Israel Worships the Baals

¹¹ The Israelites^[a] did evil in the eyes of Yahweh, and they served^[b] the Baals. ¹² They abandoned Yahweh the God of their ancestors,^[c] who brought them out from the land of Egypt. They followed^[d] other gods from the gods of the people who were around them; and they bowed down to them, and they provoked the anger of Yahweh. ¹³ They abandoned Yahweh, and they served Baal and the Ashtaroth. ¹⁴ So the anger of Yahweh was kindled^[e] against Israel, and he gave them into the hand of plunderers; and they plundered them, and he sold them into the hand of their enemies from all sides. They were unable to withstand their enemies any longer. ¹⁵ Whenever^[f] they went out, the hand of Yahweh was against them to harm them, just as Yahweh warned, and just as Yahweh had sworn to them. And they were very distressed.^[g]

¹⁶ Then Yahweh raised up leaders,^[h] and they delivered them from the hand of their plunderers. ¹⁷ But they did not listen to their leaders,^[i] but lusted after other gods and bowed down to them. They turned away quickly from the way that their ancestors^[j] went, who had obeyed the commandment of Yahweh; they did not do as their ancestors. ¹⁸ And when Yahweh raised leaders^[k] for them, Yahweh was with the leader,^[l] and he delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the leader,^[m] for Yahweh was moved by their groaning because of their persecutors and oppressors. ¹⁹ But when the leader^[n] died they relapsed and acted corruptly, more than their ancestors,^[o] following other gods, serving them,^[p] and bowing down to them. They would not give up their deeds or their stubborn ways.