Moses appears only implicitly through the phrase "all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded" (v.4), creating stark irony as Israel immediately abandons his teachings for Canaanite gods.
Judges 3
Othniel the First Judge
1Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
2only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at least those who knew nothing of it before:
3the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
4They were left to test Israel by them, to know whether they would listen to the LORD’s commandments, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.
5The children of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
6They took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.
7The children of Israel did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and forgot the LORD their God, and served the Baals and the Asheroth.
8Therefore the LORD’s anger burned 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.
9When the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a savior to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
10The LORD’s Spirit came on him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and the LORD delivered Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. His hand prevailed against Cushan Rishathaim.
11The land had rest forty years, then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
Ehud and the Defeat of Moab
12The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that which was evil in the LORD’s sight.
13He gathered the children of Ammon and Amalek to himself; and he went and struck Israel, and they possessed the city of palm trees.
14The children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
15But when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a savior for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The children of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.
16Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he wore it under his clothing on his right thigh.
17He offered the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.
18When Ehud had finished offering the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute.
19But he himself turned back from the stone idols that were by Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” The king said, “Keep silence!” All who stood by him left him.
20Ehud came to him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. Ehud said, “I have a message from God to you.” He arose out of his seat.
21Ehud put out his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body.
22The handle also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, for he didn’t draw the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.
23Then Ehud went out onto the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room on him, and locked them.
24After he had gone, his servants came and saw that the doors of the upper room were locked. They said, “Surely he is covering his feet in the upper room.”
25They waited until they were ashamed; and behold, he didn’t open the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold, their lord had fallen down dead on the floor.
26Ehud escaped while they waited, passed beyond the stone idols, and escaped to Seirah.
27When he had come, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he led them.
28He said to them, “Follow me; for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” They followed him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and didn’t allow any man to pass over.
29They struck at that time about ten thousand men of Moab, every strong man and every man of valor. No man escaped.
30So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. Then the land had rest eighty years.
Shamgar's Victory
31After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad. He also saved Israel.
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Theme
Judges 3 establishes the cyclical pattern that will define Israel's experience throughout the judges period: disobedience leading to oppression, followed by repentance and divine deliverance. The chapter introduces three judges—Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar—who deliver Israel from foreign oppressors after the people cry out to God. This pattern demonstrates both God's faithfulness in responding to His people's repentance and the recurring nature of Israel's spiritual failures as they repeatedly turn to idolatry and intermarry with surrounding nations.
Context
This chapter begins the main narrative of the judges period, implementing the theological framework established in chapters 1-2 through concrete historical examples.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-6 Nations Left to Test Israel God deliberately leaves enemy nations in the land to test Israel's obedience and teach warfare to new generations.
- 7-11 Othniel Delivers from Mesopotamian Oppression After eight years under Cushan-rishathaim, God raises up Othniel as the first judge to deliver Israel, bringing forty years of peace.
- 12-30 Ehud's Deliverance from Moabite Rule Following renewed disobedience, the left-handed Ehud assassinates King Eglon and leads Israel to victory over Moab after eighteen years of oppression.
- 31 Shamgar's Victory over Philistines Shamgar kills six hundred Philistines with an ox goad, providing another brief deliverance for Israel.
Othniel the First Judge
3:1–3:11 narrative narration hopeful
God leaves certain nations to test Israel's obedience, but Israel fails by serving foreign gods and intermarrying with the inhabitants. Othniel becomes the first judge, delivering Israel from eight years of oppression under Cushan Rishathaim.
person_contrast
Moses appears only implicitly through the phrase "all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded" (v.4), creating stark irony as Israel immediately abandons his teachings for Canaanite gods.
Ehud and the Defeat of Moab
3:12–3:30 narrative narration triumphant
Israel again does evil and serves Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years. God raises up Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, who assassinates Eglon through deception and delivers Israel from Moabite oppression.
structural
Ehud's left-handedness becomes a divine weapon of irony, as the Hebrew term *'itter* appears only here and with other Benjamites, literally meaning "bound in his right hand.
Shamgar's Victory
3:31–3:31 narrative narration triumphant
Shamgar son of Anath defeats six hundred Philistines with an ox goad and saves Israel. This brief account highlights God's deliverance through an unlikely hero and weapon.
structural
Shamgar's single-verse account represents the Bible's most compressed judge narrative, using only 21 Hebrew words to describe defeating 600 Philistines with an agricultural tool.
Insights
Ehud's left-handedness becomes a divine weapon of irony, as the Hebrew term *'itter* appears only here and with other Benjamites, literally meaning "bound in his right hand.
Shamgar's single-verse account represents the Bible's most compressed judge narrative, using only 21 Hebrew words to describe defeating 600 Philistines with an agricultural tool.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Judges 3:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 13:3 Lexical
from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even to the border of Ekron northward, which is counted as Canaanite; the five l…
Joshua 9:1 Lexical
When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the grea…
1 Samuel 6:18 Lexical
and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of f…
1 Samuel 6:16 Lexical
When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
1 Samuel 6:4 Lexical
Then they said, “What should the trespass offering be which we shall return to him?” They said, “Five golden tumors and…
Judges 3:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 3:10 Lexical
Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite…
Exodus 3:8 Lexical
I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and l…
Exodus 34:11 Lexical
Observe that which I command you today. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the…
Joshua 9:1 Lexical
When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the grea…
Joshua 11:3 Lexical
to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite in the hill country,…
Judges 3:7 3 references
Lexicals 3
2 Chronicles 33:3 Lexical
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he raised up altars for the Baals, mad…
2 Kings 17:16 Lexical
They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made molten images for themselves, even two calves, and m…
2 Kings 21:3 Lexical
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he raised up altars for Baal, and made a…
Judges 3:8 4 references
Lexicals 4
Judges 2:14 Lexical
The LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them…
Judges 10:7 Lexical
The LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the child…
Deuteronomy 7:4 Lexical
For that would turn away your sons from following me, that they may serve other gods. So the LORD’s anger would be kindl…
Joshua 23:16 Lexical
when you disobey the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yo…
Judges 3:9 3 references
Lexicals 3
Judges 1:13 Lexical
Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it, so he gave him Achsah his daughter as his wife.
Joshua 15:17 Lexical
Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
1 Chronicles 4:13 Lexical
The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath.
Judges 3:11 3 references
Lexicals 3
Judges 1:13 Lexical
Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it, so he gave him Achsah his daughter as his wife.
1 Chronicles 4:13 Lexical
The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath.
Joshua 15:17 Lexical
Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
Judges 3:15 2 references
Judges 3:16 2 references
Judges 3:21 1 reference
Judges 3:23 3 references
Lexicals 3
2 Kings 4:33 Lexical
He went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to the LORD.
2 Kings 4:4 Lexical
Go in and shut the door on you and on your sons, and pour oil into all those containers; and set aside those which are f…
2 Kings 4:5 Lexical
So she went from him, and shut the door on herself and on her sons. They brought the containers to her, and she poured o…
Judges 3:25 1 reference
Judges 3:28 5 references
Lexicals 5
Judges 12:5 Lexical
The Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. Whenever a fugitive of Ephraim said, “Let me go ove…
Joshua 2:7 Lexical
The men pursued them along the way to the fords of the Jordan River. As soon as those who pursued them had gone out, the…
Judges 7:25 Lexical
They took the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at Oreb’s rock, and Zeeb they killed at Zeeb’s wine…
1 Samuel 14:47 Lexical
Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab, and agai…
Judges 7:24 Lexical
Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against Midian and take the waters…
Judges 3:29 1 reference
Judges 3:31 1 reference
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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Theological Significance
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Historical Context
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