Judges, Ruth: Revised Edition (The NIV Application Commentary)

by K. Lawson Younger

The initial statement that “the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD” will be the opening declaration for every cyclical/major judge story in the book. The article on ra‘ (lit., the evil) may imply both a specific and consummate evil, namely, apostasy from Yahweh (Exod 20:3–6),10 although it may simply be an articular usage with an abstract noun. Whatever the case, the following statements elaborate on this initial declaration and further define this apostasy from Yahweh. The chiastic pattern A-B-C-B'-A' unifies the paragraph. The idea conveyed in the A, B and B', A' elements—that is, “forsaking/abandoning” (‘azab) Yahweh and “serving” (‘abad) Baal—are really two sides of the same coin. They define more precisely “the evil” that the Israelites do in the eyes of Yahweh. These elements encircle C, with its emphasis on false worship, with the resultant anger of the LORD. The idea of “going or walking after other gods” (halak’ahare) clearly contrasts with the biblical idea of “walking with [halak’et] the LORD.” And the idea of “worshiping” (shahah) these other gods is a blatant violation of Exod 20:5, “You shall not bow down to [shahah] them.”