What happensPermalink
God condemns Israel for not driving out the Canaanites as commanded. The death of Joshua is recounted. Within a single generation after Joshua’s death, Israel starts worshipping foreign gods. The cycle of judges is introduced.
Why it mattersPermalink
Without a strong leader, the people lose faith. The cycle of judges is always the same: the people disobey; God raises up a judge to save them; the land has rest; the judge dies; the people disobey.
Key versePermalink
But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.