Judges 3:7-11

7 The sons of Israel did ¹what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and ²forgot the LORD their God and ³served the Baals and the Asheroth.

8 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, so that He sold them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.

The First Judge Delivers Israel

9 When the sons of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to deliver them, ⁴Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

10 ⁵The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel. When he went out to war, the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand, so that he prevailed * over Cushan-rishathaim.

11 Then the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Judges 3:7-11 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.

Cross References

• 1. Judges 2:11
• 2. Deuteronomy 4:9
• 3. Judges 2:13
• 4. Judges 1:13
• 5. Numbers 11:25-29; Numbers 24:2

Footnotes

• [a]. I.e. wooden symbol of a female deity
• [b]. Heb "Aram-naharaim"
• [c]. Heb "Aram"
• [d]. Lit "his hand was strong"