Judges 10:7-17

7 And God exploded in hot anger at Israel and sold them off to the Philistines and Ammonites, who,

8 beginning that year, bullied and battered the People of Israel mercilessly. For eighteen years they had them under their thumb, all the People of Israel who lived east of the Jordan in the Amorite country of Gilead.

9 Then the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to go to war also against Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel was in a bad way!

10 The People of Israel cried out to God for help: "We've sinned against you! We left our God and worshiped the Baal gods!"

11 God answered the People of Israel: "When the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines, Sidonians

12 - even Amalek and Midian! - oppressed you and you cried out to me for help, I saved you from them.

13 And now you've gone off and betrayed me, worshiping other gods. I'm not saving you anymore.

14 Go ahead! Cry out for help to the gods you've chosen - let them get you out of the mess you're in!"

15 The People of Israel said to God: "We've sinned. Do to us whatever you think best, but please, get us out of this!"

16 Then they cleaned house of the foreign gods and worshiped only God. And God took Israel's troubles to heart.

17 The Ammonites prepared for war, setting camp in Gilead. The People of Israel set their rival camp in Mizpah.

Judges 10:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 10

This chapter gives an account of two judges of Israel, in whose days they enjoyed peace, Jud 10:1-5, after which they sinning against God, came into trouble, and were oppressed by their enemies eighteen years, and were also invaded by an army of the Ammonites, Jud 10:6-9, when they cried unto the Lord for deliverance, confessing their sin; but he had first refused to grant them any, though upon their importunity and reformation he had compassion on them, Jud 10:10-16 and the chapter is concluded with the preparation made by both armies for a battle, Jud 10:17,18.