תהלים, פרק ק״ו, פסוק מ״ג

The history of the Israelites is marked by a tragic cycle of crisis, divine salvation, and repeated betrayal. This pattern is especially prominent during the era of the Judges, where continuous divine kindness was met with persistent ingratitude, ultimately leading to the complete downfall of the nation.

God showed immense patience toward the people. Whenever they found themselves in distress and cried out to Him, He saved them time and again [רש״י]. This repeated rescue was typically accomplished through the leaders He raised up to deliver them from their enemies [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד, מאירי, מלבי״ם]. However, the moment they found relief, and particularly after the death of the leader who had saved them, the Israelites quickly returned to their old ways, actively rebelling and refusing to obey God [אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

This defiance was not merely an accidental slip into physical desires, but rather a calculated rebellion born from free will, independent scheming, and foolish advice [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מאירי, מלבי״ם]. The rebellion was partly fueled by the arrogance and overconfidence the people felt while securely settled in their own land [אלשיך]. Eventually, this mindset deteriorated into outright heresy and intellectual distortion [מלבי״ם].

As a direct result of their calculated sins, the nation hit rock bottom. The primary approach among commentators is that they were brought incredibly low, becoming completely impoverished, beaten, and oppressed [רש״י, מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא]. This state of lowliness was not only physical but also spiritual, marked by an emptiness of fulfilling Commandments [אלשיך], and was essentially a self-inflicted torment [מאירי]. Ultimately, this severe decline and poverty resulted in their exile. Had God continued to punish them while they remained in their land, they would have faced total extinction. Therefore, the exile served to atone for their sins while saving them from complete destruction [רד״ק, אלשיך].