Hakim-hakim 2:19

2:19 When a leader died, the next generation ¹  would again ²  act more wickedly than the previous one. ³  They would follow after other gods, worshiping them ⁴  and bowing down to them. They did not give up ⁵  their practices or their stubborn ways.

Hakim-hakim 9:7

Jotham’s Parable

9:7 When Jotham heard the news, ⁶  he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He spoke loudly to the people below, ⁷  “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you!

[2:19]  ¹ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the next generation) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:19]  ² 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]  ³ tn Heb “their fathers.”

[2:19]  sn The statement the next generation would again act more wickedly than the previous one must refer to the successive sinful generations after Joshua, not Joshua’s godly generation (cf. vv. 7, 17).

[2:19]  ⁴ tn Or “serving [them]”; or “following [them].”

[2:19]  ⁵ tn Or “drop.”

[9:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “And they reported to Jotham.” The subject of the plural verb is indefinite.

[9:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “He lifted his voice and called and said to them.”