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;
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;
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.
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.
5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
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.
8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
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.
10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
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.
13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
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.
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.
17 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
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.
20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlor, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
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.
23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlor upon him, and locked them.
24 When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlor were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.
25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlor; therefore they took a 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 unto Seirath.
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.
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.
29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men 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, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.
The book of Judges is the seventh book of the Old Testament and is a compilation of stories and events that took place after the death of Joshua. The book of Judges covers a period of approximately 300 years, from the time of Joshua's death to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. The book is divided into three parts: the introduction (chapters 1-2), the main body (chapters 3-16), and the conclusion (chapters 17-21).
Chapter 3 of the book of Judges begins with the Israelites settling in the land of Canaan, the promised land that God had given them. However, the Israelites did not completely drive out the Canaanites as God had commanded them, and instead, they made alliances with them and intermarried with them. This led to the Israelites adopting the worship of the Canaanite gods, which angered God and resulted in their punishment.
The main theme of chapter 3 is disobedience and its consequences. The Israelites had been given specific instructions by God to completely drive out the Canaanites from the land, but they failed to do so. This disobedience led to the Israelites being influenced by the Canaanite culture and abandoning their worship of the one true God. As a result, God allowed their enemies to oppress them, and they suffered for their disobedience.
After the death of Joshua, God raised up judges to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. These judges were not official rulers but rather leaders chosen by God to lead and protect the Israelites. In chapter 3, we are introduced to the first three judges of Israel: Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar.
Othniel was the first judge of Israel, and he was chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of Cushan-Rishathaim, the king of Aram Naharaim. The Israelites had served this king for eight years, and they cried out to God for help. God raised up Othniel, the nephew of Caleb, to deliver them. Othniel was a strong and courageous leader, and with God's help, he defeated Cushan-Rishathaim and brought peace to the land for forty years.
Ehud was the second judge of Israel, and he was chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of Eglon, the king of Moab. The Israelites had served Eglon for eighteen years, and they cried out to God for help. God raised up Ehud, a left-handed man, to deliver them. Ehud cleverly deceived Eglon and killed him, freeing the Israelites from his oppression. Ehud then led the Israelites in battle against the Moabites, and they were able to defeat them and bring peace to the land for eighty years.
Shamgar was the third judge of Israel, and he was chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Philistines. The Philistines had been a constant threat to the Israelites, and they were heavily armed with iron chariots. Shamgar, with God's help, killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad and delivered the Israelites from their oppression. However, Shamgar's reign was short, and he did not have a significant impact on the Israelites.
The book of Judges also highlights the cycle of sin that the Israelites fell into repeatedly. This cycle can be seen in chapter 3 with the Israelites' disobedience, oppression, and deliverance. The Israelites would disobey God, and as a result, they would be oppressed by their enemies. This oppression would cause them to cry out to God for help, and God would raise up a judge to deliver them. After being delivered, the Israelites would have a period of peace, but then they would fall back into disobedience, and the cycle would repeat.
This cycle of sin is a reminder that disobedience to God leads to suffering and oppression, but when we cry out to God and turn back to Him, He is faithful to deliver us. However, it is important to note that this cycle became more severe as the book of Judges progresses, and the Israelites' disobedience led to more severe consequences.
The main message of chapter 3 of the book of Judges is the importance of obedience to God. The Israelites' disobedience led to their suffering and oppression, but when they cried out to God and turned back to Him, He was faithful to deliver them. This chapter also highlights the consequences of intermarrying with those who do not worship the one true God. The Israelites' alliances and intermarriages with the Canaanites led to their downfall and caused them to abandon their faith in God.
Another significant theme in this chapter is the role of the judges. The judges were chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from their enemies and lead them in battle. They were not kings or rulers, but rather humble servants of God who relied on His strength and guidance to lead their people. This serves as a reminder that God can use anyone, regardless of their background or status, to fulfill His purposes.
In conclusion, chapter 3 of the book of Judges serves as a warning against disobedience and the consequences it brings. It also highlights the importance of relying on God and His strength to overcome our enemies. The chapter also sets the stage for the following chapters, which continue to showcase the Israelites' disobedience and the judges God raises up to deliver them. The book of Judges ultimately points to the need for a true and righteous king, which will be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ.
Share this page