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15 When the Israelites went to fight against their enemies, the Lord turned against them. He punished them, as he said he would do. So the Israelites were in great trouble.

God chooses leaders for his people

16 After that, the Lord chose judges to lead his people. These leaders rescued the Israelites from their enemies who were robbing them. 17 But the people did not obey their leaders. They refused to serve the Lord faithfully. Instead, they worshipped false gods. They did not live in the way that their ancestors had lived. Their ancestors had obeyed the Lord's commands, but they refused to obey him.

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15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them(A) to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.(B)

16 Then the Lord raised up judges,[a](C) who saved(D) them out of the hands of these raiders. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted(E) themselves to other gods(F) and worshiped them.(G) They quickly turned(H) from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the Lord’s commands.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 2:16 Or leaders; similarly in verses 17-19