Judges 2:3

2:3 At that time I also warned you, ¹  ‘If you disobey, ²  I will not drive out the Canaanites ³  before you. They will ensnare you ⁴  and their gods will lure you away.’” ⁵ 

Judges 2:19

2:19 When a leader died, the next generation ⁶  would again ⁷  act more wickedly than the previous one. ⁸  They would follow after other gods, worshiping them ⁹  and bowing down to them. They did not give up ¹⁰  their practices or their stubborn ways.

Judges 6:10

6:10 I said to you, “I am the Lord your God! Do not worship ¹¹  the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living!” But you have disobeyed me.’” ¹² 

Judges 9:9

9:9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees!’ ¹³ 

Judges 9:13

9:13 But the grapevine said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees!’ ¹⁴ 

Judges 13:9

13:9 God answered Manoah’s prayer. ¹⁵  God’s angelic messenger visited ¹⁶  the woman again while she was sitting in the field. But her husband Manoah was not with her.

Judges 18:24

18:24 He said, “You stole my gods that I made, as well as this priest, and then went away. What do I have left? How can you have the audacity to say to me, ‘What do you want?’” ¹⁷ 

Judges 20:2

20:2 The leaders ¹⁸  of all the people from all the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, which numbered ¹⁹  four hundred thousand sword-wielding foot soldiers.

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¹ tn Heb “And I also said.” The use of the perfect tense here suggests that the messenger is recalling an earlier statement (see Josh 23:12-13). However, some translate, “And I also say,” understanding the following words as an announcement of judgment upon those gathered at Bokim.

² tn The words “If you disobey” are supplied in the translation for clarity. See Josh 23:12-13.

³ tn Heb “them”; the referent (the Canaanites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew word צִדִּים (tsiddim) is uncertain in this context. It may be related to an Akkadian cognate meaning “snare.” If so, a more literal translation would be “they will become snares to you.” Normally the term in question means “sides,” but this makes no sense here. On the basis of Num 33:55 some suggest the word for “thorns” has been accidentally omitted. If this word is added, the text would read, “they will become [thorns] in your sides” (cf. NASB, NIV, NLT).

⁵ tn Heb “their gods will become a snare to you.”

⁶ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the next generation) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁷ tn The verb שׁוּב (shuv, “to return; to turn”) is sometimes translated “turn back” here, but it is probably used in an adverbial sense, indicating that the main action (“act wickedly”) is being repeated.

⁸ tn Heb “their fathers.”

sn The statement the next generation would again act more wickedly than the previous one must refer to the successive sinful generations after Joshua, not Joshua’s godly generation (cf. vv. 7, 17).

⁹ tn Or “serving [them]”; or “following [them].”

¹⁰ tn Or “drop.”

¹¹ tn Heb “Do not fear.”

¹² tn Heb “you have not listened to my voice.”

¹³ tn Heb “Should I stop my abundance, with which they honor gods and men, and go to sway over the trees?” The negative sentence in the translation reflects the force of the rhetorical question.

¹⁴ tn Heb “Should I stop my wine, which makes happy gods and men, and go to sway over the trees?” The negative sentence in the translation reflects the force of the rhetorical question.

¹⁵ tn Heb “God listened to the voice of Manoah.”

¹⁶ tn Heb “came to.”

¹⁷ tn Heb “What is this you say to me, ‘What to you?’”

¹⁸ tn Heb “the cornerstones”; or “the supports.” The word is used of leaders in only three other texts – 1 Sam 14:38; Isa 19:13; Zech 10:4.

¹⁹ tn The words “which numbered” are supplied in the translation for clarification.