Judg 3
1
Now these are the nations which YHWH left, to prove Israel by them, even as many [of
Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
2
only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war,
at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof:
3
[namely], the five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians,
and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon to the entrance
of Hamath.
4
And they were [left], to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken
to the commandments of YHWH, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.
5
And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites,
and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites:
6
and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their
sons and served their gods.
7
And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of YHWH, and forgot
YHWH their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth.
8
Therefore the anger of YHWH was kindled 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.
9
And when the children of Israel cried to YHWH, YHWH raised up a saviour to the children
of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb`s younger brother.
10
And the Spirit of YHWH came upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war,
and YHWH delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand: and his hand
prevailed against Cushan-rishathaim.
11
And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
12
And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of YHWH: and
YHWH strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that
which was evil in the sight of YHWH.
13
And he gathered to him the children of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and smote Israel,
and they possessed the city of palm-trees.
14
And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
15
But when the children of Israel cried to YHWH, YHWH raised them up a saviour, Ehud
the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed. And the children of Israel sent
tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.
16
And Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he girded it
under his raiment upon his right thigh.
17
And he offered the tribute to Eglon king of Moab: now Eglon was a very fat man.
18
And when he had made an end of offering the tribute, he sent away the people that
bare the tribute.
19
But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have
a secret errand to you, O king. And he said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him
went out from him.
20
And Ehud came to him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room.
And Ehud said, I have a message from God to you. And he arose out of his seat.
21
And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust
it into his body:
22
and the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, for
he drew not the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.
23
Then Ehud went forth into the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room upon him,
and locked them.
24
Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and, behold, the doors
of the upper room were locked; and they said, Surely he is covering his feet in the
upper chamber.
25
And they tarried till they were ashamed; and, behold, he opened not the doors of the
upper room: therefore they took the key, and opened [them], and, behold, their lord
was fallen down dead on the earth.
26
And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped to
Seirah.
27
And it came to pass, when he was come, that 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 before them.
28
And he said to them, Follow after me; for YHWH has delivered your enemies the Moabites
into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of the Jordan against
the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over.
29
And they smote of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, every lusty man, and every
man of valor; and there escaped not a man.
30
So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore
years.
31
And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who smote of the Philistines six hundred
men with an ox-goad: and he also saved Israel.