God sells his people into the hand of two oppressors, the Philistines and the Ammonites. Israel had chosen to serve the gods of these nations; now they will pay for it by being oppressed by these nations. The Philistines, to the west of Israel, will feature in the Samson narrative; the Ammonites, living across the Jordan east of Israel, will feature in the present narrative. So now Israel will have to endure oppression from the west and the east at the same time; they are going to be squeezed, by a two-front assault.1
7 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites,