Judges 2:13-14

2:13 They abandoned the Lord and worshiped Baal and the Ashtars. ¹ 

2:14 The Lord was furious with Israel ²  and handed them over to robbers who plundered them. ³  He turned them over to ⁴  their enemies who lived around them. They could not withstand their enemies’ attacks. ⁵ 

Judges 2:19-20

2:19 When a leader died, the next generation ⁶  would again ⁷  act more wickedly than the previous one. ⁸  They would follow after other gods, worshiping them ⁹  and bowing down to them. They did not give up ¹⁰  their practices or their stubborn ways.

A Divine Decision

2:20 The Lord was furious with Israel. ¹¹  He said, “This nation ¹²  has violated the terms of the agreement I made with their ancestors ¹³  by disobeying me. ¹⁴ 

¹ tn Some English translations simply transliterate the plural Hebrew term (“Ashtaroth,” cf. NAB, NASB), pluralize the transliterated Hebrew singular form (“Ashtoreths,” cf. NIV), or use a variation of the name (“Astartes,” cf. NRSV).

² tn Or “The Lord’s anger burned [or “raged”] against Israel.”

³ tn Heb “robbers who robbed them.” (The verb שָׁסָה [shasah] appears twice in the verse.)

⁴ tn Heb “sold them into the hands of.”

⁵ tn The word “attacks” is supplied in the translation both for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

³ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the next generation) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn The verb שׁוּב (shuv, “to return; to turn”) is sometimes translated “turn back” here, but it is probably used in an adverbial sense, indicating that the main action (“act wickedly”) is being repeated.

⁵ tn Heb “their fathers.”

⁶ tn Or “serving [them]”; or “following [them].”

⁷ tn Or “drop.”

⁴ tn Or “The Lord’s anger burned [or “raged”] against Israel.”

⁵ tn Heb “Because this nation.”

⁶ tn Heb “my covenant which I commanded their fathers.”

⁷ tn Heb “and has not listened to my voice.” The expression “to not listen to [God’s] voice” is idiomatic here for disobeying him.