The verse uses the powerful image of God "selling" Israel into the hands of their enemies. This isn't just about defeat; it signifies God giving them over completely, like an owner relinquishing property, emphasizing the full consequence of their disobedience. It highlights that their suffering was a direct, divinely permitted outcome of their choices, not merely random misfortune.
So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following Joshua's death and the passing of the generation that experienced God's mighty deeds, a new generation arose that had not personally witnessed these wonders. They turned away from the LORD and began to worship local deities, leading to God's intense anger and their subsequent subjugation by surrounding enemies who plundered their land and oppressed them. This cycle of disobedience and oppression would continue throughout the period of the Judges, but with each fall, God would also raise up a deliverer when they cried out to Him.
The Bible doesn't shy away from talking about God's anger. What does it mean when God's anger is 'kindled' against His people?
The verse states, "the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel." This isn't a fickle, human-like rage. God's anger is a righteous and holy reaction to His people's persistent disobedience and idolatry.
The language of being "given over" and "sold" into the hands of enemies is stark. What does this intense imagery reveal about the consequences of turning away from God?
The verse vividly describes Israel's fate: "he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies." This isn't a random act of violence; it's a direct result of their covenant breaking.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
aph · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the burning, intense, and righteous indignation of God against sin and covenant unfaithfulness, which demands a response of justice.
makar · Hebrew Verb
To be handed over to an adversary or circumstances of judgment, illustrating God's withdrawal of protection as a disciplinary consequence for rebellion.
This verse describes the immediate aftermath of Joshua's death, highlighting a recurring cycle in Israel's history: disobedience leading to divine discipline through foreign oppression, a pattern set in motion by the new generation's turn to idolatry.
c. 1400 BC
Joshua Leads Israel into Canaan
After wandering in the wilderness, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River, conquering various cities and distributing the land among the twelve tribes. This marked the beginning of their settlement in the Promised Land.
c. 1375 BC
Joshua Dies
Following the conquest and division of the land, Joshua, the successor to Moses, dies. His generation had witnessed God's mighty acts, but a new generation soon arose that did not know the Lord.
c. 1375 BC - 1075 BC
The Period of the Judges Begins
This era, spanning about 300 years, is characterized by a cycle of Israel's disobedience, God's judgment through oppression by surrounding nations, Israel's cries for deliverance, and God raising up judges to rescue them.
c. 1375 BC— this verse
Israel Turns to Idolatry
The new generation, lacking direct experience of God's deliverance, begins to worship local Canaanite deities like the Baals. This widespread apostasy deeply angered the Lord.
c. 1375 BC
Oppression by Surrounding Nations
As a consequence of their idolatry, God allows surrounding peoples (like Mesopotamians, Moabites, Philistines, and Canaanites) to oppress Israel. They are plundered, enslaved, and unable to defend themselves.
This passage uses similar language to describe God allowing enemies to overcome Israel when they are unfaithful, highlighting the principle of divine judgment for disobedience.
Psalm 78:59This Psalm recounts Israel's repeated unfaithfulness and God's subsequent anger and abandonment of them, mirroring the cycle described in Judges.
Leviticus 26:17This chapter outlines the consequences of disobedience, stating directly that enemies would prevail over them, which is a foundational principle behind the events in Judges 2:14.
Judges 3:8This verse repeats the exact phraseology of God delivering Israel into the hand of enemies due to their sin, demonstrating a recurring pattern throughout the book of Judges.
Romans 6:23While focused on sin and its ultimate wages, this New Testament passage echoes the concept that sin has a severe consequence, aligning with God's righteous anger leading to judgment as seen in Judges.
jfbJudges 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."
- the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them—Adversities in close and rapid succession befell them. But all these calamities were designed only as chastisements—a course…
jfbJudges 2:11-19: "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:"
Jud 2:11-19. Wickedness of the New Generation after Joshua.11-19. the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord—This chapter, together with the first eight verses of the next [Jud 2:11-3:8], contains a brief but comprehensive summary of the principles developed in the following history. An attentive consideration of them, therefore, is of the greatest importance to a right understanding…
The verse uses the powerful image of God "selling" Israel into the hands of their enemies. This isn't just about defeat; it signifies God giving them over completely, like an owner relinquishing property, emphasizing the full consequence of their disobedience. It highlights that their suffering was a direct, divinely permitted outcome of their choices, not merely random misfortune.
Following Joshua's death and the passing of the generation that experienced God's mighty deeds, a new generation arose that had not personally witnessed these wonders. They turned away from the LORD and began to worship local deities, leading to God's intense anger and their subsequent subjugation by surrounding enemies who plundered their land and oppressed them. This cycle of disobedience and oppression would continue throughout the period of the Judges, but with each fall, God would also raise up a deliverer when they cried out to Him.
Following Joshua's death and the passing of the generation that experienced God's mighty deeds, a new generation arose that had not personally witnessed these wonders. They turned away from the LORD and began to worship local deities, leading to God's intense anger and their subsequent subjugation by surrounding enemies who plundered their land and oppressed them. This cycle of disobedience and oppression would continue throughout the period of the Judges, but with each fall, God would also raise up a deliverer when they cried out to Him.
"So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies." — The verse uses the powerful image of God "selling" Israel into the hands of their enemies. This isn't just about defeat; it signifies God giving them over completely, like an owner relinquishing prop…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
