Hakim-hakim 2:13-15

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  2:15 Whenever they went out to fight, ⁶  the Lord did them harm, ⁷  just as he had warned and solemnly vowed he would do. ⁸  They suffered greatly. ⁹ 

[2:13]  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).

[2:13]  sn The Ashtars were local manifestations of the goddess Astarte.

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

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

[2:14]  sn The expression robbers who plundered them is a derogatory reference to the enemy nations, as the next line indicates.

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

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

[2:15]  ⁶ tn The expression “to fight” is interpretive.

[2:15]  ⁷ tn Heb “the Lord’s hand was against them for harm.”

[2:15]  ⁸ tn Heb “just as he had said and just as he had sworn to them.”

[2:15]  ⁹ tn Or “they experienced great distress.”