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 the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
then the Lord
Exodus 3:12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Acts 18:9,10 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: …
it repented
Judges 10:16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
Genesis 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Deuteronomy 32:36 For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.
their groanings.
Exodus 2:24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
2 Kings 13:4,22,23 And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them…
Psalm 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
He was with that judge
The presence of the LORD with the judge signifies divine empowerment and guidance. This echoes the promise of God's presence with leaders like Moses (Exodus 3:12) and Joshua (Joshua 1:5). The success of the judges was not due to their own strength or wisdom but to the LORD's presence, which ensured victory and deliverance. This concept foreshadows the New Testament promise of God's presence with believers through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:20).
and saved them from the hands of their enemies
The deliverance from enemies is a central theme in Judges, reflecting the physical and spiritual salvation that God provides. This salvation is a precursor to the ultimate salvation through Jesus Christ, who delivers from sin and death. The phrase "hands of their enemies" emphasizes the tangible threat and oppression faced by Israel, often due to their disobedience and idolatry.
while the judge was still alive
The temporary nature of the judges' leadership highlights the need for a permanent and perfect deliverer, pointing to the future kingship of David and ultimately to Jesus Christ, the eternal King. The death of each judge often led to a relapse into sin, illustrating the insufficiency of human leaders and the need for a lasting solution to sin.
for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning
This phrase reveals God's compassionate nature and His responsiveness to the cries of His people. The "groaning" of the Israelites is reminiscent of their cries in Egypt (Exodus 2:24), showing a pattern of God responding to the suffering of His people. This compassion is a key attribute of God, who is described as "gracious and compassionate" throughout Scripture (Psalm 103:8).
under those who oppressed them and afflicted them
The oppression and affliction faced by Israel were often consequences of their disobedience and idolatry. These hardships served as a means of discipline, intended to bring the people back to reliance on God. The cycle of oppression and deliverance in Judges serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for repentance and faithfulness to God. This pattern also points to the ultimate deliverance from spiritual oppression through Christ.
• This phrase signals the recurring cycle in Judges: rebellion, oppression, crying out, and divine rescue (Judges 2:16; 3:9, 15).
• “Raised up” emphasizes God’s initiative; leaders are not self-made but God-appointed, echoing Acts 13:20.
• Israel’s Hope rests not in human structures but in God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises (Deuteronomy 7:7-8).
• God’s personal presence empowers the deliverer, much as He assured Moses in Exodus 3:12 and Joshua in Joshua 1:5.
• In Judges 6:12, 16 Gideon’s ability stems from “The LORD is with you.” Likewise, Samuel’s effectiveness flowed from “The LORD was with him” (1 Samuel 3:19).
• The statement underscores that victories belong to the LORD, not to human charisma (Psalm 118:8).
• “Saved” reveals God as the true deliverer (Judges 3:10; 1 Samuel 7:13).
• Relief lasts only “while the judge was still alive,” highlighting the temporary nature of human leadership and foreshadowing the need for an eternal Deliverer (Hebrews 7:23-25).
• The pattern warns that drifting from God invites renewed oppression (Judges 2:19).
• God’s compassion responds to genuine misery even when it results from sin (Exodus 2:24-25; Isaiah 63:9).
• Psalm 106:44-45 notes that He “took note of their distress… and relented according to His abundant loving devotion.”
• His pity does not negate His justice; mercy and discipline run together (Lamentations 3:31-33; Hebrews 12:6).
• The verse displays covenant love: God hears, feels, and intervenes despite Israel’s repeated failures.
Judges 2:18 teaches that every rescue in the era of the judges was a gracious, God-initiated act. The LORD appointed each judge, stayed with that leader, and produced victory, all because His compassionate heart was stirred by His people’s suffering. Yet the deliverance was limited to the judge’s lifetime, pointing forward to the ultimate, permanent Savior who would never die and whose presence would abide forever.
(18) It repented the Lord--i.e., Jehovah was grieved. (Comp. Jonah 3:10, "God repented of the evil that He had said He would do unto them; and He did it not"--Genesis 6:6; Exodus 32:14; 1Samuel 15:35; Amos 7:3; Joel 2:13, &c.) The simple anthropomorphism of early ages never hesitates to describe the ways and thoughts of Jehovah by the analogy of human lives; nor is it easy to see how the sacred writers could have otherwise expressed their meaning. Yet they were, even in using this language, perfectly aware that it was only an imperfect and approximate method of explaining God's dealings with man; and when they are using the language of calm and unmetaphorical instruction they say, "God is not a man . . .that he should repent" (Numbers 23:19); "He is in one mind, and who can turn Him?" (Job 23:13); "I am the Lord, I change not" (Malachi 3:6). . . .