Hakim-hakim 2:11

A Monotonous Cycle

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

Hakim-hakim 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]  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]  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.