Bible Location

Bochim

Bochim is the name given in Judges 2:1-5 to the place where the angel of the Lord rebuked Israel for failing to remain faithful to the covenant and for making agreements with the inhabitants of Canaan.

When the Israelites heard the rebuke, they wept and offered sacrifices to the Lord. The place was consequently called Bochim, meaning "weepers" or "those who weep."

Scripture does not provide enough geographical information to identify Bochim securely with a known archaeological site.

Biblical Significance

Judges 2 places Bochim at a crucial transition in Israel's history. The angel of the Lord came from Gilgal and reminded the Israelites that God had brought them from Egypt and had promised never to break His covenant with them.

Israel, however, had failed to obey the command to tear down the altars of the inhabitants of the land. The angel announced that these peoples would remain as adversaries and that their gods would become a snare.

The people responded by weeping and offering sacrifices. Bochim therefore serves as a geographical name created by the spiritual response of the people and introduces one of the central themes of Judges: Israel's repeated disobedience and its consequences.

Historical Background

Bochim is known only from the brief account in Judges 2:1-5. Unlike major cities such as Bethel or Jerusalem, the text does not describe it as a fortified settlement or provide a list of neighboring locations that would allow its position to be reconstructed confidently.

The narrative states that the angel of the Lord came from Gilgal to Bochim, but this provides direction rather than a usable distance or precise location.

Because no independent inscription or archaeological discovery securely identifies Bochim, detailed claims concerning its history would exceed the available evidence.

Modern Identification

The location of Bochim is unknown. Various interpreters have attempted to associate it with Bethel or another sanctuary in the central hill country, but Scripture does not explicitly make such an identification.

AVWJ should therefore avoid assigning Bochim to a precise archaeological site. If a map marker is required, it should be clearly labeled as approximate or uncertain.

Scripture References

Judges 2:1

Related Resources

View Location Map

Sources

Bible: Judges 2:1-5; biblical dictionaries and geographical reference works discussing Bochim and the opening chapters of Judges