Judges 2:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

From this, we understand the extent to which the piety of leaders benefits their followers, as well as the detrimental impact of ungodly rulers and the governance of wicked individuals. Current events illustrate this truth. It is written, “And the Lord shall set them up as judges, and deliver them out of the hand of them that took me captive.” Furthermore, “the Lord made them judges, and the Lord was with the judge, and saved me out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge.” In summary, “And it came to pass, when the judge died, that they turned away, and became more corrupt than their fathers, going in the way of other gods, to serve them, and to worship them.”

Throughout the narrative of God’s people, there are instances where notable figures emerged as agents 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). Additionally, there were occasions when such deliverance was proclaimed by an angel, as seen with Gideon: “Go in this thy fortress, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of Midian” (Judges 6:14). However, these fleeting and individual acts of salvation could not bring joy to "all men" because they were not universal and quickly gave way to further trials and misfortunes. “Judges die, and are turned away, and are molested again more than their fathers” (Judges 2:19).