"They forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt," "and guided them in the wilderness like a flock." "They provoked Him to anger with their high places, and moved Him to jealousy with their graven images." Therefore the Lord "forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which He placed among them; and delivered His strength into captivity, and His glory into the enemy's hand." Judges 2:12; Psalm 78:52, 58, 60, 61. Yet He did not utterly forsake His people. There was ever a remnant who were true to Jehovah; and from time to time the Lord raised up faithful and valiant men to put down idolatry and to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. But when the deliverer was dead, and the people were released from his authority, they would gradually return to their idols. And thus the story of backsliding and chastisement, of confession and deliverance, was repeated again and again.

De forlod Herren, deres fædres Gud, som havde ført dem ud af Ægypten. Han leded dem som kvæg i ørkenen. De krænked ham med deres offerhøje, ægged ham med deres gudebilleder. Derfor opgav Herren sin bolig i Silo, det telt, hvor han boede blandt mennesker; han gav sin stolthed i fangenskab, sin herlighed i fjendehånd. Dom. 2, 12; Sl. 78, 52. 58. 60-61. Gud forlod dog ikke sit folk fuldstændig. Der var altid en rest, som var tro imod ham, og fra tid til anden lod Herren trofaste og tapre mænd fremstå, som bekæmpede afgudsdyrkelsen og befriede israelitterne for deres fjender. Men så snart befrieren var død, og folket ikke længer stod under hans myndighed, begyndte de gradvis at dyrke afguder igen. Således vekslede frafald og straf, syndsbekendelse og befrielse gang på gang.