Yisrael’s condition in the days of the Judges can be described with the following allegory:
A king who owned many palaces adopted several children aged six years and younger. He raised them as his own, sharing his meals with them. He built houses and planted vineyards and trees for them. He told them,
“Be mindful to take care of these vines and trees”.
But recklessly, they uprooted the vines, cut down the trees, and demolished the houses.
When the king realized what they had done, he declared,
“They are behaving like unruly school children.”
He called them to him and spanked them.
When they continued acting up, he spanked them yet again.
This was how the Father in Heaven regarded Bnei Yisrael in the era of the Judges. Whenever they rebelled they were delivered into the hands of their enemies, and as soon as they repented, G-d redeemed them. This teaches us that they earned every punishment they received; it was inflicted on them fairly.
Copied from Tanna Devei Eliyahu Book #1, Translated by Avraham Yaakov Finkel, Page 107
****CORRECTION MADE ABOVE it was Book #1******
miryamdevorah 