17. But they did not even hearken to their judges, for they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves to them; they turned quickly out of the way that their fathers had walked in, obeying the commandments of Jehovah; they did not so.
18. And when Jehovah raised them up judges, then Jehovah was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for it repented Jehovah because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and crushed them.
19. And it came to pass when the judge died, that they turned back and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them: they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
20. And the anger of Jehovah was hot against Israel; and he said, Because this nation hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and hath not hearkened unto my voice,
21. I also will not henceforth dispossess from before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died;
22. that through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Jehovah to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
23. Therefore Jehovah left those nations, without dispossessing them hastily, neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.