Prologue 2: Israel's apostasy and the cycle of judges

Israel's pattern of decline (Judges 2:6–3:6)

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

1. a
   positive beginning2:6–9during lifetime of Joshua and elders, Israelites set out to take their inheritances and they serve (wayyaʿaḇḏû) Yahweh
2. b
   sin of next generation2:10–13contrasted with their fathers (ʾāḇôṯ); served (ʿāḇaḏ) the Baals; worshiped (wayyištaḥăwû) other gods; went after other gods (ʾēlōhîm); occurred once; and they had an excuse
3. c
   judgment: military defeat from surrounding nations2:14–15begins: Yahweh was angry with Israel (wayyiḥar-ʾap̄ yhwh bəyiśrāʾēl)
4. d
   TURNING POINT: temporary divine deliverance through period of judges2:16divine compassionate intervention
5. c′
   worse sins of each successive generation2:17–19contrasted with their fathers (ʾāḇôṯ); served (ʿāḇaḏ) the Baals; worshiped (wāhištaḥăwû) other gods; went after other gods (ʾēlōhîm); not just once, but repeatedly, and no excuse given
6. b′
   worse judgment: Yahweh will no longer enable Israel to take their own land2:20–3:4begins: Yahweh was angry with Israel (wayyiḥar-ʾap̄ yhwh bəyiśrāʾēl)
7. a′
   disheartening conclusion3:5–6Israelites, having failed to take their land, settle among the Canaanites, intermarry, and serve (wayyaʿaḇḏû) their gods