Judges 2:13-14

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

2:14 The Lord was furious with Israel² and handed them over to robbers who plundered them.³ He turned them over to⁴ their enemies who lived around them. They could not withstand their enemies’ attacks.⁵

Judges 2:19-20

Context
2:19 When a leader died, the next generation⁶ would again⁷ act more wickedly than the previous one.⁸ They would follow after other gods, worshiping them⁹ and bowing down to them. They did not give up¹⁰ their practices or their stubborn ways.

A Divine Decision

2:20 The Lord was furious with Israel.¹¹ He said, “This nation¹² has violated the terms of the agreement I made with their ancestors¹³ by disobeying me.¹⁴

[2:13] ¹tn 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).

[2:14] ²tn Or “The Lord’s anger burned [or “raged”] against Israel.”

[2:14] ³tn Heb “robbers who robbed them.” (The verb שָׁסָה [shasah] appears twice in the verse.)

[2:14] ⁴tn Heb “sold them into the hands of.”

[2:14] ⁵tn The word “attacks” is supplied in the translation both for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

[2:19] ⁶tn Heb “they”; the referent (the next generation) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:19] ⁷tn 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.

[2:19] ⁸tn Heb “their fathers.”

[2:19] ⁹tn Or “serving [them]”; or “following [them].”

[2:19] ¹⁰tn Or “drop.”

[2:20] ¹¹tn Or “The Lord’s anger burned [or “raged”] against Israel.”

[2:20] ¹²tn Heb “Because this nation.”

[2:20] ¹³tn Heb “my covenant which I commanded their fathers.”

[2:20] ¹⁴tn Heb “and has not listened to my voice.” The expression “to not listen to [God’s] voice” is idiomatic here for disobeying him.