Judges3

Judges 3 details Israel's repeated cycle of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance. The LORD left nations to test Israel, but they intermarried and served foreign gods, leading to servitude under kings like Chushanrishathaim and Eglon. In response to Israel's cries, the LORD raised up deliverers such as Othniel, who brought 40 years of rest, and Ehud, who cunningly assassinated Eglon and secured 80 years of peace. The chapter concludes with a brief mention of Shamgar's deliverance.

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The Lord Tests Israel

These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan,

if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly:

the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.

These nations were left to test the Israelites, to find out whether they would keep the commandments of the LORD, which He had given their fathers through Moses.

Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

So the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.

Israel Delivered by Othniel

Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram-naharaim, and the Israelites served him eight years.

But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz as a deliverer to save them.

The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him.

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

Ehud Delivers Israel from Moab

Once again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. So He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.

After enlisting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join forces with him, Eglon attacked and defeated Israel, taking possession of the City of Palms.

The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.

And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.

Now Ehud had made for himself a double-edged sword a cubit long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his cloak

and brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an obese man.

After Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he ushered out those who had carried it.

But upon reaching the idols near Gilgal, he himself turned back and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” “Silence,” said the king, and all his attendants left him.

Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room. “I have a word from God for you,” Ehud said, and the king rose from his seat.

And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.

Even the handle sank in after the blade, and Eglon’s fat closed in over it, so that Ehud did not withdraw the sword from his belly. And Eglon’s bowels emptied.

Then Ehud went out through the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upper room behind him.

After Ehud was gone, Eglon’s servants came in and found the doors of the upper room locked. “He must be relieving himself in the cool room,” they said.

So they waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upper room. Then they took the key and opened the doors—and there was their lord lying dead on the floor.

Ehud, however, had escaped while the servants waited. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.

On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader.

“Follow me,” he told them, “for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over.

At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all robust and valiant men. Not one of them escaped.

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

The Deliverance of Shamgar

After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath. And he too saved Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.

Study Notes for Judges 3

Verse 1

The nations left unconquered served a dual purpose: to train the generation born after the conquest in warfare and, more importantly, to test their spiritual loyalty to the covenant promises made to Moses.

Verse 2

This verse stresses the military education aspect. The new generation needed practical experience in warfare to appreciate the necessity of relying on Yahweh for victory, as their fathers had.

Verse 4

The ultimate test was not military success but obedience. If Israel intermingled with these groups, they risked adopting their idolatry, proving they had failed the covenant test.

Verse 6

Intermarriage (covenant violation) led directly to syncretism and idolatry. By taking foreign wives, they integrated foreign gods (v. 7) into their worship, adopting Canaanite religion.

Verse 7

Baalim refers to various local manifestations of the Canaanite storm and fertility god, Baal. 'The groves' refers to the Asherah poles, wooden objects representing the consort goddess of Baal, Asherah.

Verse 8

The cycle begins: sin leads to divine judgment, described as God 'selling' them into servitude. Cushan-rishathaim means 'Cushan of Double Wickedness' and ruled Aram Naharaim, or Mesopotamia, indicating a distant, powerful oppressor.

Verse 9

Othniel is the first judge. He was already known for his faith (Josh 15:16-17) and was the nephew and son-in-law of Caleb. He represents the ideal of a faithful leader raised up by God.

Verse 10

The phrase 'the Spirit of the LORD came upon him' is the theological key to the Judges narrative, showing that the judge’s power and authority were divinely appointed and temporary, not hereditary.

Verse 12

The cycle repeats immediately after Othniel’s death. God 'strengthened' Eglon, meaning God allowed or empowered the oppressor to punish Israel for their renewed apostasy.

Verse 13

Eglon allied with Ammon and Amalek, demonstrating a coalition of enemies. The 'city of palm trees' is generally identified as Jericho, a strategically important location controlling access to the central hill country.

Verse 15

Ehud is described as a 'man lefthanded' (Heb. *’iṭṭēr yaḏ-yəmiynô*), literally 'restricted in his right hand.' This unique trait is crucial for the plot, allowing him to conceal his weapon effectively.

Verse 16

A cubit is about 18 inches. The placement of the dagger on the right thigh was unconventional for a right-handed person, but standard for a left-handed person, allowing him to bypass the expectation of guards searching the left side.

Verse 17

Eglon is described as 'very fat,' a detail that is significant not only for the ensuing violence but also possibly indicating his wealth, luxury, and self-indulgence.

Verse 20

Ehud uses religious deception, claiming a 'message from God' (*dāḇār ’ĕlōhîm*). Eglon, showing respect for the divine message, rose from his seat, putting himself in a vulnerable position for the attack.

Verse 22

This verse graphically emphasizes the depth of the thrust and the size of Eglon. The phrase 'the dirt came out' is often interpreted as a euphemism for excrement, showing the gruesome nature of the king's death.

Verse 24

The servants assume Eglon is 'covering his feet,' a common biblical euphemism for relieving himself. This understandable delay gives Ehud sufficient time to escape before the assassination is discovered.

Verse 28

Ehud’s strategy was brilliant: securing the fords of the Jordan River prevented the Moabite forces stationed west of the Jordan from retreating across the river and cut off any potential reinforcements from Moab proper.

Verse 31

Shamgar is a transitional figure whose brief entry suggests quick, effective action. The ox goad, a long, iron-tipped farming tool, highlights that God can use the most humble and unexpected means to deliver his people.

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Judges3

The Lord Tests Israel

Israel Delivered by Othniel

Ehud Delivers Israel from Moab

The Deliverance of Shamgar

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