The next generation

Judges 2:10 - After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who neither knew the LORD nor what he had done for Israel.

Obviously this is a generalization as there were (and always are) a few who know the LORD and what he has done for his people. But I wonder that it happened so quickly that the Israelites went their own way. Sure, there were those Canaanites that they never totally wiped out still living among them. But Israel was a strong majority. I wonder how much influence the Canaanite minority really had. I'm sure their different life styles, practices, and habits were tempting to many Israelites -- especially if sex, money, or power was involved.

I wonder how much of the blame for what happened to the next generation should be put on the previous generation. How many parents gave up, or never started, teaching their children about the LORD, about the books of Moses, about Israeli history. Did they consider that to be the priests' and Levites' job? Did they think such things were reserved for the Sabbath Day and didn't matter much the rest of the week? Did they even observe the laws of the Sabbath? Was there just too much work to do that they couldn't get it all done in 6 days every week and so sometimes had to work on the Sabbath too? I wonder if anyone was punished for working on the Sabbath during this time.