Judges 2:18-23

18 When the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and vexed them.

19 But it happened, when the judge was dead, that they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them; they didn't cease from their doings, nor from their stubborn way.

20 The anger of the LORD was kindled against Yisra'el; and he said, Because this nation have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not listened to my voice;

21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Yehoshua left when he died;

22 that by them I may prove Yisra'el, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

23 So the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Yehoshua.

Judges 2:18-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 2

This chapter gives an account of an angel of the Lord appearing and rebuking the children of Israel for their present misconduct, Jud 2:1-5; of their good behaviour under Joshua, and the elders that outlived him, Jud 2:6-10; and of their idolatries they fell into afterwards, which greatly provoked the Lord to anger, Jud 2:11-15; and of the goodness of God to them nevertheless, in raising up judges to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, of which there are many instances in the following chapter, Jud 2:16-18; and yet that how, upon the demise of such persons, they relapsed into idolatry which caused the anger of God to be hot against them, and to determine not to drive out the Canaanites utterly from them, but to leave them among them to try them, Jud 2:19-23.