Nations Left to Test Israel

1  וְאֵ֤לֶּה (And these are) הַגּוֹיִם֙ (the nations) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הִנִּ֣יחַ (left) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), לְנַסּ֥וֹת (that He might test) בָּ֖ם (by them) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel) אֵ֚ת (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) יָדְע֔וּ (had known) אֵ֖ת (-) כָּל־ (any) מִלְחֲמ֥וֹת (of the wars) כְּנָֽעַן׃ (of Canaan), 2  רַ֗ק (only) לְמַ֙עַן֙ (so that) דַּ֚עַת (to know) דֹּר֣וֹת (the generations) בְּנֵֽי־ (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) לְלַמְּדָ֖ם (might be taught) מִלְחָמָ֑ה (war), רַ֥ק (only) אֲשֶׁר־ (those who) לְפָנִ֖ים (formerly) לֹ֥א (not) יְדָעֽוּם׃ (had known it): 3  חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת׀ (Five) סַרְנֵ֣י (princes) פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (of the Philistines), וְכָל־ (and all) הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ (the Canaanite), וְהַצִּ֣ידֹנִ֔י (and the Sidonian), וְהַ֣חִוִּ֔י (and the Hivite) יֹשֵׁ֖ב (that dwelt) הַ֣ר (in Mount) הַלְּבָנ֑וֹן (Lebanon), מֵהַר֙ (from Mount) בַּ֣עַל (Baal-) חֶרְמ֔וֹן (hermon) עַ֖ד (to) לְב֥וֹא (Lebo-) חֲמָֽת׃ (hamath).

4  וַֽיִּהְי֕וּ (And they were) לְנַסּ֥וֹת (to test) בָּ֖ם (by them) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel), לָדַ֗עַת (to know) הֲיִשְׁמְעוּ֙ (whether they would heed) אֶת־ (-) מִצְוֺ֣ת (the commandments) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), אֲשֶׁר־ (which) צִוָּ֥ה (He had commanded) אֶת־ (-) אֲבוֹתָ֖ם (their fathers) בְּיַד־ (by the hand) מֹשֶֽׁה׃ (of Moses). 5  וּבְנֵ֣י (And the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) יָשְׁב֖וּ (dwelt) בְּקֶ֣רֶב (among) הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑י (the Canaanite), הַחִתִּ֤י (the Hittite), וְהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ (and the Amorite), וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י (and the Perizzite), וְהַחִוִּ֖י (and the Hivite), וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃ (and the Jebusite). 6  וַיִּקְח֨וּ (And they took) אֶת־ (-) בְּנוֹתֵיהֶ֤ם (their daughters) לָהֶם֙ (to be their) לְנָשִׁ֔ים (wives), וְאֶת־ (and) בְּנוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם (their daughters) נָתְנ֣וּ (they gave) לִבְנֵיהֶ֑ם (to their sons), וַיַּעַבְד֖וּ (and they served) אֶת־ (-) אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃פ (their gods).

Othniel

7  וַיַּעֲשׂ֨וּ (And did) בְנֵי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל (of Israel) אֶת־ (-) הָרַע֙ (evil) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וַֽיִּשְׁכְּח֖וּ (and they forgot) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֑ם (their God), וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ (and they served) אֶת־ (-) הַבְּעָלִ֖ים (the Baals) וְאֶת־ (and) הָאֲשֵׁרֽוֹת׃ (the Asherahs). 8  וַיִּֽחַר־ (And was hot) אַ֤ף (the anger) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (against Israel), וַֽיִּמְכְּרֵ֗ם (and He sold them) בְּיַד֙ (into the hand) כּוּשַׁ֣ן (of Cushan-) רִשְׁעָתַ֔יִם (rishathaim) מֶ֖לֶךְ (king) אֲרַ֣ם (of Aram-) נַהֲרָ֑יִם (naharaim), וַיַּעַבְד֧וּ (and served) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) אֶת־ (-) כּוּשַׁ֥ן (Cushan-) רִשְׁעָתַ֖יִם (rishathaim) שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה (eight) שָׁנִֽים׃ (years).

9  וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ (And cried out) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), וַיָּ֨קֶם (and raised up) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) מוֹשִׁ֛יעַ (a deliverer) לִבְנֵ֥י (for the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), וַיּֽוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ם (and he delivered them) אֵ֚ת (-) עָתְנִיאֵ֣ל (Othniel) בֶּן־ (son) קְנַ֔ז (of Kenaz), אֲחִ֥י (brother) כָלֵ֖ב (of Caleb) הַקָּטֹ֥ן (the younger), מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ (from it). 10  וַתְּהִ֨י (And came) עָלָ֥יו (upon him) רֽוּחַ־ (the Spirit) יְהוָה֮ (of YHWH), וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֣ט (and he judged) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (Israel) וַיֵּצֵא֙ (and he went out) לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (to war). וַיִּתֵּ֤ן (And delivered) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) בְּיָד֔וֹ (into his hand) אֶת־ (-) כּוּשַׁ֥ן (Cushan-) רִשְׁעָתַ֖יִם (rishathaim) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) אֲרָ֑ם (of Aram), וַתָּ֣עָז (and prevailed) יָד֔וֹ (his hand) עַ֖ל (over) כּוּשַׁ֥ן (Cushan-) רִשְׁעָתָֽיִם׃ (rishathaim).

11  וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט (And had rest) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land) אַרְבָּעִ֣ים (forty) שָׁנָ֑ה (years). וַיָּ֖מָת (And died) עָתְנִיאֵ֥ל (Othniel) בֶּן־ (son) קְנַֽז׃פ (of Kena z).

Ehud

12  וַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙ (And again) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (did) הָרַ֖ע (evil) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וַיְחַזֵּ֨ק (and strengthened) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) עֶגְל֤וֹן (Eglon) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) מוֹאָב֙ (of Moab) עַל־ (against) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), עַ֛ל (because) כִּֽי־ (that) עָשׂ֥וּ (they had done) אֶת־ (-) הָרַ֖ע (evil) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 13  וַיֶּאֱסֹ֣ף (And he gathered) אֵלָ֔יו (to himself) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) עַמּ֖וֹן (of Ammon) וַעֲמָלֵ֑ק (and Amalek), וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ (and they went) וַיַּךְ֙ (and defeated) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וַיִּֽירְשׁ֖וּ (and they took possession) אֶת־ (-) עִ֥יר (of the City) הַתְּמָרִֽים׃ (of Palms).

14  וַיַּעַבְד֤וּ (And served) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) אֶת־ (-) עֶגְל֣וֹן (Eglon) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) מוֹאָ֔ב (of Moab) שְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה (eight) עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה (and ten) שָׁנָֽה׃ס (years). 15  וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ (And cried out) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָה֒ (YHWH), וַיָּקֶם֩ (and raised up) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) לָהֶ֜ם (for them) מוֹשִׁ֗יעַ (a deliverer), אֶת־ (-) אֵה֤וּד (Ehud) בֶּן־ (son) גֵּרָא֙ (of Gera) בֶּן־ (the Ben-) הַיְמִינִ֔י (jaminite), אִ֥ישׁ (a man) אִטֵּ֖ר (impeded in) יַד־ (hand) יְמִינ֑וֹ (his right). וַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּ (And sent) בְנֵי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל (of Israel) בְּיָדוֹ֙ (by his hand) מִנְחָ֔ה (tribute) לְעֶגְל֖וֹן (to Eglon) מֶ֥לֶךְ (king) מוֹאָֽב׃ (of Moab).

16  וַיַּעַשׂ֩ (And made) ל֨וֹ (himself) אֵה֜וּד (Ehud) חֶ֗רֶב (a dagger), וְלָ֛הּ (and it had) שְׁנֵ֥י (two) פֵי֖וֹת (edges) גֹּ֣מֶד (and a cubit) אָרְכָּ֑הּ (in length). וַיַּחְגֹּ֤ר (And fastened) אוֹתָהּ֙ (it) מִתַּ֣חַת (under) לְמַדָּ֔יו (his cloak) עַ֖ל (on) יֶ֥רֶךְ (thigh) יְמִינֽוֹ׃ (his right). 17  וַיַּקְרֵב֙ (And he brought) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּנְחָ֔ה (the tribute) לְעֶגְל֖וֹן (to Eglon) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) מוֹאָ֑ב (of Moab). וְעֶגְל֕וֹן (And Eglon was) אִ֥ישׁ (a man) בָּרִ֖יא (fat) מְאֹֽד׃ (very).

18  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And he had) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (when) כִּלָּ֔ה (finished) לְהַקְרִ֖יב (presenting) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּנְחָ֑ה (the tribute), וַיְשַׁלַּח֙ (and he sent away) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֔ם (the people) נֹשְׂאֵ֖י (who had carried) הַמִּנְחָֽה׃ (the tribute). 19  וְה֣וּא (And he) שָׁ֗ב (himself turned back) מִן־ (from) הַפְּסִילִים֙ (the stone images) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that were) אֶת־ (at) הַגִּלְגָּ֔ל (Gilgal), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), דְּבַר־ (A message) סֵ֥תֶר (secret) לִ֛י (I have) אֵלֶ֖יךָ (for you), הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (O king).

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And He said), הָ֔ס (Silence)! וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ (And went out) מֵֽעָלָ֔יו (from him) כָּל־ (all) הָעֹמְדִ֖ים (attending) עָלָֽיו׃ (him).

20  וְאֵה֣וּד׀ (And Ehud) בָּ֣א (came) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) וְהֽוּא־ (and he) יֹ֠שֵׁב (was sitting) בַּעֲלִיַּ֨ת (in the upper chamber) הַמְּקֵרָ֤ה (cool), אֲשֶׁר־ (which was) לוֹ֙ (to him) לְבַדּ֔וֹ (private). וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) אֵה֔וּד (Ehud), דְּבַר־ (A message) אֱלֹהִ֥ים (from God) לִ֖י (I have) אֵלֶ֑יךָ (for you). וַיָּ֖קָם (And he arose) מֵעַ֥ל (from) הַכִּסֵּֽא׃ (the throne).

21  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And reached) אֵהוּד֙ (Ehud) אֶת־ (with) יַ֣ד (hand) שְׂמֹאל֔וֹ (his left), וַיִּקַּח֙ (and took) אֶת־ (-) הַחֶ֔רֶב (the dagger) מֵעַ֖ל (from) יֶ֣רֶךְ (thigh) יְמִינ֑וֹ (his right), וַיִּתְקָעֶ֖הָ (and thrust it) בְּבִטְנֽוֹ׃ (into his belly). 22  וַיָּבֹ֨א (And went in) גַֽם־ (even) הַנִּצָּ֜ב (the hilt) אַחַ֣ר (after) הַלַּ֗הַב (the blade), וַיִּסְגֹּ֤ר (and closed) הַחֵ֙לֶב֙ (the fat) בְּעַ֣ד (over) הַלַּ֔הַב (the blade), כִּ֣י (for) לֹ֥א (not) שָׁלַ֛ף (he did draw) הַחֶ֖רֶב (the dagger) מִבִּטְנ֑וֹ (out of his belly). וַיֵּצֵ֖א (And came out) הַֽפַּרְשְׁדֹֽנָה׃ (his excrement). 23  וַיֵּצֵ֥א (And went out) אֵה֖וּד (Ehud) הַֽמִּסְדְּר֑וֹנָה (through the porch), וַיִּסְגֹּ֞ר (and shut) דַּלְת֧וֹת (the doors) הָעַלִיָּ֛ה (of the upper room) בַּעֲד֖וֹ (behind him), וְנָעָֽל׃ (and locked them).

24  וְה֤וּא (And he) יָצָא֙ (had gone out), וַעֲבָדָ֣יו (and Eglon’s servants) בָּ֔אוּ (came) וַיִּרְא֕וּ (and looked), וְהִנֵּ֛ה (and behold), דַּלְת֥וֹת (the doors) הָעֲלִיָּ֖ה (of the upper room) נְעֻל֑וֹת (were locked). וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (And they said), אַ֣ךְ (Only) מֵסִ֥יךְ (is covering) ה֛וּא (he) אֶת־ (-) רַגְלָ֖יו (his feet) בַּחֲדַ֥ר (in the inner chamber) הַמְּקֵרָֽה׃ (cool). 25  וַיָּחִ֣ילוּ (And they waited) עַד־ (until) בּ֔וֹשׁ (they felt ashamed), וְהְנֵּ֛ה (and still) אֵינֶ֥נּוּ (not) פֹתֵ֖חַ (he had opened) דַּלְת֣וֹת (the doors) הָֽעֲלִיָּ֑ה (of the upper room). וַיִּקְח֤וּ (And they took) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּפְתֵּ֙חַ֙ (the key) וַיִּפְתָּ֔חוּ (and opened them), וְהִנֵּה֙ (and behold) אֲדֹ֣נֵיהֶ֔ם (their master) נֹפֵ֥ל (was fallen) אַ֖רְצָה (on the floor) מֵֽת׃ (dead).

26  וְאֵה֥וּד (And Ehud) נִמְלַ֖ט (had escaped) עַ֣ד (while) הִֽתְמַהְמְהָ֑ם (they delayed), וְהוּא֙ (and he) עָבַ֣ר (passed beyond) אֶת־ (-) הַפְּסִילִ֔ים (the stone images) וַיִּמָּלֵ֖ט (and escaped) הַשְּׂעִירָֽתָה׃ (to Seirah).

27  וַיְהִ֣י (And it came to pass) בְּבוֹא֔וֹ (when he arrived), וַיִּתְקַ֥ע (that he blew) בַּשּׁוֹפָ֖ר (on the shofar) בְּהַ֣ר (in the hill country) אֶפְרָ֑יִם (of Ephraim), וַיֵּרְד֨וּ (and went down) עִמּ֧וֹ (with him) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) מִן־ (from) הָהָ֖ר (the hills), וְה֥וּא (and he was) לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (before their faces). 28  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And he said) אֲלֵהֶם֙ (to them), רִדְפ֣וּ (Follow) אַחֲרַ֔י (after me), כִּֽי־ (for) נָתַ֨ן (has delivered) יְהוָ֧ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) אֹיְבֵיכֶ֛ם (your⁺ enemies) אֶת־ (-) מוֹאָ֖ב (the Moabites) בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם (into your⁺ hands).

וַיֵּרְד֣וּ (And they went down) אַחֲרָ֗יו (after him) וַֽיִּלְכְּד֞וּ (and seized) אֶת־ (-) מַעְבְּר֤וֹת (the fords) הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ (of the Jordan) לְמוֹאָ֔ב (leading to Moab), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) נָתְנ֥וּ (did allow) אִ֖ישׁ (anyone) לַעֲבֹֽר׃ (to pass over). 29  וַיַּכּ֨וּ (And they struck down) אֶת־ (of) מוֹאָ֜ב (Moab) בָּעֵ֣ת (at the time) הַהִ֗יא (that) כַּעֲשֶׂ֤רֶת (about ten) אֲלָפִים֙ (thousand) אִ֔ישׁ (men), כָּל־ (all) שָׁמֵ֖ן (stout) וְכָל־ (and) אִ֣ישׁ (men) חָ֑יִל (of valor), וְלֹ֥א (and not) נִמְלַ֖ט (escaped) אִֽישׁ׃ (a man).

30  וַתִּכָּנַ֤ע (And was subdued) מוֹאָב֙ (Moab) בַּיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַה֔וּא (that) תַּ֖חַת (under) יַ֣ד (the hand) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel). וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט (And had rest) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land) שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים (eighty) שָׁנָֽה׃ס (years).

Shamgar

31  וְאַחֲרָ֤יו (And after him) הָיָה֙ (was) שַׁמְגַּ֣ר (Shamgar) בֶּן־ (son) עֲנָ֔ת (of Anath), וַיַּ֤ךְ (and who killed) אֶת־ (of) פְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ (the Philistines) שֵֽׁשׁ־ (six) מֵא֣וֹת (hundred) אִ֔ישׁ (men) בְּמַלְמַ֖ד (with a goad) הַבָּקָ֑ר (of an ox). וַיֹּ֥שַׁע (And delivered) גַּם־ (also) ה֖וּא (he) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ס (Israel).