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Judges 2:17

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And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; [but] they did not so.

And yet they would not hearken {H8085} unto their judges {H8199}, but they went a whoring {H2181} after {H310} other {H312} gods {H430}, and bowed {H7812} themselves unto them: they turned {H5493} quickly {H4118} out of the way {H1870} which their fathers {H1} walked in {H1980}, obeying {H8085} the commandments {H4687} of the LORD {H3068}; but they did {H6213} not so.

Yet they did not pay attention to their judges, but made whores of themselves to other gods and worshipped them; they quickly turned away from the path on which their ancestors had walked, the way of obeying ADONAI's mitzvot - they failed to do this.

Israel, however, did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commandments; they did not do as their fathers had done.

And yet they hearkened not unto their judges; for they played the harlot after other gods, and bowed themselves down unto them: they turned aside quickly out of the way wherein their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Jehovah; but they did not so.

Commentary

Context

The book of Judges chronicles a tumultuous period in Israel's history following the death of Joshua, where the nation repeatedly fell into a destructive cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. Judges 2:17 specifically describes a persistent pattern of disobedience among the Israelites. This verse falls within the crucial passage detailing the cycle of Israel's apostasy and divine judgment during the period of the Judges, highlighting their failure to learn from past mistakes and maintain faithfulness to God's covenant. Despite God raising up judges to deliver them from their oppressors, the people consistently rejected divine guidance and quickly reverted to sinful ways.

Key Themes

  • Persistent Disobedience: Even after being delivered by God-appointed judges, the Israelites refused to "hearken unto their judges," demonstrating a deep-seated rebellion against divine authority and guidance.
  • Idolatry and Spiritual Apostasy: The core sin described is their "whoring after other gods." This is a severe indictment, signifying a profound betrayal of their covenant relationship with the LORD, who had delivered them from Egypt and brought them into the promised land. They bowed down to foreign deities, violating the very first commandment against having other gods before Him.
  • Swift Departure from God's Way: The phrase "turned quickly out of the way" emphasizes the rapid and effortless abandonment of the righteous path their faithful ancestors had walked. This highlights a generation that swiftly forgot God's works and commandments.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "went a whoring after other gods" is a vivid and strong biblical idiom. The Hebrew term behind "whoring" (zanah) literally means "to commit fornication" or "to be a harlot." When applied to Israel's relationship with God, it metaphorically describes spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry, portraying Israel's covenant with God as a sacred marriage. Their worship of other gods was seen as spiritual adultery, a profound betrayal of their divine Husband. The word "quickly" (Hebrew: maher) underscores the alarming speed with which they abandoned the Lord's ways, contrasting sharply with the obedience of previous generations.

Practical Application

Judges 2:17 serves as a powerful warning for all generations. It highlights the dangers of:

  • Spiritual Complacency: Even after experiencing God's deliverance, there's a tendency to become complacent and stray. We must remain vigilant in our faith.
  • Idolatry in Modern Forms: While we may not bow to physical statues, modern idolatry can manifest as placing anything—money, career, relationships, comfort, self—above God. This verse calls us to examine our allegiances.
  • The Importance of Consistent Faithfulness: The Israelites "turned quickly." This reminds us that spiritual decline can be swift if we neglect God's Word and fellowship. It stresses the need for continuous obedience and teaching the next generation God's commandments.
  • Heeding Godly Counsel: Their refusal to "hearken unto their judges" underscores the importance of listening to God's appointed leaders and the wisdom found in His Word.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Galatians 1:6 (6 votes)

    ¶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

  • Deuteronomy 9:12 (6 votes)

    And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted [themselves]; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.

  • Judges 2:7 (5 votes)

    And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.

  • Revelation 17:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

  • Revelation 17:5 (3 votes)

    And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

  • Hosea 2:2 (3 votes)

    Plead with your mother, plead: for she [is] not my wife, neither [am] I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;

  • Psalms 106:43 (2 votes)

    Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked [him] with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.