Judges 3: Othniel and Ehud save Israel, and Shamgar strikes the Philistines
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What happens?
Yahweh leaves some nations in the land to test Israel, and the Israelites marry among them and serve their gods. Yahweh sells Israel to Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia for eight years; they cry out, Yahweh's Spirit comes on Othniel, he saves them, and the land has rest forty years. Then Yahweh makes Eglon king of Moab strong against Israel for eighteen years, until Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, brings Eglon tribute, gets him alone in his upper room, and drives a sword into his belly. Ehud escapes, leads Israel to take the fords of the Jordan, and they kill about ten thousand men of Moab, and the land has rest eighty years. After him Shamgar strikes down six hundred Philistines with an ox goad.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the chapter. No verse is in gold. Ehud speaks to Eglon in verses 19 and 20, and Eglon answers "Keep silence!" in verse 19. When Ehud says "I have a message from God to you" in verse 20, those are Ehud's words. Eglon's servants speak in verse 24, and Ehud speaks to the Israelites in verse 28. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now these are the nations which Yahweh left, to test Israel by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
In plain English: These are the nations Yahweh left, to test Israel by them: all those in Israel who had not known any of the wars of Canaan.
Good to know: Verses 1 to 4 give two reasons for the nations that were left: to test Israel, as Yahweh said in (verses 1 and 4), and to teach war to the generations who had not known it (verse 2).
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2only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at least those who knew nothing of it before:
In plain English: It was only so that the generations of the Israelites might know war, to teach them war, at least those who had not known it before:
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3the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
In plain English: the five lords (or: rulers) of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath (or: to Lebo Hamath).
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4They were left to test Israel by them, to know whether they would listen to Yahweh’s commandments, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.
In plain English: They were left to test Israel by them, to find out whether they would listen to Yahweh's commandments, which he had commanded their fathers through Moses (literally: by the hand of Moses).
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5The children of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
In plain English: The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
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6They took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.
In plain English: They took their daughters as wives for themselves, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
Good to know: says of the nations of the land, "You shall not make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to his son, nor shall you take his daughter for your son." Verse 6 says Israel did those very things.
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7The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and forgot Yahweh their God, and served the Baals and the Asheroth.
In plain English: The Israelites did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes. They forgot Yahweh their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs (this Bible: the Asheroth).
Good to know: Othniel's story in verses 7 to 11 follows the pattern of to (see the note on 2:11), with two steps chapter 2 does not name: Israel cries out to Yahweh (verse 9), and the land has rest (verse 11). Othniel is the man who took Kiriath Sepher in ; on how he is related to Caleb, see the note on . On Asherah, see the note on .
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8Therefore Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan Rishathaim eight years.
In plain English: So Yahweh's anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia (literally: Aram of the two rivers). The Israelites served Cushan Rishathaim eight years.
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9When the children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a savior to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
In plain English: When the Israelites cried out to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a savior (or: deliverer) for the Israelites, who saved them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother (or: the son of Caleb's younger brother Kenaz).
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10Yahweh’s Spirit came on him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Yahweh delivered Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. His hand prevailed against Cushan Rishathaim.
In plain English: Yahweh's Spirit (or: spirit) came on him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and Yahweh gave Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia (literally: of Aram) into his hand. His hand was strong against (this Bible: prevailed against) Cushan Rishathaim.
The Hebrew word: "Spirit" is ruach, which the dictionary gives as "wind; by resemblance breath", and also "by resemblance spirit". Hebrew has no capital letters, so "Spirit" or "spirit" is the translator's choice.
How it is translated: This Bible says "spirit" (or "Spirit") or a longer form in 200 of the 348 verses that use ruach, "wind" or a longer form in 100, and "breath" or a longer form in 34. In Judges it says "spirit" in 9 of the 10 verses that use it.
What changes: Read as "the Spirit of Yahweh", it is Yahweh's own Spirit. Read as "a spirit from Yahweh", it is a power or breath he sent on Othniel. Either way, the text says what followed: he judged Israel and went out to war.
Good to know: Later in the book Yahweh's Spirit is said to come on Gideon (), Jephthah () and Samson (, and ), and in it "began to move" Samson. This is the first verse of the book that says a judge "judged Israel".
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11The land had rest forty years, then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
In plain English: The land had rest (or: was at peace) forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
The Hebrew word: "Had rest" is shaqat, which the dictionary gives as "to repose". The same words, "the land had rest", come again in the stories of Ehud (), Deborah and Barak () and Gideon ().
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12The children of Israel again did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and Yahweh strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight.
In plain English: Again the Israelites did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes, and Yahweh made Eglon king of Moab strong against Israel, because they had done what was evil in Yahweh's eyes.
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13He gathered the children of Ammon and Amalek to himself; and he went and struck Israel, and they possessed the city of palm trees.
In plain English: Eglon gathered the Ammonites and Amalek to himself. He went and struck Israel, and they took (this Bible: possessed) the City of Palm Trees.
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14The children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
In plain English: The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.
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15But when the children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a savior for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The children of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.
In plain English: But when the Israelites cried out to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a savior for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The Israelites sent tribute by him (literally: by his hand) to Eglon king of Moab.
The Hebrew words: "Left-handed" is word for word "impeded in his right hand". The dictionary gives the word as "shut up, i.e. impeded (as to the use of the right hand)". It is used only here and in , of seven hundred chosen men of Benjamin, Ehud's tribe.
What changes: Read as "left-handed", as this Bible says, Ehud used his left hand rather than his right. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) says "a man who used both hands alike". Either way, verse 21 says he used his left hand.
Good to know: "Tribute" is minchah, which the dictionary gives as "a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering". This Bible says "offering" or a longer form in 160 of the 194 verses that use it.
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16Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he wore it under his clothing on his right thigh.
In plain English: Ehud made himself a sword with two edges, a cubit (or: a span) long, and he strapped it on his right thigh under his clothes.
The Hebrew word: "A cubit" here is gomed, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a span". It is used only in this verse. The usual word for a cubit is a different one, ammah, which the dictionary gives as "the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a cubit".
What changes: Read as "a cubit", the sword was about as long as a forearm. Read as "a span", it was shorter. The text gives no other measure.
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17He offered the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.
In plain English: He brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Eglon was a very fat man.
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18When Ehud had finished offering the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute.
In plain English: When Ehud had finished bringing the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried it.
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19But he himself turned back from the stone idols that were by Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” The king said, “Keep silence!” All who stood by him left him.
In plain English: But he himself turned back from the stone idols (or: the quarries) near Gilgal, and said, "I have a secret message (or: a secret matter) for you, O king." The king said, "Keep silence!" and all who stood by him went out from him.
The Hebrew words: "Stone idols" is pesilim, which the dictionary gives as "an idol". This Bible says "image" or a longer form in 22 of the 24 verses that use the word. "A secret message" is word for word "a word of secrecy": davar, which the dictionary gives as "a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing".
What changes: Read as "idols", Ehud turned back at carved images near Gilgal. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) says "the quarries", a place where stone is cut. Ehud's "secret message" here and "message from God" in verse 20 can also be read as "a secret matter" and "a matter from God". The text does not say what he meant by it.
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20Ehud came to him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. Ehud said, “I have a message from God to you.” He arose out of his seat.
In plain English: Ehud came to him. He was sitting alone in his cool upper room (literally: the upper room of coolness). Ehud said, "I have a message (or: a matter) from God for you." He got up from his seat (literally: his throne).
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21Ehud put out his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body.
In plain English: Ehud reached out his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and drove it into his belly (this Bible: his body).
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22The handle also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, for he didn’t draw the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.
In plain English: The handle also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, because he did not pull the sword out of his belly. And it came out behind (or: it came out at the crotch, or: he went out; the Hebrew here is unclear).
The Hebrew word: "And it came out behind" is two Hebrew words, "and it (or: he) went out" and parshedon. The dictionary gives parshedon as "the crotch (or anus)". It is used only in this verse, and the old Greek translation (Brenton) does not have these words.
What changes: Read as this Bible does, the blade came out behind. Read with the dictionary's meaning, something came out at his crotch (or anus), and the verse does not say what. Read as "he went out", the words tell of Ehud leaving, as verse 23 goes on. The text does not say which.
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23Then Ehud went out onto the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room on him, and locked them.
In plain English: Then Ehud went out onto the porch (or: out to the hall of pillars), shut the doors of the upper room behind him, and locked them.
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24After he had gone, his servants came and saw that the doors of the upper room were locked. They said, “Surely he is covering his feet in the upper room.”
In plain English: After he had gone, Eglon's servants came and saw that the doors of the upper room were locked. They said, "He must be covering his feet (relieving himself) in the cool room (this Bible: the upper room)."
The Hebrew words: "Covering his feet" is the same Hebrew as in , where this Bible says Saul went into the cave "to relieve himself". The old Greek translation (Brenton) has "uncover his feet". The servants think the king is relieving himself, and in verse 25 they wait.
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25They waited until they were ashamed; and behold, he didn’t open the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold, their lord had fallen down dead on the floor.
In plain English: They waited until they were embarrassed (this Bible: ashamed), and still he did not open the doors of the upper room. So they took the key and opened them, and there was their lord, fallen to the floor, dead.
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26Ehud escaped while they waited, passed beyond the stone idols, and escaped to Seirah.
In plain English: Ehud got away while they waited. He passed beyond the stone idols (or: the quarries) and escaped to Seirah.
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27When he had come, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he led them.
In plain English: When he arrived, he blew a ram's horn (this Bible: a trumpet) in the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites went down with him from the hill country, and he led them.
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28He said to them, “Follow me; for Yahweh has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” They followed him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and didn’t allow any man to pass over.
In plain English: He said to them, "Follow me (literally: chase after me), because Yahweh has given your enemies, the Moabites, into your hand." They went down after him and took the fords of the Jordan against Moab, and did not let anyone cross.
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29They struck at that time about ten thousand men of Moab, every strong man and every man of valor. No man escaped.
In plain English: At that time they struck down about ten thousand men of Moab, every sturdy man (literally: every fat one) and every brave man (this Bible: man of valor). Not one man escaped.
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30So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. Then the land had rest eighty years.
In plain English: So Moab was brought low (this Bible: subdued) that day under the hand of Israel, and the land had rest eighty years.
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31After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad. He also saved Israel.
In plain English: After him came Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistine men with an ox goad. He too saved Israel.
The Hebrew word: "Ox goad" is malmad, which the dictionary gives as "a goad for oxen": a pointed stick for driving cattle. This is the only verse that uses it.
Good to know: Shamgar is named again in the Song of Deborah: "In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath" (). This verse does not call him a judge or say how long the land had rest. It says, "He also saved Israel."
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