3:1 These were the nations the Lord permitted to remain so he could use them to test Israel – he wanted to test all those who had not experienced battle against the Canaanites. 1 3:2 He left those nations simply because he wanted to teach the subsequent generations of Israelites, who had not experienced the earlier battles, how to conduct holy war. 2 3:3 These were the nations: 3 the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo-Hamath. 4 3:4 They were left to test Israel, so the Lord would know if his people would obey the commands he gave their ancestors through Moses. 5
3:5 The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3:6 They took the Canaanites’ daughters as wives and gave their daughters to the Canaanites; 6 they worshiped 7 their gods as well.
3:7 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. 8 They forgot the Lord their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs. 9 3:8 The Lord was furious with Israel 10 and turned them over to 11 King Cushan-Rishathaim 12 of Aram-Naharaim. They were Cushan-Rishathaim’s subjects 13 for eight years. 3:9 When the Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, he 14 raised up a deliverer for the Israelites who rescued 15 them. His name was Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 16 3:10 The Lord’s spirit empowered him 17 and he led Israel. When he went to do battle, the Lord handed over to him King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram and he overpowered him. 18 3:11 The land had rest for forty years; then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
3:12 The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. 19 The Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel 20 because they had done evil in the Lord’s sight. 3:13 Eglon formed alliances with 21 the Ammonites and Amalekites. He came and defeated Israel, and they seized the City of Date Palm Trees. 3:14 The Israelites were subject to 22 King Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.
3:15 When the Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, he 23 raised up a deliverer for them. His name was Ehud son of Gera the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. 24 The Israelites sent him to King Eglon of Moab with their tribute payment. 25 3:16 Ehud made himself a sword – it had two edges and was eighteen inches long. 26 He strapped it under his coat on his right thigh. 3:17 He brought the tribute payment to King Eglon of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.)
3:18 After Ehud brought the tribute payment, he dismissed the people who had carried it. 27 3:19 But he went back 28 once he reached 29 the carved images 30 at Gilgal. He said to Eglon, 31 “I have a secret message for you, O king.” Eglon 32 said, “Be quiet!” 33 All his attendants left.