1
These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan
2
(he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience):
3
the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath.
4
They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the LORD’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.
5
The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
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They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
Othniel
7 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.
8
The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years.
9
But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them.
10
The Spirit of the LORD came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him.
11
So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.
Ehud
12 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel.
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Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms.
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The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.
15
Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.
16
Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing.
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He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.
18
After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it.
19
But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.” The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left.