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