Judges 2:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

From this, we gain insight into the beneficial impact that the piety of leaders has on their followers, as well as the detrimental effects when authority is held by wicked individuals. Current events further illustrate this principle. It is written, ‘And the Lord shall appoint for them judges, and rescue them from the hand of those who took me captive.’ It is noted that ‘the Lord established judges for them, and the Lord was with each judge, delivering me from the grasp of their adversaries throughout the tenure of the judge’; succinctly put: ‘And it came to pass that when the judge died, they turned away and became even more corrupt than their ancestors, following the path of other deities to serve and worship them.’

Throughout the narrative of God’s chosen people, we can observe notable figures who served as instruments of divine salvation. “The Lord shall set them up as judges, and the Lord shall be with the judge, and shall save me from the hands of their enemies all the days of judgment” (Judges 2:18). There were occasions when such deliverance was proclaimed by an angel, as seen in God’s message to Gideon: “Go in this thy fortress, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of Midian” (Judges 6:14). However, these momentary and individual acts of salvation could not inspire joy among “all men,” as they did not encompass everyone. These instances quickly succumbed to new trials and tribulations. “Judges die, and are turned away, and are molested again more than their fathers” (Judges 2:19).