3
1 Now
these are the
nations which the
LORD left, to
test Israel by
them, even as
many as had
not known all
the wars of
Canaan;
2 only
that the
generations of the
children of Israel
might know, to
teach them war,
at least those who
knew nothing of
it before:
3 the
five lords of
the Philistines,
all the Canaanites,
the Sidonians, and
the Hivites who
lived on Mount
Lebanon, from
Mount Baal Hermon to
the entrance of
Hamath.
4 They
were left to
test Israel by
them, to know
whether they would
listen to the
LORD’s commandments,
which he commanded
their fathers by
Moses.
5 The
children of Israel
lived among the
Canaanites, the
Hittites, the Amorites,
the Perizzites,
the Hivites, and
the Jebusites.
6 They
took their
daughters to be
their wives, and
gave their own
daughters to their
sons and served
their gods.
7 The
children of Israel
did that which
was evil in
the LORD’s sight,
and forgot the
LORD their God,
and served the
Baals and
the Asheroth.
8 Therefore
the LORD’s anger
burned against
Israel, and he
sold them into
the hand of Cushan
Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia;
and the children
of Israel
served Cushan Rishathaim eight
years.
9 When
the children of
Israel cried to
the LORD, the
LORD raised up
a savior to
the children of
Israel, who saved
them, even Othniel
the son of
Kenaz, Caleb’s
younger brother.
10 The
LORD’s Spirit came
on him, and
he judged Israel;
and he went
out to war,
and the LORD
delivered Cushan Rishathaim king
of Mesopotamia into
his hand. His
hand prevailed
against Cushan Rishathaim.
11 The land
had rest forty
years, then
Othniel the son
of Kenaz died.
12 The
children of Israel
again did that
which was evil
in the LORD’s
sight, and the
LORD strengthened
Eglon the king
of Moab against
Israel, because
they had done
that which was
evil in the
LORD’s sight.
13 He
gathered the
children of Ammon
and Amalek
to himself; and he
went and struck
Israel, and they
possessed the city
of palm trees.
14 The
children of Israel
served Eglon the
king of Moab
eighteen years.
15 But
when the children
of Israel cried
to the LORD,
the LORD raised
up a savior
for them: Ehud the
son of Gera,
the Benjamite, a
left-handed man.
The children of
Israel sent
tribute by him
to Eglon the
king of Moab.
16 Ehud made
himself a sword
which had two
edges, a cubit
in length; and
he wore it
under his clothing
on his right
thigh.
17 He
offered the
tribute to Eglon
king of Moab.
Now Eglon was
a very fat man.
18 When
Ehud had finished
offering the
tribute, he sent
away the people
who carried the
tribute.
19 But
he himself turned
back from the stone
idols that were
by Gilgal, and
said, “I have
a secret message
for you, O
king.”
The king said, “Keep
silence!” All who
stood by him
left him.
20 Ehud came
to him; and
he was sitting
by himself alone
in the cool
upper room. Ehud
said, “I have
a message from God
to you.” He
arose out of
his seat.
21 Ehud put
out his left
hand, and took
the sword from
his right thigh,
and thrust it
into his body.
22 The
handle also went
in after the
blade; and the
fat closed on
the blade, for
he didn’t draw the
sword out of
his body; and it
came out behind.
23 Then Ehud
went out onto the
porch, and shut
the doors of
the upper room
on him, and
locked them.
24 After
he had gone,
his servants came
and saw that
the doors of
the upper room
were locked. They
said, “Surely he
is covering his
feet
in the upper
room.”
25 They
waited until they
were ashamed; and
behold, he didn’t
open the doors
of the upper
room. Therefore
they took the
key and opened
them, and behold,
their lord had
fallen down dead
on the floor.
26 Ehud
escaped while
they waited, passed
beyond the stone
idols, and escaped
to Seirah.
27 When
he had come,
he blew a
trumpet in the
hill country
of Ephraim; and
the children of
Israel went down
with him from
the hill country,
and he led
them.
28 He said
to them, “Follow
me; for the
LORD has delivered
your enemies the
Moabites into your
hand.” They
followed him, and
took the fords
of the Jordan
against the
Moabites, and didn’t
allow any man
to pass over.
29 They
struck at that
time about
ten thousand men
of Moab, every
strong man and
every man of
valor. No man
escaped.
30 So
Moab was subdued
that day under
the hand of
Israel. Then
the land had rest
eighty years.
31 After
him was Shamgar
the son of
Anath, who struck
six hundred men
of the Philistines
with an ox
goad. He also
saved Israel.