The Lord Raises Up Judges

^16 (A)Then the Lord raised up judges, ^(B)who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. ¹⁷ Yet they did not listen to their judges, for ^(C)they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. ^(D)They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. ¹⁸ Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, ^(E)the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. ^(F)For the Lord was moved to pity by ^(G)their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. ¹⁹ But ^(H)whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. ^20 (I)So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he said, “Because this people ^(J)have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice, ^21 (K)I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, ²² in order ^(L)to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not.” ²³ So the Lord left those nations, not driving them out quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua.