Judges 10:7

KJV

And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the anger {H639} of the LORD {H3068} was hot {H2734} against Israel {H3478}, and he sold {H4376} them into the hands {H3027} of the Philistines {H6430}, and into the hands {H3027} of the children {H1121} of Ammon {H5983}.

Complete Jewish Bible

so the anger of ADONAI blazed against Isra'el, and he handed them over to the P'lishtim and the people of 'Amon.

Berean Standard Bible

So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites,

American Standard Version

And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 10:7 encapsulates a critical juncture in Israel's cyclical pattern of disobedience and divine judgment, a hallmark of the Book of Judges. This verse powerfully conveys the severe consequences of Israel's persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness, depicting God's righteous indignation as He actively delivers His disobedient people into the oppressive control of two formidable adversaries: the Philistines and the Ammonites, thereby initiating a new and intense period of suffering and servitude.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 10:7 immediately follows a detailed description of Israel's pervasive spiritual apostasy in [Judges 10:6](/judges/10-6 "Judges 10:6 - Israel's Widespread Idolatry"). After periods of relative peace under the minor judges Tola and Jair, the Israelites once again "did evil in the sight of the LORD," abandoning their covenant God to serve a multitude of foreign deities. The comprehensive list of gods mentioned – Baalim, Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and the Philistines – underscores the depth and breadth of their spiritual infidelity, a direct violation of the covenant established at Sinai. Verse 7, therefore, presents the inevitable divine response to this unfaithfulness, serving as the "oppression" phase in the well-documented cycle of sin-servitude-supplication-salvation that permeates the book, first outlined in [Judges 2:11-15](/judges/2-11-15 "Judges 2:11-15 - The Cycle of Apostasy and Judgment"). It directly sets the stage for the eighteen-year oppression by the Philistines and Ammonites, detailed in [Judges 10:8](/judges/10-8 "Judges 10:8 - The Length of Oppression"), which eventually leads to Israel's cry for deliverance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** During the period of the Judges, Israel existed as a loosely confederated group of tribes, often acting independently and lacking a unified central government, which rendered them vulnerable to external threats. The Philistines, a powerful group of "Sea Peoples," had established themselves along the southwestern coast of Canaan in a pentapolis of five major cities (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath). They possessed superior military technology, particularly iron weaponry, which gave them a significant advantage. Their expansionist ambitions frequently brought them into conflict with Israel, especially the tribes of Dan, Judah, and Simeon. Concurrently, the Ammonites, descendants of Lot, resided to Israel's east, across the Jordan River in Transjordan. They were a consistent threat to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, often engaging in border disputes and raids. Israel's decision to worship the gods of these surrounding nations, particularly fertility deities like Baal and Ashtoreth, was not merely a theological error but a profound act of disloyalty to Yahweh, the God who had delivered them from Egypt and given them the land. This widespread syncretism often involved practices antithetical to the Mosaic Law, further provoking divine wrath. The dual oppression by both western and eastern enemies highlights the pervasive nature of Israel's sin and the comprehensive scope of God's disciplinary judgment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several central themes within the Book of Judges and broader biblical theology. Firstly, **Divine Discipline** is paramount; God's "hot anger" is not capricious but a righteous and just response to Israel's blatant covenant breaking and spiritual adultery. It underscores that God, as a holy and just sovereign, cannot tolerate persistent rebellion from His chosen people. Secondly, the **Consequences of Sin** are starkly evident; Israel's deliberate turning away from God inevitably leads to suffering and subjugation, demonstrating the principle that actions have repercussions, especially for a covenant people. This is a consistent theme throughout the Old Testament, as seen in the warnings of [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience"). Thirdly, **God's Sovereignty in Judgment** is emphasized by the phrase "he sold them"; this anthropomorphic language underscores God's active, intentional role in orchestrating the consequences of their disobedience, rather than merely permitting them. He is not a passive observer but the sovereign Lord who uses foreign nations as instruments of His discipline, as He did with the Assyrians and Babylonians in later history (cf. [Isaiah 10:5-6](/isaiah/10-5-6 "Isaiah 10:5-6 - Assyria as God's Instrument")). Finally, the verse is a clear manifestation of the **Cyclical Pattern of Judges**, marking the transition from apostasy to oppression, setting the stage for Israel's eventual cry for help and God's raising of a deliverer. This cycle reinforces the theological truth that true peace and prosperity for Israel were contingent upon their faithfulness to Yahweh.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Anger... hot (Hebrew, _chârâh 'aph'_):** This idiom, literally meaning "the nose burned" or "the face burned," conveys intense, burning displeasure and indignation. When applied to the LORD (H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh_), it signifies His righteous wrath (H639, _'aph_), a holy and just response to sin and rebellion, particularly against His covenant people (H3478, _Yisrâʼêl_) who had repeatedly violated their sacred vows. It is not an uncontrolled human emotion but a settled, severe displeasure that necessitates judgment, reflecting God's perfect justice and holiness (H2734, _chârâh_).
* **Sold (Hebrew, _mâkar'_):** The verb "sold" (H4376, _mâkar_) is a vivid and powerful metaphor. It implies a deliberate transaction or handing over, as if God, the ultimate owner of Israel, intentionally delivered them into servitude. This is not a passive allowance but an active, sovereign act of divine justice and discipline. It underscores that Israel's subjugation was not random misfortune but a direct, orchestrated consequence of their covenant violations, emphasizing God's complete control over historical events and His use of other nations as instruments of His will.
* **Hands (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** The term "hands" (H3027, _yâd_), repeated in this verse, is a significant metonymy. In biblical language, "hands" often represent power, authority, control, and capability. To be "sold into the hands of" an enemy signifies complete subjugation and loss of autonomy, being placed entirely under the authority and power of the oppressor. Its repetition emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Israel's defeat and the dual sources of their suffering, highlighting the total surrender of their freedom and security.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel":** This clause establishes the divine impetus behind the ensuing oppression. It signifies God's righteous indignation and settled displeasure with His covenant people due to their pervasive idolatry and unfaithfulness, as described in the preceding verse. This "hot anger" is a just and holy response to their spiritual adultery and abandonment of Him, indicating that their suffering is a direct result of their own choices and a manifestation of God's holy character, which cannot tolerate sin.
* **"and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines":** This phrase describes the first of two primary instruments of God's discipline. The Philistines, a powerful and technologically superior people residing on Israel's western border, are depicted as divinely appointed agents of oppression. The metaphor of "selling" emphasizes God's active role in delivering Israel into servitude, highlighting His sovereignty over nations and His use of them to bring about His disciplinary purposes for His people. This signifies a period of subjugation and hardship under Philistine dominance, particularly affecting the western tribes.
* **"and into the hands of the children of Ammon":** This second part of the clause identifies the other major oppressor, the Ammonites, located on Israel's eastern border. The repetition of "into the hands of" underscores the dual nature of the threat and the comprehensive scope of Israel's subjugation. It indicates that Israel was simultaneously pressed from both west and east, signifying a widespread and severe period of oppression that would affect various tribes and regions, further emphasizing the depth of God's judgment and the pervasive nature of their national sin.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 10:7 employs several significant literary devices to convey its powerful message. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the phrase "the anger of the LORD was hot," attributing human-like emotion and physical sensation (a burning nose or face) to God. This device makes God's righteous indignation relatable and emphasizes the intensity of His displeasure, underscoring that His response to sin is a deeply felt and just reaction. Similarly, the statement "he sold them" is a potent **Metaphor**, portraying God as engaging in a deliberate transaction, handing Israel over to their enemies as if they were property exchanged for a price. This metaphor powerfully conveys God's active and sovereign role in orchestrating the consequences of Israel's sin, rather than merely allowing events to unfold passively. The **Repetition** of the phrase "into the hands of" when referring to both the Philistines and the Ammonites serves to emphasize the dual nature and comprehensive scope of the oppression, highlighting that Israel was besieged from multiple directions, underscoring the severity and pervasiveness of the divine judgment. Furthermore, the verse functions as a critical moment in the **Cyclical Narrative** structure of Judges, clearly marking the transition from Israel's sin to divine judgment and subsequent oppression, thereby advancing the overarching theological message of the book.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 10:7 profoundly illustrates God's unyielding commitment to His covenant, even when His people are unfaithful. His "hot anger" is not capricious but a manifestation of His holy character and righteous justice, demonstrating that He cannot tolerate sustained rebellion and idolatry from those He has chosen. This divine discipline, symbolized by "selling" Israel into the hands of their enemies, underscores God's sovereignty over all nations and His willingness to use them as instruments of His corrective purposes. It reveals a God who is actively involved in the affairs of humanity, holding His people accountable for their choices and using hardship to draw them back to Himself, ultimately for their good and His glory. This pattern of sin leading to suffering, and suffering intended to prompt repentance, is a recurring theological truth throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's desire for His people's restoration and faithfulness.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - God's Discipline for His Children")
* [Revelation 3:19](/revelation/3-19 "Revelation 3:19 - Discipline for Repentance")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 10:7 serves as a timeless and sobering reminder of the serious consequences of spiritual infidelity and the profound importance of undivided loyalty to God. For believers today, this verse powerfully illustrates that while God is merciful and gracious, He is also just and holy, and He takes our covenant relationship with Him seriously. Our modern idols may not be carved images of Baal or Ashtoreth, but they can manifest as materialism, self-reliance, the pursuit of worldly approval, comfort, or anything that subtly displaces God from the supreme position in our hearts. When we allow these things to take root, we invite spiritual barrenness, relational brokenness, and a sense of alienation from God's presence. God's discipline, though painful, is ultimately an act of love, designed to draw us back to Him, to refine our faith, and to restore us to a place of deeper dependence and obedience. This verse calls us to honest self-examination, prompting us to identify any areas where our allegiance is divided and to repent, turning back to the Lord with wholehearted devotion, trusting in His restorative power and embracing the refining work He seeks to accomplish in our lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "idols" or competing loyalties might be subtly displacing God's rightful place in my life today?**
* **How do I typically respond to periods of hardship or "discipline" in my life? Do I see them as random misfortune, or as potential opportunities for God to draw me closer and refine my character?**
* **In what ways can I cultivate a more undivided heart and a deeper, more consistent faithfulness to the Lord in my daily walk, proactively seeking to honor Him above all else?**

### FAQ
**Why was God's anger "hot" against Israel, and what does that imply about His character?**

Answer: God's anger was "hot" because Israel had repeatedly and flagrantly broken their covenant with Him, turning to worship numerous pagan deities (as seen in [Judges 10:6](/judges/10-6 "Judges 10:6 - Israel's Extensive Idolatry")). This was not a sudden, arbitrary outburst but a righteous and just indignation against their spiritual adultery and rebellion. It implies that God is holy and righteous, that He takes sin seriously, and that His love for His covenant people does not preclude His discipline when they stray. His anger is always proportionate to the offense and is ultimately aimed at restoring His people to faithfulness, as seen throughout the cycle of Judges and in passages like [Hebrews 12:5-11](/hebrews/12-5-11 "Hebrews 12:5-11 - God Disciplines Those He Loves").

**What does it mean that God "sold them" into the hands of their enemies? Did He abandon them?**

Answer: The phrase "he sold them" is a powerful metaphor signifying God's active and sovereign role in orchestrating the consequences of Israel's sin. It does not imply abandonment, but rather a deliberate act of divine judgment and discipline. Just as a master might "sell" a disobedient servant into temporary servitude, God delivered Israel into the hands of their oppressors as a means of correction and to prompt their repentance. This highlights God's ultimate control over history and His use of other nations as instruments of His will, even in judgment. It underscores that their suffering was not accidental but a direct, divinely ordained consequence of their unfaithfulness to the covenant, as detailed in the warnings of [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses").

**Why were both the Philistines and the Ammonites involved in the oppression?**

Answer: The involvement of both the Philistines (to the west) and the Ammonites (to the east) signifies the pervasive and comprehensive nature of Israel's apostasy and the resulting divine judgment. Israel's idolatry was widespread, embracing gods from various surrounding nations, and thus the discipline came from multiple directions. This dual oppression meant that various tribes of Israel, both in the western plains and the Transjordan region, experienced severe hardship, emphasizing the depth of their national sin and the severity of God's response. It also highlights the strategic vulnerability of a disunited Israel, surrounded by hostile neighbors whom God could use as instruments of His discipline, demonstrating His sovereign reach over all nations.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 10:7, with its stark depiction of Israel's sin leading to divine judgment and oppressive servitude, finds its ultimate resolution and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The recurring cycle of sin, judgment, and the raising of temporary deliverers in Judges underscores humanity's deep-seated inability to maintain covenant faithfulness and the desperate need for a perfect, lasting deliverer. While the judges could only provide temporary relief from external enemies, Jesus Christ provides eternal deliverance from the root cause of all oppression: sin itself. He is the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bearing the "hot anger" of God against sin on the cross, thereby "buying" or redeeming us not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with His precious blood (cf. [1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redeemed by Christ's Blood")). Through His sacrifice, those who believe in Him are no longer "sold" into the hands of sin and death, but are set free from its dominion and become slaves of righteousness (cf. [Romans 6:22](/romans/6-22 "Romans 6:22 - Freed from Sin")). He is the ultimate Judge who has taken the judgment upon Himself, and the ultimate Deliverer who breaks the cycle of sin and oppression, ushering in a new covenant where God's law is written on our hearts, empowering us to live in true faithfulness and enjoy lasting peace (cf. [Hebrews 8:10-12](/hebrews/8-10-12 "Hebrews 8:10-12 - The New Covenant")). In Christ, God's righteous anger against sin is satisfied, and His boundless love and mercy are fully extended, offering not just temporary reprieve, but eternal reconciliation and adoption into His family (cf. [Romans 5:8-10](/romans/5-8-10 "Romans 5:8-10 - Reconciliation Through Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Judges 2:14

And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

Deuteronomy 32:16

They provoked him to jealousy with strange [gods], with abominations provoked they him to anger.

Deuteronomy 32:22

For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

1 Samuel 12:9

And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

1 Samuel 12:10

And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

Deuteronomy 29:20

The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

Deuteronomy 29:28

And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as [it is] this day.