Forced Labour and Covenants

**Judges 1:19 - 2:5**

Fresh start and promise
From other readings in the Bible it appears that God requested that the Israelites perform quite a difficult task. That is to drive out the nations of Canaan. God had promised the land to the Israelis. This was a fresh start to be a nation with no king but Yahweh. A non human. The creator of the universe. It appears that the nations of Canaan were heavily steeped in idolatry and submission to kings with dozens and dozens of kings. Any child born into such a society would immediately be subjugated to such practices of the time some even to sacrifice as a form of worship.

Forced Labour (1:28 - 35)
But for all the various reasons, it is clear that the Israelites did not follow through and drive them out completely. Rather they kept many many towns around and began to subject the inhabitants to forced labour. Rather than start a new free society subject to the One, Yahweh, they began to subjugate people to themselves. At first it appears that it is purely a strength based thing, and all though it is, "When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labour but they never drove them out completely" on closer inspection we begin to realise there's more to it...

Covenants (2: 1 - 5)
In response to this disobedience, the Angel of the Lord speaks to the people, "I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."

So it appears the Israelites rather than drive out and start afresh, they instead made covenants with the Canaanites which somehow left the Canaanites in forced labour. A pact,  a deal, perhaps under threat? Do this or else. Covenants of this sort are always happening among 'authorities' and the people. Pay up or else. Join the army or else and so on.
The Israelites went there to break their altars, change this way of authoritarian life but instead in disobedience began to absorb that life. Long term slaves rather than one time enemies. The Canaan gods became the Israelite gods...and a snare.

This snare is echoed in 1 Samuel 8:19-20 when after being warned about the dangers of having a king the people respond, 'no! we want a king, then we can be like the other nations.'
They want gods, little gods, this acceptance of the little god, human kings queens is a rejection of the one and only true king. Yahweh. Jesus Christ.

An interesting phenomenon about the staying power of setting up such gods. Judges 2: 4 -5 show the people weeping as they realise their disobedience. This is echoed in 1 Samuel 12:19 where the people respond as they see their disobedience in asking for a king and their rejection of God as one and only King. Why is it that they don't just reverse the decision/situation? Break the covenant with the Canaanites, stop the covenant with the king?
As we observe in all governmental and authoritarian states, once instigated, legislated and covenanted, reversing such things is difficult.
This may also reflect our modern day blase approach to covenants (on a side note, like marriage!). We don't truly understand the seriousness of swearing by things. Is it any wonder then that Jesus in the sermon of the mount says, do not swear by heaven, the city or the king. Just let your yes be yes and no be no.