Judges 2:17-18

2:17 But they did not obey ¹  their leaders. Instead they prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped ²  them. They quickly turned aside from the path ³  their ancestors ⁴  had walked. Their ancestors had obeyed the Lord’s commands, but they did not. ⁵  2:18 When the Lord raised up leaders for them, the Lord was with each leader and delivered the people ⁶  from their enemies while the leader remained alive. The Lord felt sorry for them ⁷  when they cried out in agony because of what their harsh oppressors did to them. ⁸ 

[2:17]  ¹ tn Or “did not listen to.”

[2:17]  ² tn Or “bowed before.”

[2:17]  ³ tn Or “way [of life].”

[2:17]  ⁴ tn Or “fathers.”

[2:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “…walked, obeying the Lord’s commands. They did not do this.”

[2:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “them”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:18]  ⁷ tn The phrase “for them” is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[2:18]  ⁸ tn Heb “the ones oppressing them and afflicting them.” The synonyms “oppressing” and “afflicting” are joined together in the translation as “harsh oppressors” to emphasize the cruel character of their enemies.