When Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out.

After Joshua, Israel Abandons Adonai

Now the angel of Adonai came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and He said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and took you into the land which I swore to your fathers. I also said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you.

Then the people worshipped Adonai all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Adonai that He had done for Israel.

But when all that generation were gathered to their fathers, there arose another generation after them that did not experience Adonai or the work that He had done for Israel.

So the anger of Adonai burned against Israel, and He gave them over to the hands of plunderers who plundered them, and He sold them over into the hand of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand up before their enemies.

So the anger of Adonai burned against Israel, and He declared, “Since this nation has transgressed My covenant that I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice,

in order to test Israel by them, whether or not they will keep the way of Adonai to walk in it as their fathers did.”

Now these are the nations that Adonai left, to test all Israel who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan.

They were for testing Israel, to know whether they would obey the mitzvot of Adonai, which He had commanded their fathers by Moses’ hand.

So Adonai’s anger burned against Israel, and He sold them over into the hand of King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim, and Bnei-Yisrael served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.

The Spirit of Adonai came upon him as he judged Israel. When he went out to war, Adonai gave King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram into his hand so that he had the upper hand over Cushan-rishathaim.

Bnei-Yisrael again did what was evil in Adonai’s eyes. So Adonai strengthened King Eglon of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in Adonai’s eyes.

So he gathered to himself the people of Ammon and Amalek, then went and defeated Israel and took possession of the City of Palms.

So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. Then the land had peace for 80 years.

After him came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down 600 Philistine men with an ox-goad. So he also delivered Israel.

Now Deborah, a woman who was a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

Now she sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Hasn’t Adonai, God of Israel, commanded, ‘Go, march to Mount Tabor, and take with you 10,000 men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun?

“When leaders take the lead in Israel, when people freely offer themselves, bless Adonai!

Listen, O kings! Give ear, O rulers! I, to Adonai I will sing, I will sing praise to Adonai, the God of Israel.

The mountains quaked before Adonai, this Sinai at the presence of Adonai, the God of Israel!

Villages were deserted in Israel, deserted, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel arose.

They chose new gods— then war was in the gates. No shield or spear was seen among 40,000 in Israel!

My heart is with Israel’s rulers, who offer themselves freely among the people. Bless Adonai!

Louder than the sound of archers, at the watering places! There let them rehearse the righteous acts of Adonai, the righteous deeds for His villages in Israel. Then the people of Adonai went down to the gates.

Midian maintained an upper hand over Israel, and because of Midian Bnei-Yisrael made themselves hideouts in the mountains—caves and strongholds.