Hakim-hakim 2:3

2:3 At that time I also warned you, ¹  ‘If you disobey, ²  I will not drive out the Canaanites ³  before you. They will ensnare you ⁴  and their gods will lure you away.’” ⁵ 

Hakim-hakim 2:11-15

A Monotonous Cycle

2:11 The Israelites did evil before ⁶  the Lord by worshiping ⁷  the Baals. 2:12 They abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors ⁸  who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods – the gods of the nations who lived around them. They worshiped ⁹  them and made the Lord angry. 2:13 They abandoned the Lord and worshiped Baal and the Ashtars. ¹⁰ 

2:14 The Lord was furious with Israel ¹¹  and handed them over to robbers who plundered them. ¹²  He turned them over to ¹³  their enemies who lived around them. They could not withstand their enemies’ attacks. ¹⁴  2:15 Whenever they went out to fight, ¹⁵  the Lord did them harm, ¹⁶  just as he had warned and solemnly vowed he would do. ¹⁷  They suffered greatly. ¹⁸ 

[2:3]  ¹ tn Heb “And I also said.” The use of the perfect tense here suggests that the messenger is recalling an earlier statement (see Josh 23:12-13). However, some translate, “And I also say,” understanding the following words as an announcement of judgment upon those gathered at Bokim.

[2:3]  ² tn The words “If you disobey” are supplied in the translation for clarity. See Josh 23:12-13.

[2:3]  ³ tn Heb “them”; the referent (the Canaanites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:3]  ⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew word צִדִּים (tsiddim) is uncertain in this context. It may be related to an Akkadian cognate meaning “snare.” If so, a more literal translation would be “they will become snares to you.” Normally the term in question means “sides,” but this makes no sense here. On the basis of Num 33:55 some suggest the word for “thorns” has been accidentally omitted. If this word is added, the text would read, “they will become [thorns] in your sides” (cf. NASB, NIV, NLT).

[2:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “their gods will become a snare to you.”

[2:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “in the eyes of.”

[2:11]  ⁷ tn Or “serving”; or “following.”

[2:12]  ⁸ tn Or “fathers.”

[2:12]  ⁹ tn Or “bowed before” (the same expression occurs in the following verse).

[2:13]  ¹⁰ 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]  ¹¹ tn Or “The Lord’s anger burned [or “raged”] against Israel.”

[2:14]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ tn Heb “sold them into the hands of.”

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

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

[2:15]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “the Lord’s hand was against them for harm.”

[2:15]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “just as he had said and just as he had sworn to them.”

[2:15]  ¹⁸ tn Or “they experienced great distress.”