Judges 2:16

2:16 The Lord raised up leaders 1  who delivered them from these robbers. 2 

Judges 2:18

2:18 When the Lord raised up leaders for them, the Lord was with each leader and delivered the people 3  from their enemies while the leader remained alive. The Lord felt sorry for them 4  when they cried out in agony because of what their harsh oppressors did to them. 5 

1 tn Or more traditionally, “judges” (also in vv. 17, 18 [3x], 19). Since these figures carried out more than a judicial function, also serving as rulers and (in several instances) as military commanders, the translation uses the term “leaders.”

2 tn Heb “and they delivered them from the hand of the ones robbing them.”

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

4 tn The phrase “for them” is supplied in the translation for clarity.

5 tn Heb “the ones oppressing them and afflicting them.” The synonyms “oppressing” and “afflicting” are joined together in the translation as “harsh oppressors” to emphasize the cruel character of their enemies.