This verse is similar to verse 2.17, since it highlights the unfaithfulness of the Israelites. However, there is a subtle change here, in that the behavior of the fathers is not seen in such a positive light.

But whenever the judge died: In Hebrew this clause begins with the Hebrew expression wehayah (“And it would be”) followed by the temporal particle b- (“when”), which are rendered But whenever. Contemporary English Version says “But afterwards.” The initial waw can be seen as expressing a contrast, as in Revised Standard Version and Contemporary English Version. However in some languages the waw may be omitted as in NET Bible. The long form wehayah refers to a habitual action, well rendered by whenever. For judge see verse 2.16. Died renders the simple Hebrew verb for death. With the exception of Samson, no details are given concerning the deaths of the various heroes in Israel. Throughout the book, the narration gives the impression that they lived long lives and died natural deaths. Possible models for this clause are “But every time a leader died” and “But each time a deliverer died.” Some languages might say “[But] as soon as the [appointed] leader died.”

They turned back and behaved worse than their fathers: This clause shows the immediate reaction of the Israelites, once their leader dies. They fall back into their old ways and offend the LORD. This clause is surprising, since it gives another view of the behavior of the fathers (that is, the ancestors). In verse 2.17 they are seen as an example to be followed, but here their conduct is not characterized positively. The pronoun they refers to the Israelites and can be made explicit if need be. The Hebrew verb rendered turned back (shuv) has a variety of meanings throughout the Old Testament. It can refer to actually “turning around” or “returning” in a physical sense, as in returning from exile (for example, Isa 51.11). In certain contexts it has a more figurative use, referring to repenting and returning to the LORD (for example, Jer 3.22). Here, however, it has the opposite meaning, referring to the people “turning back” to their former behavior, that is, worshiping the gods of the Canaanites. Good News Translation expresses the idea well when it says the people “would return to the old ways.” Other possibilities are “started to do evil again” and “went back to their old evil ways,” though the word “evil” does not occur in Hebrew here.

And behaved worse than their fathers is literally “and they corrupted themselves more than their fathers.” In this book each successive generation is seen as worse than the one that preceded it. The Hebrew verb used here (shachat) may refer to a field that is “spoiled,” but in this context it is used figuratively to refer to “moral corruption.” Revised Standard Version‘s translation may not be strong enough. New International Version is closer to the Hebrew, saying “the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “they would again act basely, even more than the preceding generation,” while Contemporary English Version has “the Israelites would become even more sinful than their ancestors had been.” This description of Israel’s behavior is quite unique and emphasizes the downward spiral of sin and rebellion characterizing this period in Israel’s history. In some languages such comparisons can only be made with specific idiomatic expressions, for example, “their way of acting was bad, go past the way of those who put them in the world.” Translators need to ensure that these strong words of condemnation are expressed in a clear and forceful way.

Going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them: Here in Hebrew there is a series of infinitival expressions that describe more specifically the Israelites’ going back to their old ways. This language is reminiscent of Deut 6.14. For going after other gods and bowing down to them, see verse 2.12. For serving them, see the comments on “served the Baals” at verse 2.11.

They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways means the people refused to abandon any of their evil acts or behavior. The pronoun they refers to the present generation of Israelites, those who, once their hero or leader had died, returned to the old way of doing things. Drop is a very unusual use of the Hebrew verb here (nafal), which usually means “cause to fall” in its causative form. Here it means “abandon,” “let go of,” or “stop.” Though referring here to the Israelites, this verb will become a key term describing the defeat of their enemies throughout this book. Practices renders a Hebrew noun (maʿalal) coming from a root meaning “act [harshly].” It describes deeds, acts, or virtually any kind of activity, used with a negative connotation in contexts describing evil or sinful behavior. Here it refers to the false practices associated with Canaanite religious rites, and this idea can be made explicit. Possible translations are “bad behavior” and “bad actions.” Their practices is potentially ambiguous, possibly referring to the bad behavior of the ancestors. But following the phrase they did not drop, the possessive pronoun their refers more likely to the present generation. Stubborn ways is parallel to these evil deeds. Ways renders the plural of the Hebrew word for “road,” “way” or “path,” the same word that occurs in verse 2.17. Here the ways are qualified as stubborn, rendering a Hebrew adjective that means “harsh,” “hard,” or “severe.” It can be used to describe a difficult legal question, severe language, or even a fierce battle. Here it describes people who will not listen. They stubbornly follow their ancestors. This is well expressed by Contemporary English Version: “The Israelites were stubborn—they simply would not stop worshiping other gods.” The word stubborn can be expressed in a number of ways in different languages, often in relation to body parts, for example, “hard-headed,” “hard-necked,” and “stiff-necked.”

Translations possibilities for this verse include:

• But every time their leader died, the people turned back to their evil ways. They sinned more than their ancestors did and worshiped foreign gods. They refused to abandon any of their evil practices or their stubborn ways.

• After each leader died, the Israelites turned back and were more corrupt that their fathers were. They turned to strange gods, serving and bowing down to them. They stubbornly refused to give up their evil deeds and their stubborn way of life.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .