New International Version Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress. New Living Translation Every time Israel went out to battle, the LORD fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress. English Standard Version Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress. Berean Standard Bible Wherever Israel marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring calamity, just as He had sworn to them. So they were greatly distressed. Berean Literal Bible In all that they went out, the hand of YHWH was against them for calamity, as YHWH had said, and as had sworn YHWH to them; and they were distressed greatly. King James Bible Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. New King James Version Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for calamity, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed. New American Standard Bible Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken and just as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. NASB 1995 Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken and as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. NASB 1977 Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken and as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. Legacy Standard Bible Wherever they went, the hand of Yahweh was against them for evil, as Yahweh had spoken and as Yahweh had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. Amplified Bible Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil (misfortune), as the LORD had spoken, and as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. Berean Annotated Bible Wherever Israel marched out, the hand of the LORD {YHWH} was against them to bring calamity, just as He had sworn to them. So they were greatly distressed. Christian Standard Bible Whenever the Israelites went out, the LORD was against them and brought disaster on them, just as he had promised and sworn to them. So they suffered greatly. Holman Christian Standard Bible Whenever the Israelites went out, the LORD was against them and brought disaster on them, just as He had promised and sworn to them. So they suffered greatly. American Standard Version Whithersoever they went out, the hand of Jehovah was against them for evil, as Jehovah had spoken, and as Jehovah had sworn unto them: and they were sore distressed. English Revised Version Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were sore distressed. GOD'S WORD® Translation Whenever the Israelites went to war, the power of the LORD brought disaster on them. This was what the LORD said he would do in an oath. So he made them suffer a great deal. Good News Translation Every time they would go into battle, the LORD was against them, just as he had said he would be. They were in great distress. International Standard Version Wherever they went, the LORD worked against them to bring misfortune, just as the LORD had warned, and just as the LORD had promised them. As a result, they suffered greatly. NET Bible Whenever they went out to fight, the LORD did them harm, just as he had warned and solemnly vowed he would do. They suffered greatly. New Heart English Bible Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had spoken, and as the LORD had sworn to them: and they were in great distress. Webster's Bible Translation Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them: and they were greatly distressed. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWherever Israel marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring calamity, just as He had sworn to them. So they were greatly distressed. World English Bible Wherever they went out, Yahweh’s hand was against them for evil, as Yahweh had spoken, and as Yahweh had sworn to them; and they were very distressed. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionin every [place] where they have gone out, the hand of YHWH has been against them for calamity, as YHWH has spoken, and as YHWH has sworn to them, and they are greatly distressed. Berean Literal Bible In all that they went out, the hand of YHWH was against them for calamity, as YHWH had said, and as had sworn YHWH to them; and they were distressed greatly. Young's Literal Translation in every place where they have gone out, the hand of Jehovah hath been against them for evil, as Jehovah hath spoken, and as Jehovah hath sworn to them, and they are distressed -- greatly. Smith's Literal Translation In all where they will go forth, the hand of Jehovah was against them for evil, as Jehovah spake and as Jehovah sware to them: and he will press them greatly. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut whithersoever they meant to go, the hand of the Lord was upon them, as he had said, and as he had sworn to them: and they were greatly distressed. Catholic Public Domain Version Instead, wherever they wanted to go, the hand of the Lord was upon them, just as he said and just as he swore to them. And they were greatly afflicted. New American Bible Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD turned against them, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them; and they were in great distress. New Revised Standard Version Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring misfortune, as the LORD had warned them and sworn to them; and they were in great distress. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them; and they were greatly distressed. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And wherever they were going out, the hand of LORD JEHOVAH was upon them for evil as LORD JEHOVAH had said, and as LORD JEHOVAH had sworn to them, and it was very distressing to them OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken, and as the LORD had sworn unto them; and they were sore distressed. Brenton Septuagint Translation among whomsoever they went; and the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord spoke, and as the Lord sware to them; and he greatly afflicted them. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Israel's Unfaithfulness…14Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 15Wherever Israel marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring calamity, just as He had sworn to them. So they were greatly distressed. Cross References Wherever Israel marched out, Deuteronomy 28:25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. Numbers 14:42-45 Do not go up, lest you be struck down by your enemies, because the LORD is not among you. / For there the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the LORD, He will not be with you.” / But they dared to go up to the ridge of the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the covenant of the LORD moved from the camp. … Joshua 7:12 This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction. the hand of the LORD was against them Deuteronomy 2:15 Indeed, the LORD’s hand was against them, to eliminate them from the camp, until they had all perished. 1 Samuel 5:6 Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors. 1 Samuel 12:15 But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers. to bring calamity, Deuteronomy 28:63 Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and multiply, so also it will please Him to annihilate you and destroy you. And you will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess. Isaiah 45:7 I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things. Amos 3:6 If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? just as He had sworn to them. Joshua 23:15-16 But just as every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come to pass, likewise the LORD will bring upon you the calamity He has threatened, until He has destroyed you from this good land He has given you. / If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.” Deuteronomy 31:17-18 On that day My anger will burn against them, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them, so that they will be consumed, and many troubles and afflictions will befall them. On that day they will say, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is no longer with us?’ / And on that day I will surely hide My face because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods. Deuteronomy 28:15 If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: So they were greatly distressed. Deuteronomy 28:53-57 Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. / The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, / refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. … 1 Samuel 13:6 Seeing that they were in danger because their troops were hard-pressed, the men of Israel hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in cellars and cisterns. Psalm 107:6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. Leviticus 26:17 And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you. Treasury of Scripture Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them: and they were greatly distressed. against Jeremiah 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. Jeremiah 21:10 For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire. Jeremiah 44:11,27 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah… had said Leviticus 26:15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: Deuteronomy 4:25-28 When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger: … Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: had sworn Deuteronomy 32:40,41 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever… greatly Judges 10:9 Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. 1 Samuel 13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 1 Samuel 14:24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. Jump to Previous Defeat Distress Distressed Evil Hand Israel Marched Oath Severely Sore Straits Sworn Warned Whenever Wherever WhithersoeverJump to Next Defeat Distress Distressed Evil Hand Israel Marched Oath Severely Sore Straits Sworn Warned Whenever Wherever WhithersoeverJudges 2 1. An angel rebukes the people at Bochim6. The wickedness of the new generation after Joshua 14. God's anger and pity toward them 20. The Canaanites left to prove Israel Wherever Israel marched out, Israel’s military efforts throughout the land met increasing opposition because the nation had not completed the conquest in faithful obedience to God. The remaining Canaanite peoples became instruments of testing and discipline, exposing Israel’s willingness to adopt their gods and practices. Deu 28:25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies.… the hand of the LORD was against them God actively opposed His covenant people in judgment. The same divine power that had driven out Israel’s enemies under Joshua now withdrew protection and brought defeat because Israel had forsaken the LORD and served the Baals. Deu 2:15 Indeed, the LORD’s hand was against them,… to bring calamity, Israel experienced plunder, military loss, oppression, and fear at the hands of surrounding nations. These hardships were not random misfortunes but covenant discipline meant to reveal the destructive end of idolatry and call the people back to the Lord. Deu 28:63 Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper… just as He had sworn to them. God fulfilled the warnings given in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, where disobedience would bring defeat and distress. His faithfulness includes keeping both His promises of blessing and His righteous warnings of judgment. Jos 23:15-16 But just as every good thing the LORD your God promised you… So they were greatly distressed. Israel’s anguish became the setting for the repeated pattern of Judges: sin, oppression, crying out, and deliverance through judges raised up by God. Their need for rescue pointed beyond temporary deliverers to the righteous King, Jesus Christ, who delivers His people from sin and restores them to God. Deu 28:53-57 Then you will eat the fruit of your womb,… Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe chosen people of God who were delivered from Egypt and brought into the Promised Land. In Judges 2, they are experiencing the consequences of their disobedience to God. 2. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant God of Israel, who is faithful to His promises and warnings. His hand is against Israel due to their unfaithfulness. 3. The Promised Land The land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a place of blessing contingent upon Israel's obedience. 4. The Judges Leaders raised by God to deliver Israel from oppression. This period is marked by a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. 5. The Covenant The agreement between God and Israel, which included blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, as outlined in Deuteronomy. Teaching Points The Consequences of DisobedienceGod's warnings are not empty; they are meant to guide us back to Him. Just as Israel faced consequences for their disobedience, we too must heed God's Word. The Faithfulness of God God is faithful to His covenant, both in blessings and in discipline. His actions are always consistent with His character and promises. The Cycle of Sin and Redemption The book of Judges illustrates a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. Recognizing this pattern in our lives can help us seek God's deliverance. The Importance of Obedience Obedience to God brings peace and blessing, while disobedience leads to distress. We are called to live in obedience to God's commands. God's Discipline as Love God's discipline is a sign of His love and desire for us to return to Him. It is meant to correct and restore us to a right relationship with Him. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 2:15?2. How does Judges 2:15 illustrate consequences of disobedience to God's commands? 3. What can we learn about God's justice from Judges 2:15? 4. How does Judges 2:15 connect to Deuteronomy 28's blessings and curses? 5. In what ways can we avoid provoking God's anger today? 6. How can we seek God's favor in challenging circumstances, as seen in Judges 2:15? 7. Why did God allow Israel to be defeated as described in Judges 2:15? 8. How does Judges 2:15 reflect God's justice and mercy? 9. What historical evidence supports the events in Judges 2:15? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 2? What Does Judges 2:15 Mean Wherever Israel marched out• Israel’s movements—whether in battle, travel, or daily living—were met with repeated frustration. • The people thought victory depended on their strategy, but success rises or falls with obedience to God (Numbers 14:42-45; Deuteronomy 28:19; Psalm 127:1). • God’s presence is not a mere backdrop; it decides the outcome of every step (Exodus 33:15-16). the hand of the LORD was against them • “Hand” conveys active, personal involvement; the Lord Himself opposed His own covenant people (Deuteronomy 2:15; Joshua 7:12). • What should have been their greatest ally became their greatest obstacle (1 Samuel 5:6; Psalm 32:4). • Divine discipline is purposeful, never random; it drives the heart back to God (Hebrews 12:5-6). to bring calamity • Calamity is the promised consequence of covenant unfaithfulness (Leviticus 26:17; Deuteronomy 31:17). • God’s judgments guard His holiness and expose sin’s seriousness (Jeremiah 2:19; Habakkuk 1:5-6). • Even in calamity, the goal is restoration, not destruction (Hosea 6:1-2). just as He had sworn to them • The LORD’s sworn word is unbreakable—blessings for obedience, curses for rebellion (Deuteronomy 28:15, 25; Joshua 23:15-16). • God’s faithfulness means He keeps every promise, whether pleasant or painful (Numbers 23:19). • The warning had been clear since Sinai; their suffering confirms His reliability (Leviticus 26:14-17). So they were greatly distressed • Distress here is crushing, inescapable pressure (Judges 10:9; 1 Samuel 13:6). • Sin promises freedom but delivers bondage (Proverbs 13:15; Isaiah 8:21). • God often lets distress reach its peak so humility and repentance become unmistakable (Psalm 107:12-13; 2 Chronicles 7:14). summary Judges 2:15 shows that every aspect of Israel’s hardship traced back to covenant infidelity. Wherever they went, the Lord Himself resisted them, fulfilling His sworn warnings to bring calamity. Their deep distress was not arbitrary punishment but a loving, though severe, call to repentance. God’s faithfulness guarantees both the certainty of discipline and the hope of restoration when His people return to Him. (15) The hand of the Lord was against them.—Contrast this with Joshua 1:9.As the Lord had said.—Leviticus 26:17-36; Deuteronomy 28:25, &c. Hebrew Whereverבְּכֹ֣ל ׀ (bə·ḵōl) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every [Israel] marched out, יָצְא֗וּ (yā·ṣə·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim the hand יַד־ (yaḏ-) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3027: A hand of the LORD יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel was הָיְתָה־ (hā·yə·ṯāh-) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be against them בָּ֣ם (bām) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew to bring calamity, לְרָעָ֔ה (lə·rā·‘āh) Preposition-l | Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil just as כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ (ka·’ă·šer) Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that He יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel had sworn נִשְׁבַּ֥ע (niš·ba‘) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear to them. לָהֶ֑ם (lā·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew So they were greatly distressed. וַיֵּ֥צֶר (way·yê·ṣer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3334: Be distressed, be narrow, be straitened in straits, be vexed Additonal Resources Judges 2:15 Blue Letter BibleJudges 2:15 Bible Gateway Judges 2:15 Bible.com Judges 2:15 NIV |
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