Judges 2:11

A Monotonous Cycle

2:11 The Israelites did evil before ¹  the Lord by worshiping ²  the Baals.

Judges 2:19-20

2:19 When a leader died, the next generation ³  would again ⁴  act more wickedly than the previous one. ⁵  They would follow after other gods, worshiping them ⁶  and bowing down to them. They did not give up ⁷  their practices or their stubborn ways.

A Divine Decision

2:20 The Lord was furious with Israel. ⁸  He said, “This nation ⁹  has violated the terms of the agreement I made with their ancestors ¹⁰  by disobeying me. ¹¹ 

[2:11]  ¹ tn Heb “in the eyes of.”

[2:11]  ² tn Or “serving”; or “following.”

[2:19]  ³ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the next generation) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:19]  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.

[2:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “their fathers.”

[2:19]  ⁶ tn Or “serving [them]”; or “following [them].”

[2:19]  ⁷ tn Or “drop.”

[2:20]  ⁸ tn Or “The Lord’s anger burned [or “raged”] against Israel.”

[2:20]  ⁹ tn Heb “Because this nation.”

[2:20]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “my covenant which I commanded their fathers.”

[2:20]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and has not listened to my voice.” The expression “to not listen to [God’s] voice” is idiomatic here for disobeying him.