God Chooses Judges

¹⁶ Then the Lord ·chose leaders called [^Lraised up] ·judges [leaders; ^Cnot courtroom judges, but leaders who guided the nation through difficult times, sometimes as military commanders], ·who saved the Israelites from [^Lto deliver them from the hand of] the ·robbers [raiders; plunderers]. ¹⁷ But the Israelites did not listen to their ·judges [leaders; v. 16]. They ·were not faithful to God but [^Lprostituted themselves to and] worshiped other gods instead. Their ancestors had ·obeyed [^Lwalked in the way/path of] the Lord’s commands, but they quickly turned away and did not obey. ¹⁸ Whenever the Lord sent ·judges [leaders] to save the Israelites from their enemies, he was with that ·judge [leader] and rescued the people during that ·judge’s [leader’s] lifetime. The Lord ·felt sorry for them [took pity on them; or relented] when they cried for help because of those who ·hurt [oppressed and afflicted] them.