American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Judges 3
1
Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
Reference
2
Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
3
Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelled in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon to the entering in of Hamath.
Reference
📍 Locations
4
And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would listen to the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
Reference
5
And the children of Israel dwelled among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 3:8
6
And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
Reference
References God
Exodus 34:16
7
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
Reference
8
Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
Reference
9
And when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
Reference
Parallel theme
Judges 1:13
References Lord
Judges 6:7
Judges 10:10
Judges 4:3
Resurrection
Judges 3:15
Judges 2:16
10
And the Spirit of the LORD came on him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
Reference
12
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
Reference
13
And he gathered to him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
Reference
15
But when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man left handed: and by him the children of Israel sent a present to Eglon the king of Moab.
Reference
People
Kingdom
Isaiah 36:16
Parallel theme
Psalm 78:34
1 Chronicles 12:2
Judges 20:16
Resurrection
Judges 3:9
16
But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment on his right thigh.
17
And he brought the present to Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
18
And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bore the present.
19
But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand to you, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 4:20
20
And Ehud came to him; and he was sitting in a summer parlor, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God to you. And he arose out of his seat.
Reference
21
And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
22
And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.
23
Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlor on him, and locked them.
24
When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlor were locked, they said, Surely he covers his feet in his summer chamber.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 24:3
25
And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlor; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.
26
And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped to Seirath.
📍 Seirah
27
And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.
Reference
28
And he said to them, Follow after me: for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.
Reference
Parallel theme
Judges 12:5
Joshua 2:7
Judges 7:24
References Lord
Judges 7:9
Judges 7:15
1 Samuel 17:47
29
And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valor; and there escaped not a man.
30
So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
Reference
Parallel theme
Judges 3:11
31
And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Judges 5:6
1 Corinthians 1:17
1 Samuel 17:50
1 Samuel 17:47
Judges 15:15
Judges 2:16
References Israel
Judges 5:8
Summary of Judges 3
Judges chapter 3 introduces the first three judges mentioned in the book and shows the cycle that will continue throughout the history of Israel during this time. The Israelites had failed to drive out all of the people living in Canaan and the remaining nations became a test of Israel's faithfulness. Rather than remaining devoted to the Lord the Israelites repeatedly turned to the gods of the surrounding peoples. When they suffered because of their disobedience they cried out to God who raised up judges to deliver them.
The chapter starts off by explaining that several nations remained in the land. These included the Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, Hivites, and others living in different parts of Canaan. God allowed these nations to remain for a time. One reason given is that the younger generations of Israelites had not experienced the wars of the conquest and needed to learn how to fight. More importantly their presence was a test of whether Israel would obey the commandments that God had given through Moses.
The Israelites were living among these nations and started to form relationships with them. Rather than remaining separate from the religious practices of the Canaanites the Israelites married among the surrounding peoples and started to serve their gods. This was exactly the type of behavior that God had warned them against.
The people served Baalim and the groves, turning away from the Lord God of Israel. As a result God's anger was kindled against them, and He allowed Israel to fall under the control of foreign rulers. The first major oppressor mentioned is Chushanrishathaim, king of Mesopotamia.
Israel served Chushanrishathaim for eight years. Eventually the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help. God raised up Othniel, the son of Kenaz and Caleb's younger relative, to deliver them.
Othniel had already appeared briefly in the previous chapter when he captured Debir and married Achsah, Caleb's daughter. He becomes the first judge of Israel. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel, and he went out to battle against Chushanrishathaim. God gave Israel victory, and the land had rest for forty years.
The account involving Othniel is short, but it sets up the pattern of the book. Israel turns away from God, an enemy oppresses them, the people cry out, God raises a judge and the judge brings deliverance. After the period of peace, however, the cycle begins again.
After Othniel died, the Israelites returned to their old ways. The Lord allowed Eglon, the king of Moab, to become powerful against Israel. Eglon joined forces with the Ammonites and Amalekites and defeated Israel. He captured the city of palm trees, usually associated with Jericho, and Israel served him for eighteen years.
Again, the Israelites cried out to the Lord. God raised up Ehud, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, to deliver them.
Ehud was left-handed. He made himself a two-edged dagger and hid it under his clothing on his right side. He then brought a tribute to Eglon, the king of Moab. After delivering the tribute, Ehud began to leave with the other men. He then returned to Eglon and said that he had a secret message for the king.
Eglon sent his servants away and allowed Ehud to speak with him in private. When the king stood up, Ehud drew the hidden dagger with his right hand and drove it into Eglon's body. The text describes Eglon as a very large man, and the dagger disappeared into him. Ehud then escaped and locked the doors of the room behind him.
When Eglon's servants returned, they assumed that the king was resting in his private room. They waited until they became embarrassed by the delay and finally opened the doors. By then, Eglon was dead.
Ehud escaped to the mountains of Ephraim and sounded a trumpet. He called the Israelites to follow him because the Lord had delivered their enemy, the Moabites, into their hands. The Israelites followed Ehud and captured the fords of Jordan, preventing the Moabites from escaping or sending reinforcements.
They killed about ten thousand Moabite soldiers. The text states that not one of them escaped. Moab was brought under Israel's control, and the land had rest for eighty years.
The story of Ehud is much longer than the account of Othniel and shows how God used an unexpected person to deliver Israel. Ehud's left-handedness allowed him to carry his weapon on the opposite side from what his enemies expected. His ability to approach Eglon privately gave him an opportunity to strike the king and begin the defeat of Moab.
The chapter then introduces Shamgar, another deliverer of Israel. The account is extremely brief. Shamgar was the son of Anath, and he killed six hundred Philistines with an ox goad. He also delivered Israel.
An ox goad was a long, pointed tool that was used to guide and control oxen while plowing. Shamgar's weapon was therefore an ordinary farming implement rather than a conventional military weapon. The brief account emphasizes that God could bring deliverance through someone using whatever means were available.
Judges chapter 3 reveals the pattern of Israel's spiritual decline. The people did not simply forget God once. They repeatedly turned away after experiencing periods of peace. Each time, oppression brought them back to the Lord, but the change was often temporary.
The three judges in this chapter also show the variety of people that God used. Othniel was connected to Caleb and became Israel's first judge. Ehud was a left-handed Benjamite who used a hidden dagger to defeat Moab's king. Shamgar was known for killing Philistines with an ox goad. Their stories are very different, but each became an instrument of deliverance.
The chapter also makes clear that Israel's problems were connected to its relationships with the surrounding nations. The Israelites had been warned not to adopt the worship of the Canaanites and other peoples, but they ignored those warnings. Their religious compromise led to political and military oppression.
The periods of rest mentioned in the chapter show the temporary nature of these victories. Othniel's victory brought forty years of rest, while Ehud's victory brought eighty years. But peace did not permanently change Israel's behavior. After each generation of leadership passed, the people returned to their former ways.
Judges 3 sets the pattern that will dominate much of the book. Israel turns away from God, foreign enemies gain control, the people cry out, and God raises a judge to rescue them. The deliverance is real, but the people's faithfulness is not lasting. The stories of Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar begin the long record of judges that were used to rescue Israel during a period of repeated rebellion and conflict.
The chapter starts off by explaining that several nations remained in the land. These included the Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, Hivites, and others living in different parts of Canaan. God allowed these nations to remain for a time. One reason given is that the younger generations of Israelites had not experienced the wars of the conquest and needed to learn how to fight. More importantly their presence was a test of whether Israel would obey the commandments that God had given through Moses.
The Israelites were living among these nations and started to form relationships with them. Rather than remaining separate from the religious practices of the Canaanites the Israelites married among the surrounding peoples and started to serve their gods. This was exactly the type of behavior that God had warned them against.
The people served Baalim and the groves, turning away from the Lord God of Israel. As a result God's anger was kindled against them, and He allowed Israel to fall under the control of foreign rulers. The first major oppressor mentioned is Chushanrishathaim, king of Mesopotamia.
Israel served Chushanrishathaim for eight years. Eventually the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help. God raised up Othniel, the son of Kenaz and Caleb's younger relative, to deliver them.
Othniel had already appeared briefly in the previous chapter when he captured Debir and married Achsah, Caleb's daughter. He becomes the first judge of Israel. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel, and he went out to battle against Chushanrishathaim. God gave Israel victory, and the land had rest for forty years.
The account involving Othniel is short, but it sets up the pattern of the book. Israel turns away from God, an enemy oppresses them, the people cry out, God raises a judge and the judge brings deliverance. After the period of peace, however, the cycle begins again.
After Othniel died, the Israelites returned to their old ways. The Lord allowed Eglon, the king of Moab, to become powerful against Israel. Eglon joined forces with the Ammonites and Amalekites and defeated Israel. He captured the city of palm trees, usually associated with Jericho, and Israel served him for eighteen years.
Again, the Israelites cried out to the Lord. God raised up Ehud, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, to deliver them.
Ehud was left-handed. He made himself a two-edged dagger and hid it under his clothing on his right side. He then brought a tribute to Eglon, the king of Moab. After delivering the tribute, Ehud began to leave with the other men. He then returned to Eglon and said that he had a secret message for the king.
Eglon sent his servants away and allowed Ehud to speak with him in private. When the king stood up, Ehud drew the hidden dagger with his right hand and drove it into Eglon's body. The text describes Eglon as a very large man, and the dagger disappeared into him. Ehud then escaped and locked the doors of the room behind him.
When Eglon's servants returned, they assumed that the king was resting in his private room. They waited until they became embarrassed by the delay and finally opened the doors. By then, Eglon was dead.
Ehud escaped to the mountains of Ephraim and sounded a trumpet. He called the Israelites to follow him because the Lord had delivered their enemy, the Moabites, into their hands. The Israelites followed Ehud and captured the fords of Jordan, preventing the Moabites from escaping or sending reinforcements.
They killed about ten thousand Moabite soldiers. The text states that not one of them escaped. Moab was brought under Israel's control, and the land had rest for eighty years.
The story of Ehud is much longer than the account of Othniel and shows how God used an unexpected person to deliver Israel. Ehud's left-handedness allowed him to carry his weapon on the opposite side from what his enemies expected. His ability to approach Eglon privately gave him an opportunity to strike the king and begin the defeat of Moab.
The chapter then introduces Shamgar, another deliverer of Israel. The account is extremely brief. Shamgar was the son of Anath, and he killed six hundred Philistines with an ox goad. He also delivered Israel.
An ox goad was a long, pointed tool that was used to guide and control oxen while plowing. Shamgar's weapon was therefore an ordinary farming implement rather than a conventional military weapon. The brief account emphasizes that God could bring deliverance through someone using whatever means were available.
Judges chapter 3 reveals the pattern of Israel's spiritual decline. The people did not simply forget God once. They repeatedly turned away after experiencing periods of peace. Each time, oppression brought them back to the Lord, but the change was often temporary.
The three judges in this chapter also show the variety of people that God used. Othniel was connected to Caleb and became Israel's first judge. Ehud was a left-handed Benjamite who used a hidden dagger to defeat Moab's king. Shamgar was known for killing Philistines with an ox goad. Their stories are very different, but each became an instrument of deliverance.
The chapter also makes clear that Israel's problems were connected to its relationships with the surrounding nations. The Israelites had been warned not to adopt the worship of the Canaanites and other peoples, but they ignored those warnings. Their religious compromise led to political and military oppression.
The periods of rest mentioned in the chapter show the temporary nature of these victories. Othniel's victory brought forty years of rest, while Ehud's victory brought eighty years. But peace did not permanently change Israel's behavior. After each generation of leadership passed, the people returned to their former ways.
Judges 3 sets the pattern that will dominate much of the book. Israel turns away from God, foreign enemies gain control, the people cry out, and God raises a judge to rescue them. The deliverance is real, but the people's faithfulness is not lasting. The stories of Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar begin the long record of judges that were used to rescue Israel during a period of repeated rebellion and conflict.