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Judges 3
[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; [Judges 3:2] ONLY THAT THE GENERATIONS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MIGHT KNOW, TO TEACH THEM WAR, AT THE LEAST SUCH AS BEFORE KNEW NOTHING THEREOF; In war people get killed and much suffering and loss of property is caused. On the other had, Wars often also stimulate progress and cause peoples to hasten the development of their own unique capabilities. [Judges 3:3] NAMELY, FIVE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES, AND ALL THE CANAANITES, AND THE SIDONIANS, AND THE HIVITES THAT DWELT IN MOUNT LEBANON, FROM MOUNT BAALHERMON UNTO THE ENTERING IN OF HAMATH. <<FIVE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES>> In Hebrew "Seren" probably from the root "sar" to rule. In Modern Hebrew "Seren" mean "captain". In Biblical Hebrew the term "seren" is found only with the Philistines. It is thought that "seren" is the source for the Greek term "tyrannos" (from which we have "tyrant") meaning local self-appointed ruler. The Philistines were linked in a federation of five cities that also reminds of us of similar leagues of cities in Greece at the time. <<SIDONIANS>>: This wasa another name for the Phoenicians in general. The two major Phoenician cities were Tyre and Sidon and Tyre was considered "a daughter of Sidon". <<THE ENTERING IN OF HAMATH>> In Hebrew "Lebo Hamath". It is thought that this is the name of a city. Some propose it place it north of Damascus and others even further north in southeast Turkey. Hamath in the Bible is the name of a region as well as a city. In Biblical terms "Hamath" refers more often than not to the complete region of northern Syria and southeast Turkey. This is roughly the true northern boundary of the Land of Israel. [Judges 3:4] AND THEY WERE TO PROVE ISRAEL BY THEM, TO KNOW WHETHER THEY WOULD HEARKEN UNTO THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD, WHICH HE COMMANDED THEIR FATHERS BY THE HAND OF MOSES. [Judges 3:5] AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DWELT AMONG THE CANAANITES, HITTITES, AND AMORITES, AND PERIZZITES, AND HIVITES, AND JEBUSITES: <<DWELT AMONG>>: In some areas true Israelites were actually in the minority. [Judges 3:6] AND THEY TOOK THEIR DAUGHTERS TO BE THEIR WIVES, AND GAVE THEIR DAUGHTERS TO THEIR SONS, AND SERVED THEIR GODS. They intermarried with the Canaanites and must have borne children from them. [Judges 3:7] AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND FORGAT THE LORD THEIR GOD, AND SERVED BAALIM AND THE GROVES. The Druids amongst the Celts also served Bel in the groves. [Judges 3:8] THEREFORE THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS HOT AGAINST ISRAEL, AND HE SOLD THEM INTO THE HAND OF CHUSHAN RISHATHAIM KING OF MESOPOTAMIA: AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SERVED CHUSHAN RISHATHAIM EIGHT YEARS. [Judges 3:9] AND WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CRIED UNTO 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. [Judges 3:10] AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM, AND HE DELIVERED ISRAEL, AND WENT OUT TO WAR: AND THE LORD DELIVERED CHUSHANRISHATHAIM KING OF MESOPOTAMIA INTO HIS HAND; AND HIS HAND PREVAILED AGAINST CHUSHANRISHATHAIM <<CHUSHANRISHATHAIM>> His name means "The Cushite who was doubly evil". A similar name is recorded in Mesopotamian records probably meaning something else but it would have been written in Hebrew as it has been to emphasize the inner essence of this evil oppressor. The Kassites (Cush) at that time ruled over Babylon in Lower Mesopotamia and CHUSHANRISHATHAIM may have been one of them. <<THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM<< Othniel was from Judah. He received Divine Inspiration to go out and fight against the enemies of Israel. The enemies of Israel are the enemies of God Almighty. We have seen how Othniel had already proved his valor and military capacity by capturing the city of Debir. [Judges 3:11] AND THE LAND HAD REST FORTY YEARS. AND OTHNIEL THE SON OF KENAZ DIED. <<DIED>>: Like it or not, someday we all will. [Judges 3:12] 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. <<EGLON>> This name could be understood to mean, "fattened bull-calf". [Judges 3:13] AND HE GATHERED UNTO HIM THE CHILDREN OF AMMON AND AMALEK, AND WENT AND SMOTE ISRAEL, AND POSSESSED THE CITY OF PALM TREES. Eglon of Moab used forces from Ammon and Amalek against Israel. <<CITY OF PALM TREES>>: Jericho. [Judges 3:14] SO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SERVED EGLON THE KING OF MOAB EIGHTEEN YEARS. [Judges 3:15] BUT WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CRIED UNTO THE LORD, THE LORD RAISED THEM UP A DELIVERER, EHUD THE SON OF GERA, A BENJAMITE, A MAN LEFTHANDED: AND BY HIM THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SENT A PRESENT UNTO EGLON THE KING OF MOAB. He was a Benjaminite. The name Benjamin means "Son of My Right Hand". The slogan of English Norman Kings was "Dieu et mon droit" i.e. God and MY Right Hand" still to be seen on the British coat of arms. It is ironic that left-handed people seem to have been common amongst the Benjaminites: "AMONG ALL THIS PEOPLE THERE WERE SEVEN HUNDRED CHOSEN MEN LEFTHANDED; EVERY ONE COULD SLING STONES AT AN HAIR BREADTH, AND NOT MISS" [Judges 20:16]. Or perhaps the Benjaminites did not have any more left-handed people than anyone else only they separated them out, put them together, and utilized whatever special-orientational advantages they may or may not have? I myself am left-handed. They say that statistically left-handed people tend to have a slightly shorter life span, be a little more intelligent, artistic, and sensitive, and have problems with coordination. They can also be marksmen. [Judges 3:16] BUT EHUD MADE HIM A DAGGER WHICH HAD TWO EDGES, OF A CUBIT LENGTH; AND HE DID GIRD IT UNDER HIS RAIMENT UPON HIS RIGHT THIGH. [Judges 3:17] AND HE BROUGHT THE PRESENT UNTO EGLON KING OF MOAB: AND EGLON WAS A VERY FAT MAN. [Judges 3:18] AND WHEN HE HAD MADE AN END TO OFFER THE PRESENT, HE SENT AWAY THE PEOPLE THAT BARE THE PRESENT. [Judges 3:19] BUT HE HIMSELF TURNED AGAIN FROM THE QUARRIES THAT WERE BY GILGAL, AND SAID, I HAVE A SECRET ERRAND UNTO THEE, O KING: WHO SAID, KEEP SILENCE. AND ALL THAT STOOD BY HIM WENT OUT FROM HIM. [Judges 3:20] AND EHUD CAME UNTO HIM; AND HE WAS SITTING IN A SUMMER PARLOUR, WHICH HE HAD FOR HIMSELF ALONE. AND EHUD SAID, I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM GOD UNTO THEE. AND HE AROSE OUT OF HIS SEAT. <<SUMMER PARLOUR>> A kind of elevated attic for cooling down, possibly more open to the passing breeze.. <<A MESSAGE FROM GOD UNTO THEE>>: When he heard this he stood up. According to tradition (Midrash Ruth Rabah, 2;9) Ruth was a daughter of Eglon. [Judges 3:21] AND EHUD PUT FORTH HIS LEFT HAND, AND TOOK THE DAGGER FROM HIS RIGHT THIGH, AND THRUST IT INTO HIS BELLY: [Judges 3:22] AND THE HAFT ALSO WENT IN AFTER THE BLADE; AND THE FAT CLOSED UPON THE BLADE, SO THAT HE COULD NOT DRAW THE DAGGER OUT OF HIS BELLY; AND THE DIRT CAME OUT. [Judges 3:23] THEN EHUD WENT FORTH THROUGH THE PORCH, AND SHUT THE DOORS OF THE PARLOUR UPON HIM, AND LOCKED THEM. [Judges 3:24] WHEN HE WAS GONE OUT, HIS SERVANTS CAME; AND WHEN THEY SAW THAT, BEHOLD, THE DOORS OF THE PARLOUR WERE LOCKED, THEY SAID, SURELY HE COVERETH HIS FEET IN HIS SUMMER CHAMBER. [Judges 3:25] AND THEY TARRIED TILL THEY WERE ASHAMED: AND, BEHOLD, HE OPENED NOT THE DOORS OF THE PARLOUR; THEREFORE THEY TOOK A KEY, AND OPENED THEM: AND, BEHOLD, THEIR LORD WAS FALLEN DOWN DEAD ON THE EARTH. [Judges 3:26] AND EHUD ESCAPED WHILE THEY TARRIED, AND PASSED BEYOND THE QUARRIES, AND ESCAPED UNTO SEIRATH. [Judges 3:27] 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. [Judges 3:28] AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, FOLLOW AFTER ME: FOR THE LORD HATH 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. [Judges 3:29] AND THEY SLEW OF MOAB AT THAT TIME ABOUT TEN THOUSAND MEN, ALL LUSTY, AND ALL MEN OF VALOUR; AND THERE ESCAPED NOT A MAN. [Judges 3:30] SO MOAB WAS SUBDUED THAT DAY UNDER THE HAND OF ISRAEL. AND THE LAND HAD REST FOURSCORE YEARS. [Judges 3:31] 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. Judges Index HOme |