and notice the link between God’s words, the people’s choices, and the outcome that followed.
Before you teach
In Judges 2:1–5, Yahweh’s angel speaks to all the children of Israel. The message looks back to Yahweh bringing them out of Egypt and into the land, repeats his covenant statement and his command not to make a covenant with the inhabitants and to break down their altars, and announces a consequence for not listening.
Students will be able to retell the five-part sequence in Judges 2:1–5 and name one instruction, one failure, and one outcome from the passage.
Welcome: Hear the place name Bochim
4 minWelcome the group and introduce the lesson focus: a message, a choice, and a response. Tell children to listen for what Yahweh had done, what he had commanded, and how the people reacted. Explain that Bochim becomes the place name after the people hear the message and weep.
Judges 2:1, Judges 2:4, Judges 2:5
Read and explain: What the angel says first
8 minRead Judges 2:1–3 aloud slowly. Point out the order: Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt, brought them to the land, and said he would never break his covenant. Then the message recalls God’s command not to make a covenant with the inhabitants and to break down their altars. The people had not listened.
Judges 2:1, Judges 2:2
Discuss the outcome: What happened because they did not listen
6 minHelp children trace the consequence in the text itself. The angel says Yahweh would not drive the inhabitants out from before them. The passage then says those people would be ‘in your sides’ and their gods would be ‘a snare’. Explain ‘snare’ as a trap. Keep the focus on the stated consequence.
Judges 2:3
Make and respond: Sequence cards for the account
8 minChildren make five simple sequence cards and draw one part on each: the angel came, Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt, God’s command, the consequence, and the people weeping and sacrificing. As they order the cards, ask them to say which parts show God’s faithfulness and which parts show the people’s response.
Judges 2:1, Judges 2:2, Judges 2:3, Judges 2:4, Judges 2:5
Closing: Name the lesson from Bochim
4 minReview the sequence together in one minute per child or pair. Ask them to finish three prompts: ‘God said...’, ‘The people did...’, and ‘Then...’. Close by noting that the people wept and sacrificed to Yahweh after hearing the message. Invite a short prayer of thanks for God’s truthful words.
Judges 2:2, Judges 2:3, Judges 2:4, Judges 2:5
Questions to explore
What are the first two things the angel says Yahweh had already done for Israel?
Look at the beginning of the message and find the two actions before the covenant statement: he brought them out of Egypt and brought them to the land.
Judges 2:1
What had the people been told to do in the land, and what does the angel say they did instead?
Read the command carefully, then compare it with the angel’s question about their response to God’s voice.
Judges 2:2
How did the people respond when they heard these words, and what was the place called?
Find the actions of the people after the speech and notice the name given to the place.
Judges 2:4, Judges 2:5
Make, think or respond
Bochim Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or crayons
- Scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Read Judges 2:1–5 aloud together.
- Make five small cards and draw one event from each verse or main action in order.
- Mix the cards up and work in pairs to place them back in the right sequence.
- Ask each pair to explain which card shows God’s words, which shows the people’s choice, and which shows the outcome.
This activity helps children retell the account in order and see how the message in Judges 2:1–5 moves from God’s words to the people’s response and its consequence.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare five labelled cards in advance and let them match simple drawings to each verse while saying one short phrase from the passage.
- For older or stronger readers, ask them to write a caption on each card using words from the verses such as ‘covenant’, ‘listened’, ‘snare’, ‘wept’, and ‘sacrificed’.
An optional closing prayer
‘Lord God, thank you that your words are true. Please help us listen carefully to what you say and respond to you rightly. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Judges 2
1 Yahweh’s angel came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, “I brought you out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to give your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you.
2 You shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land. You shall break down their altars.’ But you have not listened to my voice. Why have you done this?
3 Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.’ ”
4 When Yahweh’s angel spoke these words to all the children of Israel, the people lifted up their voice and wept.
5 They called the name of that place Bochim, and they sacrificed there to Yahweh.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.