Terrible Distress

"The anger of the LORD flared up against Israel, and he delivered them into the power of plunderers who despoiled them. He sold them into the power of the enemies around them, and they were no longer able to withstand their enemies.
Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD turned against them, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them;f and they were in great distress."  (Judges 2: 14 - 15)

The people of Israel rejected the hand of friendship that God extended to them.   God in turn temporary rejected them.  They gained nothing but empty promises from the gods of the people surrounding them.  They lost the promises of God's mercy and love.  Concretely, they lost the promises of pardon, peace, power, purpose, presence, protection and provision.  These promises are enjoyed by the elect.

I like the brief commentary below from the Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible on Judges 2: 14

"4. the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them--Adversities in close and rapid succession befell them. But all these calamities were designed only as chastisements--a course of correctional discipline by which God brought His people to see and repent of their errors; for as they returned to faith and allegiance. He "raised up judges" ( Judges 2:16 ).