15. Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said and as the Lord had sworn unto them; and thus they were greatly distressed.
16. Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
17. And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they fornicated after other gods and bowed themselves unto them; they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers had walked hearing the commandments of the Lord; but they did not do so.
18. And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of that judge; for the Lord repented because of their groanings by reason of those that oppressed them and afflicted them.
19. But when the judge was dead, then they would return, and corrupt themselves more than their fathers in following other gods to serve them and to bow down unto them; they did not diminish from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.
20. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he said, Because these people transgress my covenant which I commanded their fathers and do not hearken unto my voice;
21. neither will I drive out any longer from before them any of these Gentiles which Joshua left when he died,
22. that through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord by walking therein as their fathers kept it, or not.
23. Therefore, the Lord left those Gentiles, without driving them out hastily; neither did he deliver them into the hand of Joshua.