Israel Worships the Baals

11 The Israelites[fn] did evil in the eyes of Yahweh, andthey served[fn] the Baals. 12 They abandoned Yahweh the God of their ancestors,[fn] who brought them out from the land of Egypt. Theyfollowed[fn] other gods from the gods of the people whowere 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[fn] 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[fn] they went out, the hand of Yahweh was against them to harmthem, just as Yahweh warned, and just as Yahweh had sworn to them. And they were very distressed.[fn]

16 Then Yahweh raised up leaders,[fn] and they delivered them from the hand of their plunderers. 17 But they did not listen to their leaders,[fn] but lusted after other gods and bowed down to them. They turned away quickly from the way that their ancestors[fn] went, who had obeyed the commandment of Yahweh; they did not doas their ancestors. 18 And when Yahweh raised leaders[fn] for them, Yahweh was with the leader,[fn] and he delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the leader,[fn] for Yahweh was moved by their groaning because of their persecutors and oppressors. 19 But when the leader[fn] died they relapsed and acted corruptly, more than their ancestors,[fn] following other gods, serving them,[fn] and bowing down to them. They would not give up their deeds or their stubborn ways. 20 So the anger of Yahweh burned[fn] against Israel, and he said, “Because this people transgressed my covenant that I commanded their ancestors,[fn] and have not obeyed my voice, 21 I will not again drive out anyone from before them from the nations that Joshua left when he died, 22 in order to test Israel whether or not they would observe the way of Yahweh, to walk in it just as their ancestors[fn] did.” 23 So Yahweh left those nations; he did not drive them out at once, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua.