Israel’s Unfaithfulness
11And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim:
12And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves to them, and provoked the Lord to anger.
13And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
14And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and He sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. robbers; plundered
15Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them: and they were greatly distressed.
16Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
17And yet they would not hearken to their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves to them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so. followed
18And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. grieved; afflicted
19And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. perverted
20And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He said, Because that this people has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened to My voice; listened
21I also will not hereafter drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
22That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. test
23Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered He them into the hand of Joshua.