Judges 3

Judges 3 introduces the period when Israel faces oppression after falling into sin and idolatry. God allows various nations to dominate Israel as a form of punishment. This chapter also presents the first judges God raises to deliver His people: Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar. It highlights the cyclical pattern of Israel’s sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance through judges.

Judges 3:1-5 (NKJV):
1 Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan
2 (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it),
3 namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
4 And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
5 Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

God left certain nations in the land to test the Israelites' faithfulness and obedience. This was not just a trial but also a means of teaching the new generation about warfare. The purpose of leaving these nations was to see if Israel would remain loyal to God or fall into idolatry. Sadly, instead of driving these nations out, Israel coexisted with them, leading to further disobedience and exposure to pagan influences.

Judges 3:6 (NKJV):
6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods.

The Israelites began to intermarry with the pagan nations around them, contrary to God's commandments. This intermarriage led them away from their faith and into the worship of false gods. This was a significant step toward spiritual downfall, as alliances formed through marriage encouraged idolatry and weakened Israel’s devotion to God.

Judges 3:7 (NKJV):
7 So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs.

Israel’s disobedience escalated as they turned away from God completely, worshiping the Baals and Asherahs. These were prominent deities in Canaanite religion, representing fertility and nature. The people's spiritual amnesia—forgetting God’s deliverance and commands—led them into full-blown idolatry, provoking the Lord’s judgment.

Judges 3:8 (NKJV):
8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot 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.

God responded to Israel’s rebellion by allowing them to be oppressed by Cushan-Rishathaim, a king from Mesopotamia. This act of divine judgment was meant to discipline Israel, reminding them of the consequences of forsaking the covenant. Israel's servitude lasted eight years, a time of hardship that was a direct result of their unfaithfulness.

Judges 3:9-11 (NKJV):
9 When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
10 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim.
11 So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

In their distress, Israel cried out to God for help. In response, God raised Othniel as their first judge. Filled with the Spirit of the Lord, Othniel led Israel to victory over Cushan-Rishathaim, bringing peace to the land for forty years. Othniel’s leadership demonstrated God's mercy in raising deliverers even when the people were unfaithful.

Judges 3:12-14 (NKJV):
12 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.
13 Then he gathered to himself the people of Ammon and Amalek, went and defeated Israel, and took possession of the City of Palms.
14 So the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.

After Othniel’s death, Israel fell back into sin, and once again, God allowed them to be oppressed—this time by Eglon, king of Moab. Eglon, with the help of the Ammonites and Amalekites, captured Jericho (the City of Palms). Israel was forced into servitude for eighteen years under this oppressive king, a further consequence of their continued disobedience.

Judges 3:15 (NKJV):
15 But when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab.

In their misery, Israel cried out to God again, and God responded by raising up Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. Left-handedness was seen as unusual at that time, which may have given Ehud an advantage in his mission. He was tasked with delivering the tribute to the oppressive king Eglon, but this visit held the key to Israel’s liberation.

Judges 3:16-18 (NKJV):
16 Now Ehud made himself a dagger (it was double-edged and a cubit in length) and fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh.
17 So he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.)
18 And when he had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried the tribute.

Ehud, in preparation for his task, fashioned a double-edged dagger, small enough to be concealed under his clothes. He presented the tribute to Eglon, who is described as notably overweight, signifying his wealth and indulgence. After presenting the tribute, Ehud dismissed the others, preparing to act alone in his bold plan to deliver Israel.

Judges 3:19-20 (NKJV):
19 But he himself turned back from the stone images that were at Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” He said, “Keep silence!” And all who attended him went out from him.
20 So Ehud came to him (now he was sitting upstairs in his cool private chamber). Then Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” So he arose from his seat.

Ehud cleverly convinced Eglon that he had a secret message, prompting the king to send his attendants away. Once alone in the private chamber, Ehud told Eglon he had a message from God. Eglon, unsuspecting of the danger, stood up, creating the perfect opportunity for Ehud’s planned action.

Judges 3:21-22 (NKJV):
21 Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.
22 Even the hilt went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly; and his entrails came out.

Ehud used his left-handedness to surprise Eglon, drawing the concealed dagger and plunging it into the king’s stomach. The description emphasizes how deeply the blade went in, so much so that it was swallowed by the fat of Eglon’s body. This gory detail demonstrates the finality of Eglon’s defeat and the effectiveness of Ehud’s plan.

Judges 3:23-25 (NKJV):
23 Then Ehud went out through the porch and shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.
24 When he had gone out, Eglon’s servants came to look, and to their surprise, the doors of the upper room were locked. So they said, “He is probably attending to his needs in the cool chamber.”
25 So they waited till they were embarrassed, and still he had not opened the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them. And there was their master, fallen dead on the floor.

Ehud quickly locked the doors behind him and escaped. When Eglon’s servants found the doors locked, they assumed he was relieving himself and waited outside. Their embarrassment grew as time passed, and when they finally unlocked the door, they discovered Eglon dead on the floor, realizing too late that he had been assassinated.

Judges 3:26-27 (NKJV):
26 But Ehud had escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the stone images and escaped to Seirah.
27 And it happened, when he arrived, that he blew the trumpet in the mountains of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mountains; and he led them.

Ehud took advantage of the delay and successfully escaped to Seirah. Once safe, he blew the trumpet, signaling the Israelites to rally for battle. The blowing of the trumpet in the mountains was a call to arms, and the Israelites, now encouraged by their leader, prepared to fight for their freedom from Moabite oppression.

Judges 3:28-30 (NKJV):
28 Then he said to them, “Follow me, for the Lord has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him, seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over.
29 And at that time they killed about ten thousand men of Moab, all stout men of valor; not a man escaped.
30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

Ehud led the Israelites in a strategic attack, cutting off the Moabites' escape route at the Jordan River. Israel’s forces killed about ten thousand Moabite soldiers, ensuring a decisive victory. As a result, Moab was subdued, and Israel enjoyed eighty years of peace. This victory was a clear demonstration of God’s deliverance through Ehud’s leadership.

Judges 3:31 (NKJV):
31 After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.

Shamgar, another judge raised by God, is briefly mentioned for his heroic act of killing six hundred Philistines with an ox goad, a simple farming tool. Though the details are sparse, Shamgar’s victory is significant in that he, too, played a role in delivering Israel from its enemies during this turbulent period. His success highlights that God can use unlikely instruments for His purposes.