Judges 3:6-16

6 The Israelites took their daughters as wives for themselves, gave their own daughters to their sons, and worshiped their gods.[a]

Othniel, the First Judge

7 The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord's sight; they forgot the Lord their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs.
8 The Lord's anger burned against Israel, and He sold them to[b] Cushan-rishathaim[c] king of Aram of the Two Rivers,[d][e]and the Israelites served him eight years.
9 The Israelites cried out to the Lord. So the Lord raised up Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's youngest brother[f] as a deliverer to save the Israelites.
10 The Spirit of the Lord was on him, and he judged Israel. Othniel went out to battle, and the Lord handed over Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram to him, so that Othniel overpowered him.
11 Then the land was peaceful[g] 40 years, and Othniel son of Kenaz died.

Ehud

12 The Israelites again did what was evil in the Lord's sight. He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel, because they had done what was evil in the Lord's sight.
13 After Eglon convinced the Ammonites and the Amalekites to join forces with him, he attacked and defeated Israel and took possession of the City of Palms.[h]
14 The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab 18 years.
15 Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed[i] Benjaminite,[j] as a deliverer for them. The Israelites sent him to Eglon king of Moab with tribute [money].
16 Ehud made himself a double-edged sword 18 inches long.[k] He strapped it to his right thigh under his clothes

Judges 3:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 3

This chapter gives an account of the nations left in Canaan to prove Israel, and who became a snare unto them, Jud 3:1-7; and of the servitude of Israel under the king of Mesopotamia for their sins, from which they were delivered by Othniel, Jud 3:8-11; and of their subjection to the Moabites, from which they were freed by Ehud, who privately assassinated the king of Moab, and then made his escape, Jud 3:12-30; and of the destruction of a large number of Philistines by Shamgar, with an ox goad, Jud 3:31.

Footnotes 11

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