Judges 3
3
1 These were the nations the Lord permitted to remain so he could use them to test Israel – he wanted to test all those who had not experienced battle against the Canaanites.#tn Heb “did not know the wars of Canaan.” 2 He left those nations simply because he wanted to teach the subsequent generations of Israelites, who had not experienced the earlier battles, how to conduct holy war.#tn The Hebrew syntax of v. 2 is difficult. The Hebrew text reads literally, “only in order that the generations of the Israelites might know, to teach them war – only those who formerly did not know them.”sn The stated purpose for leaving the nations (to teach the subsequent generations…how to conduct holy war) seems to contradict 2:22 and 3:4, which indicate the nations were left to test Israel’s loyalty to the Lord. However, the two stated purposes can be harmonized. The willingness of later generations to learn and engage in holy war would measure their allegiance to the Lord (see B. G. Webb, Judges [JSOTSup], 114-15). 3 These were the nations:#tn The words “These were the nations,” though not present in the Hebrew text, are supplied in the translation for clarity. the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo-Hamath.#tn Or “the entrance to Hamath.” 4 They were left to test Israel, so the Lord would know if his people would obey the commands he gave their ancestors through Moses.#tn Heb “to know if they would hear the commands of the Lord which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.”
5 The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 6 They took the Canaanites’ daughters as wives and gave their daughters to the Canaanites;#tn Heb “to their sons.” they worshiped#tn Or “served”; or “followed” (this term occurs in the following verse as well). their gods as well.
Othniel: A Model Leader
7 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight.#tn Heb “in the eyes of the Lord.” They forgot the Lord their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs.#sn The Asherahs were local manifestations of the Canaanite goddess Asherah. 8 The Lord was furious with Israel#tn Or “The Lord’s anger burned (or raged) against Israel.” and turned them over to#tn Heb “sold them into the hands of.” King Cushan-Rishathaim#tn Or “Cushan the Doubly Wicked.” of Aram-Naharaim. They were Cushan-Rishathaim’s subjects#tn Or “they served Cushan-Rishathaim.” for eight years. 9 When the Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, he#tn Heb “the Lord.” raised up a deliverer for the Israelites who rescued#tn Or “delivered.” them. His name was Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.#tn “Caleb’s younger brother” may refer to Othniel or to Kenaz (in which case Othniel is Caleb’s nephew). 10 The Lord’s spirit empowered him#tn Heb “was on him.” and he led Israel. When he went to do battle, the Lord handed over to him King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram and he overpowered him.#tn Heb “his hand was strong against Cushan-Rishathaim.” 11 The land had rest for forty years; then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
Deceit, Assassination, and Deliverance
12 The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight.#tn Heb “in the eyes of the Lord” (also later in this verse). The Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel#tn Heb “strengthened Eglon…against Israel.” because they had done evil in the Lord’s sight. 13 Eglon formed alliances with#tn Heb “and he gathered to him.” the Ammonites and Amalekites. He came and defeated Israel, and they seized the City of Date Palm Trees. 14 The Israelites were subject to#tn Or “the Israelites served Eglon.” King Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.
15 When the Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, he#tn Heb “the Lord.” This has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons. raised up a deliverer for them. His name was Ehud son of Gera the Benjaminite, a left-handed man.#tn The phrase, which refers to Ehud, literally reads “bound/restricted in the right hand,” apparently a Hebrew idiom for a left-handed person. See Judg 20:16, where 700 Benjaminites are described in this way. Perhaps the Benjaminites purposely trained several of their young men to be left-handed warriors by restricting the use of the right hand from an early age so the left hand would become dominant. Left-handed men would have a distinct military advantage, especially when attacking city gates. See B. Halpern, “The Assassination of Eglon: The First Locked-Room Murder Mystery,” BRev 4 (1988): 35. The Israelites sent him to King Eglon of Moab with their tribute payment.#tn Heb “The Israelites sent by his hand an offering to Eglon, king of Moab.” 16 Ehud made himself a sword – it had two edges and was eighteen inches long.#tn The Hebrew term גֹּמֶד (gomed) denotes a unit of linear measure, perhaps a cubit (the distance between the elbow and the tip of the middle finger – approximately 18 inches [45 cm]). Some suggest it is equivalent to the short cubit (the distance between the elbow and the knuckles of the clenched fist – approximately 13 inches [33 cm]) or to the span (the distance between the end of the thumb and the end of the little finger in a spread hand – approximately 9 inches [23 cm]). See BDB 167 s.v.; HALOT 196 s.v.; B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 142. He strapped it under his coat on his right thigh. 17 He brought the tribute payment to King Eglon of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.)
18 After Ehud brought the tribute payment, he dismissed the people who had carried it.#tn Heb “the tribute payment.” 19 But he went back#tn Or “returned” (i.e., to Eglon’s palace). once he reached#tn The words “when he reached” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The Hebrew text simply reads “from.” the carved images#tn Or “idols.” at Gilgal. He said to Eglon,#tn The words “to Eglon” are supplied in the translation for clarification. “I have a secret message for you, O king.” Eglon#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Eglon) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said, “Be quiet!”#tn Or “Hush!” All his attendants left. 20 When Ehud approached him, he was sitting in his well-ventilated#tn Or “cool.” This probably refers to a room with latticed windows which allowed the breeze to pass through. See B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 144. upper room all by himself. Ehud said, “I have a message from God#tn Heb “word of [i.e., from] God.” for you.” When Eglon rose up from his seat,#tn Or “throne.” 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and drove it into Eglon’s#tn Heb “his”; the referent (Eglon) has been specified in the translation for clarity. belly. 22 The handle went in after the blade, and the fat closed around the blade, for Ehud#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ehud) has been specified in the translation for clarity. did not pull the sword out of his belly.#tn The Hebrew text has “and he went out to the [?].” The meaning of the Hebrew word פַּרְשְׁדֹנָה (parshÿdonah) which occurs only here in the OT, is uncertain. The noun has the article prefixed and directive suffix. The word may be a technical architectural term, indicating the area into which Ehud moved as he left the king and began his escape. In this case Ehud is the subject of the verb “went out.” The present translation omits the clause, understanding it as an ancient variant of the first clause in v. 23. Some take the noun as “back,” understand “sword” (from the preceding clause) as the subject, and translate “the sword came out his [i.e., Eglon’s] back.” But this rendering is unlikely since the Hebrew word for “sword” (חֶרֶב, kherev) is feminine and the verb form translated “came out” (וַיֵּצֵא, vayyetse’) is masculine. (One expects agreement in gender when the subject is supplied from the preceding clause. See Ezek 33:4, 6.) See B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 146-48, for discussion of the options. 23 As Ehud went out into the vestibule,#tn Again the precise meaning of the Hebrew word, used only here in the OT, is uncertain. Since it is preceded by the verb “went out” and the next clause refers to Ehud closing doors, the noun is probably an architectural term referring to the room (perhaps a vestibule; see HALOT 604 s.v. מִסְדְּרוֹן) immediately outside the king’s upper chamber. As v. 24 indicates, this vestibule separated the upper room from an outer room where the king's servants were waiting. he closed the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.
24 When Ehud had left, Eglon’s#tn Heb “his.” servants came and saw the locked doors of the upper room. They said, “He must be relieving himself#tn Heb “covering his feet” (i.e., with his outer garments while he relieves himself). in the well-ventilated inner room.”#tn The Hebrew expression translated “well-ventilated inner room” may refer to the upper room itself or to a bathroom attached to or within it. 25 They waited so long they were embarrassed, but he still did not open the doors of the upper room. Finally they took the key and opened the doors.#tn The words “the doors” are supplied. Right before their eyes was their master, sprawled out dead on the floor!#tn Heb “See, their master, fallen to the ground, dead.” 26 Now Ehud had escaped while they were delaying. When he passed the carved images, he escaped to Seirah.
27 When he reached Seirah,#tn Heb “When he arrived.” he blew a trumpet#tn That is, “mustered an army.” in the Ephraimite hill country. The Israelites went down with him from the hill country, with Ehud in the lead.#tn Heb “now he was before them.” 28 He said to them, “Follow me, for the Lord is about to defeat your enemies, the Moabites!”#tn Heb “for the Lord has given your enemies, Moab, into your hand.” The verb form (a Hebrew perfect, indicating completed action from the standpoint of the speaker) emphasizes the certainty of the event. Though it had not yet taken place, the Lord speaks of it as a “done deal.” They followed him, captured the fords of the Jordan River#tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied for clarity. opposite Moab,#tn Or “against Moab,” that is, so as to prevent the Moabites from crossing. and did not let anyone cross. 29 That day they killed about ten thousand Moabites#tn Heb “They struck Moab that day – about ten thousand men.” – all strong, capable warriors; not one escaped. 30 Israel humiliated Moab that day, and the land had rest for eighty years.
31 After Ehud#tn Heb “him”; the referent (Ehud) has been specified in the translation for clarity. came#tn Heb “was.” Shamgar son of Anath; he killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad and, like Ehud,#tn Heb “also he”; the referent (Ehud) has been specified in the translation for clarity. delivered Israel.
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Judges 3
3
1These nowe are the nations which the Lord left, that he might proue Israel by them (euen as many of Israel as had not knowen all the warres of Canaan, 2Only to make the generations of the children of Israel to know, and to teach them warre, which doutles their predecessors knew not) 3Fiue princes of the Philistims, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hiuites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon vntill one come to Hamath. 4And these remayned to proue Israel by them, to wit, whether they would obey the commandements of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hiuites, and the Iebusites, 6And they tooke their daughters to bee their wiues, and gaue their daughters to their sonnes, and serued their gods. 7So the children of Israel did wickedly in the sight of the Lord, and forgate the Lord their God, and serued Baalim, and Asheroth. 8Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he solde them into the hand of Chushan rishathaim King of Aram-naharaim, and the children of Israel serued Chushan rishathaim eyght yeeres. 9And when the children of Israel cryed vnto the Lord, the Lord stirred vp a sauiour to ye children of Israel, and he saued them, euen Othniel the sonne of Kenaz, Calebs yonger brother. 10And the spirite of the Lord came vpon him, and he iudged Israel, and went out to warre: and the Lord deliuered Chushan rishathaim king of Aram into his hand, and his hand preuailed against Chushan rishathaim. 11So the lande had rest fourtie yeeres, and Othniel the sonne of Kenaz dyed. 12Then the children of Israel againe committed wickednesse in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord strengthened Eglon King of Moab against Israel, because they had committed wickednesse before the Lord. 13And he gathered vnto him the children of Ammon, and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and they possessed the citie of palme trees. 14So the children of Israel serued Eglon king of Moab eighteene yeeres. 15But when the children of Israel cried vnto the Lord, the Lord stirred them vp a sauiour, Ehud the sonne of Gera the sonne of Iemini, a man lame of his right hande: and the children of Israel sent a present by him vnto Eglon King of Moab. 16And Ehud made him a dagger with two edges of a cubite length, and he did gird it vnder his rayment vpon his right thigh, 17And he presented ye gift vnto Eglon King of Moab (and Eglon was a very fat man) 18And when he had now presented the present, he sent away the people that bare ye present, 19But he turned againe from the quarris, that were by Gilgal, and said, I haue a secret errand vnto thee, O King. Who said, Keepe silence: and all that stoode about him, went out from him. 20Then Ehud came vnto him. (and he sate alone in a sommer parler, which he had) and Ehud said, I haue a message vnto thee from God. Then he arose out of his throne, 21And Ehud put forth his left hand, and tooke the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his bellie, 22So that the hafte went in after the blade, and the fatte closed about the blade, so that he could not drawe the dagger out of his bellie, but the dirt came out. 23Then Ehud gate him out into the porch, and shut the doores of the parler vpon him, and locked them. 24And when he was gone out, his seruantes came: who seeing that the doores of the parler were locked, they sayd, Surely he doeth his easement in his sommer chamber. 25And they taryed till they were ashamed: and seeing he opened not the doores of the parler, they tooke the key, and opened them, and behold, their lord was fallen dead on the earth. 26So Ehud escaped (while they taried) and was passed the quarris, and escaped vnto Seirah. 27And when he came home, he blew a trumpet in mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel went downe with him from the mountaine, and he went before them. 28Then said he vnto them, Follow me: for the Lord hath deliuered your enemies, euen Moab into your hand. So they went downe after him, and tooke the passages of Iorden towarde Moab, and suffred not a man to passe ouer. 29And they slewe of the Moabites the same time about ten thousand men, all fed men, and all were warriours, and there escaped not a man. 30So Moab was subdued that daye, vnder the hand of Israel: and the land had rest fourescore yeeres. 31And after him was Shamgar the sonne of Anath, which slewe of the Philistims sixe hundreth men with an oxe goade, and he also deliuered Israel.
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