Judges | Chapter Summaries + Study QuestionsSample

JUDGES 3

JUDGES OF ISRAEL: OTHNIEL, EHUD, + SHAMGAR

The Israelites continue to worship other gods, abandoning their faith. God allows them to be conquered and enslaved for eight years. When the Israelites finally cry out to God, God sends Othniel, a judge, to deliver them. God’s spirit was upon Othniel, so they prevailed against their oppressors and had peace for forty years.

Once again, Israel begins worshiping false gods and adopting corrupt principles. God allows them to be conquered and enslaved by the Moabites for eighteen years. Similar to their previous captivity, the Israelites eventually cry out to God for deliverance. God sends Ehud, an unlikely, left-handed leader, to deliver them. Ehud uses a strategic and unusual strategy to kill the king and escape, freeing his people and giving them eighty years of peace.

Shamgar follows Ehud as the next judge. Very little is recorded about Shamgar, other than his ability to kill six-hundred Philistines and bring victory to Israel.

STUDY QUESTIONS

According to Judges 3:4, what was the purpose of the Israelites’ oppression?

Throughout Judges, the Israelites rejected God and became oppressed. Eventually, they cried out to God, and God provided judges who led Israel to peace. How did the Israelites begin this cycle in Judges 3:7–10?

In Judges 3:12–30, how did Ehud defeat Eglon, the Moabite king?