11 So the people of Israel did what the Lord said was wrong, and they worshiped false gods like Baal.
Judges 2:11

12 The Lord brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. And the ancestors of those people worshiped the Lord. But the people of Israel stopped following the Lord. The people of Israel began to worship the false gods of the people around them. This made the Lord angry.
Judges 2:12

13 The people of Israel stopped worshiping the Lord Baal and the goddess Ashtaroth.
Judges 2:13

14 The Lord was angry with the people of Israel. So Jehovah’s enemies let the people of Israel attack and plunder them. Jehovah defeated them by the enemy around them. The people of Israel could no longer defend themselves against their enemies.
Judges 2:14

15 Whenever the people of Israel went to war, they always lost. They lost because Jehovah was not with them. Jehovah had warned the people of Israel that they would be defeated if they served the gods of the people around them. The people of Israel suffered greatly.
Judges 2:15

16 Then the Lord chose the leaders who were called judges. These leaders saved the people of Israel from their enemies who plundered them.
Judges 2:16

17 The Israelites did not listen to their judge. They were not faithful to God, they followed other gods. In the past, the ancestors of the Israelites obeyed the Lord. But now the Israelites have changed and are no longer obeying Jehovah.
Judges 2:17

18 Many times Israel’s enemies mistreated the people. So the people of Israel cried out for help. And each time, the Lord felt sorry for the people. Each time he sent a judge to save the people from their enemy. Jehovah was always with those judges. So each time the people of Israel escaped their enemies.
Judges 2:18

19 But when every judge died, the people of Israel began to sin again and to worship false gods. The people of Israel were very stubborn – they refused to change their evil ways. They were even more wicked than their ancestors.
Judges 2:19

20 So the Lord became angry with the Israelites and said, “This nation has broken the agreement I made with their ancestors. They did not listen to me.
Judges 2:20

21 So I will no longer defeat the nations, and I will no longer pave the way for the people of Israel. Those nations were still on this earth when Joshua died. And I will let those nations stay on this earth.
Judges 2:21

22 I will use those nations to test the people of Israel. I will see if the people of Israel can obey the Lord’s commands like their ancestors did. ”
Judges 2:22

23 The Lord let those nations live on the earth. He did not force these nations to leave the land quickly, nor did he help Joshua’s army defeat them.
Judges 2:23