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14-15 with the Israelites that he let other nations raid Israel and steal their crops and other possessions. Enemies were everywhere, and the Lord always let them defeat Israel in battle. The Lord had warned Israel he would do this, and now the Israelites were miserable.

The Lord Chooses Leaders for Israel

16 From time to time, the Lord would choose special leaders known as judges.[a] These judges would lead the Israelites into battle and defeat the enemies that made raids on them. 17 In years gone by, the Israelites had been faithful to the Lord, but now they were quick to be unfaithful and to refuse even to listen to these judges. The Israelites disobeyed the Lord, and instead of worshiping him, they worshiped other gods.

18 When enemies made life miserable for the Israelites, the Lord felt sorry for them. He would choose a judge and help that judge rescue Israel from its enemies. The Lord was kind to Israel as long as that judge lived.

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Footnotes

  1. 2.16 special leaders known as judges: The Hebrew text has “judges.” In addition to leading Israelites in battle, these special leaders also decided legal cases and sometimes performed religious duties.

14 In his anger(A) against Israel the Lord gave them into the hands(B) of raiders who plundered(C) them. He sold them(D) into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.(E) 15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them(F) to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.(G)

16 Then the Lord raised up judges,[a](H) who saved(I) them out of the hands of these raiders. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted(J) themselves to other gods(K) and worshiped them.(L) They quickly turned(M) from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the Lord’s commands.(N) 18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved(O) them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented(P) because of their groaning(Q) under those who oppressed and afflicted(R) them.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 2:16 Or leaders; similarly in verses 17-19