Chapter
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Verse
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Judges 2:20
ESV So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he said, "Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice,
NIV Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and said, "Because this nation has violated the covenant I ordained for their ancestors and has not listened to me,
NASB So the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He said, 'Because this nation has violated My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not listened to My voice,
CSB The Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and he declared, "Because this nation has violated my covenant that I made with their fathers and disobeyed me,
NLT So the Lord burned with anger against Israel. He said, 'Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands,
KJV And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
NKJV Then the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice,

What does Judges 2:20 mean?

This brings us back to a similar pronouncement, from God, made at the beginning of this chapter (Judges 2:1–5). Because of Israel's failure to purge the evil Canaanites from the land, He will stop aiding them in their conquest (Judges 2:21).

There are two ways to read the beginning of this verse. It's possible to read the phrasing to mean either "in this way," or "for this reason." Either fits the meaning of the passage. The Lord's anger against Israel is expressed in allowing them to suffer oppression and violence from surrounding nations (Judges 2:16–19). At the same time, Israel's suffering is earned by their constant disloyalty to God, choosing to follow the evil sins of the Canaanites (Judges 2:11–15).

Likewise, there are two levels in which these verses are applied, in practice. Because Israel failed to follow God's directions for purging the Promised Land of evil (Deuteronomy 20:16–18), God allowed the local Canaanites to remain. This led to temptation and corruption of the people of Israel. At the same time, God chooses to no longer aid Israel in conquering territory which is part of the Promised Land. The growth of Israel, in the Old Testament, stops well short of the borders guaranteed in God's covenant with their ancestors. Israel will not control their fully allotted territory until the end times (Joshua 1:4; Revelation 20:1–6).
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