Lexical Summary Shamgar: Shamgar Original Word: שַׁמְגַּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shamgar Of uncertain derivation; Shamgar, an Israelite judge -- Shamgar. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition an Isr. judge NASB Translation Shamgar (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שַׁמְגַּר proper name, masculine a 'judge,' son of Anath, Judges 3:31; Judges 5:6, Σαμα[ε]γαρ (on this name (Hittite?) compare GFMJudges 3:31; NöZMG xiii (1888), 479 conjecture שׁמגד). Topical Lexicon Identity and Genealogy Shamgar is introduced as “son of Anath” (Judges 3:31; Judges 5:6). Scripture gives no further genealogy, tribe, or lineage. “Anath” is the name of a Canaanite town (Joshua 19:38) and also of a warrior goddess venerated by the Canaanites, suggesting that Shamgar’s family background may have been on the cultural margin of Israel. Whether Israelite, Kenite, or of mixed descent, he is presented wholly as a servant of the LORD who defends the covenant people. Historical Setting Shamgar appears late in the second generation of judges, just after Ehud and contemporaneous with the early life of Deborah. Judges 5:6 describes a period of civic paralysis: “the highways were deserted, and travelers walked the byways.” The Philistines dominated strategic trade routes, while Canaanite city-states oppressed rural villages. This climate of fear highlights the significance of Shamgar’s solitary deliverance. Military Exploit Against the Philistines Judges 3:31 recounts: “After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.” An ox goad is a wooden staff, often eight to ten feet long, tipped with iron to prod cattle and scrape plowshares. By routing six hundred heavily armed Philistines with so humble a tool, Shamgar demonstrates that victory belongs to the LORD rather than to superior weaponry (compare 1 Samuel 17:47). Role Among the Judges of Israel Though only two verses mention him, Shamgar stands among the twelve Spirit-empowered deliverers in the Book of Judges. The brevity of his record does not imply lesser stature; rather, it underscores the recurring pattern of God raising unexpected champions. He fills the chronological gap between Ehud’s eighty-year peace and Deborah’s leadership, keeping Israel from utter collapse during a critical transition. Spiritual Lessons 1. Divine Empowerment of Ordinary Instruments The ox goad symbolizes the LORD’s use of what is at hand. Just as Moses’ staff, Gideon’s empty pitchers, and David’s sling were sufficient when yielded to God, Shamgar’s farming implement becomes a weapon of national salvation (Zechariah 4:6). Unlike Gideon’s three hundred or Barak’s ten thousand, Shamgar apparently fights alone. His faith-driven initiative challenges believers to decisive obedience even when no human ally joins them (2 Timothy 4:16-17). Shamgar’s individual victory provides breathing room until the larger mobilization under Deborah and Barak. The narrative teaches that personal acts of faith often lay groundwork for broader revival. Intertextual Echoes and Theological Implications Judges 5:6 places Shamgar’s days alongside Jael, foreshadowing another surprising deliverer who will defeat Sisera with a household tool (Judges 4:21). Together their accounts reveal a theological motif: God saves through the weak, the marginalized, and the unconventional (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). The Philistines’ early appearance here anticipates the later cycles with Samson, Samuel, and David, emphasizing the enduring conflict between Israel and Philistia and the LORD’s continued faithfulness. Legacy in Later Scripture and Tradition While later biblical books do not mention Shamgar, rabbinic and early Christian writers view him as one of the minor judges, numbering him sixth. His deed is cited as evidence that deliverance can occur outside formal military structures. Church fathers draw parallels between Shamgar’s ox goad and the apostolic preaching that “goads” sinners toward repentance (compare Acts 26:14). Practical Application for the Believer • Serve with what God has placed in your hand; availability outweighs perceived adequacy. Shamgar’s two-verse cameo thus powerfully exhibits the sovereign hand that guides Israel’s history and encourages every generation to courageous, Spirit-filled obedience. Forms and Transliterations שַׁמְגַּ֣ר שַׁמְגַּ֤ר שמגר šam·gar šamgar shamGarLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 3:31 HEB: וְאַחֲרָ֤יו הָיָה֙ שַׁמְגַּ֣ר בֶּן־ עֲנָ֔ת NAS: him came Shamgar the son KJV: And after him was Shamgar the son INT: After came Shamgar the son of Anath Judges 5:6 2 Occurrences |
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