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God Chooses Judges

16 Then the Lord chose leaders called judges,[a] who saved the Israelites from the robbers. 17 But the Israelites did not listen to their judges. They were not faithful to God but worshiped other gods instead. Their ancestors had obeyed the Lord’s commands, but they quickly turned away and did not obey. 18 When their enemies hurt them, the Israelites cried for help. So the Lord felt sorry for them and sent judges to save them from their enemies. The Lord was with those judges all their lives.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:16 judges They were not judges in courts of law, but leaders of the people in times of emergency.

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

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Footnotes

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