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These, now, are the nations which the LORD left, so that He might test Israel by them (since many had not known all the wars of Canaan)

and thus make the generations of the children of Israel know, and teach them, war (which doubtless their predecessors did not know):

Five princes of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon until one comes to Hamath.

These remained to test Israel, to wit, whether they would obey the Commandments of the LORD which He commanded their fathers, by the hand of Moses.

And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

So, the children of Israel did wickedly in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God, and served Baal and Asherah.

Therefore, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram-Naharaim. And the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim for eight years.

And when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD stirred up a savior for the children of Israel — Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother — and he saved them.

10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram, into his hand. And his hand prevailed against Cushan-Rishathaim.

11 So the land had rest for forty years. And Othniel, the son of Kenaz, died.

12 Then, the children of Israel committed wickedness again in the sight of the LORD. And the LORD strengthened Eglon, king of Moab, against Israel, because they had committed wickedness before the LORD.

13 And he gathered to him the children of Ammon, and Amalek, and went and struck Israel; and they possessed the city of palm trees.

14 So, the children of Israel served Eglon, king of Moab, for eighteen years.

15 But when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD stirred them up a savior — Ehud, the son of Gera, the son of Jemini — a left-handed man. And the children of Israel sent a present by him to Eglon, king of Moab.

16 And Ehud made himself a dagger with two edges, one cubit in length. And he girded it under his clothing, upon his right thigh.

17 And he presented the gift to Eglon, king of Moab (and Eglon was a very fat man).

18 And when he had presented the present, he sent away the people who bore the present;

19 but he turned back from the idols that were by Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” Who said, “Keep silent.” And all who stood around him went out from him.

20 Then Ehud came to him (and he sat alone, in a summer parlor which he had). And Ehud said, “I have a message for you from God.” Then he arose out of his throne.

21 And Ehud put forth his left hand and took the dagger from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly,

22 so that the haft went in after the blade; and the fat closed around the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly, but his feces came out.

23 Then Ehud got himself out, into the porch, and shut the doors of the parlor after him, and locked them.

24 And when he had gone out, his servants came. And seeing that the doors of the parlor were locked, they said, “Surely, he is relieving himself in his summer chamber.”

25 And they waited until they were uncomfortable. And seeing he did not open the doors of the parlor, they took the key and opened them. And behold, their lord has fallen dead on the floor.

26 So Ehud escaped (while they had been waiting) and was past the idols, and escaped to Seirah.,

27 And when he got home, he blew a trumpet on Mount Ephraim. And the children of Israel went down with him from the mountain; and he went before them.

28 Then he said to them, “Follow me! For the LORD has delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hand!” So, they went down after him and took the passages of Jordan toward Moab and did not allow a man to pass over.

29 And at that same time, they killed about ten thousand of the Moabites, all well-fed men, and all warriors. And not one man escaped.

30 So Moab was subdued that day, under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

31 And after him came Shamgar, the son of Anath, who killed six hundred of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.

These are the nations the Lord left to test(A) all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): the five(B) rulers of the Philistines,(C) all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites(D) living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon(E) to Lebo Hamath.(F) They were left to test(G) the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.

The Israelites lived(H) among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites,(I) Hivites and Jebusites.(J) They took their daughters(K) in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.(L)

Othniel

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord(M) their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.(N) The anger of the Lord burned against Israel so that he sold(O) them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim(P) king of Aram Naharaim,[a](Q) to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. But when they cried out(R) to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer,(S) Othniel(T) son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. 10 The Spirit of the Lord came on him,(U) so that he became Israel’s judge[b] and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim(V) king of Aram(W) into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. 11 So the land had peace(X) for forty years,(Y) until Othniel son of Kenaz(Z) died.

Ehud

12 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord,(AA) and because they did this evil the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab(AB) power over Israel. 13 Getting the Ammonites(AC) and Amalekites(AD) to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms.[c](AE) 14 The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab(AF) for eighteen years.

15 Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer(AG)—Ehud(AH), a left-handed(AI) man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute(AJ) to Eglon king of Moab. 16 Now Ehud(AK) had made a double-edged sword about a cubit[d] long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. 17 He presented the tribute(AL) to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.(AM) 18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it. 19 But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.”

The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left.

20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace[e](AN) and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose(AO) from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword(AP) from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly. 22 Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. 23 Then Ehud went out to the porch[f]; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

24 After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, “He must be relieving himself(AQ) in the inner room of the palace.” 25 They waited to the point of embarrassment,(AR) but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead.

26 While they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the stone images and escaped to Seirah. 27 When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet(AS) in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them.

28 “Follow me,” he ordered, “for the Lord has given Moab,(AT) your enemy, into your hands.(AU)” So they followed him down and took possession of the fords of the Jordan(AV) that led to Moab; they allowed no one to cross over. 29 At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped. 30 That day Moab(AW) was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace(AX) for eighty years.

Shamgar

31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath,(AY) who struck down six hundred(AZ) Philistines(BA) with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 3:8 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
  2. Judges 3:10 Or leader
  3. Judges 3:13 That is, Jericho
  4. Judges 3:16 That is, about 18 inches or about 45 centimeters
  5. Judges 3:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verse 24.
  6. Judges 3:23 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.