Judges 2:20 - Printer Friendly

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,

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).

Judges 2:16–23 describes the pattern developed and repeated after the death of Joshua. The Israelites begin with freedom and faithfulness towards God. Then they fall into idolatry and sin. In response, they are overcome by their enemies. When the suffering of the Israelites becomes great, God raises up judges—military and civic leaders—to save Israel from their enemies. When the judge dies, the Israelites soon return to their sinful worship of Canaan's gods. Each time, Israel's idolatry worsens, and their faith becomes weaker.

The tribes of Israel committed great sin when they failed to drive the depraved, wicked Canaanites from the land. God rebukes them harshly, warning them of the consequences to follow. The people weep and offer sacrifices. And yet, the generations after Joshua abandon God. They worship false gods and perform heinous sins. The Lord burns with anger and uses Israel's enemies as punishment. When the suffering becomes intense, God rescues Israel through a human "judge." When the judge dies, the people return to their sin, deeper even than before.

Judges 2 follows reports about the failure of Israel to drive the Canaanites from each tribes' territories. Despite being rebuked by God, the generations after Joshua eventually abandon the Lord to worship the gods of the Canaanites: the Baals and the Ashtaroth. This establishes a pattern to be repeated in the chapters to come. Israel will worship Canaan's gods. God punishes the people through their enemies. God saves the people through a human judge. When the judge dies, the people return to their sin. This cycle continues throughout the rest of the book of Judges.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).