Holman Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1These are the nations the LORD left in order to test Israel, since the Israelites had fought none of these in any of the wars with Canaan.

1וְאֵ֤לֶּה הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִנִּ֣יחַ יְהוָ֔ה לְנַסּ֥וֹת בָּ֖ם אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֵ֚ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־ יָדְע֔וּ אֵ֖ת כָּל־ מִלְחֲמ֥וֹת כְּנָֽעַן׃

2This was to teach the future generations of the Israelites how to fight in battle, especially those who had not fought before.

2רַ֗ק לְמַ֙עַן֙ דַּ֚עַת דֹּר֣וֹת בְּנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְלַמְּדָ֖ם מִלְחָמָ֑ה רַ֥ק אֲשֶׁר־ לְפָנִ֖ים לֹ֥א יְדָעֽוּם׃

3These nations included: the five rulers of the Philistines and all of the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the Lebanese mountains from Mount Baal-hermon as far as the entrance to Hamath.

3חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת ׀ סַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וְכָל־ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ וְהַצִּ֣ידֹנִ֔י וְהַ֣חִוִּ֔י יֹשֵׁ֖ב הַ֣ר הַלְּבָנ֑וֹן מֵהַר֙ בַּ֣עַל חֶרְמ֔וֹן עַ֖ד לְב֥וֹא חֲמָֽת׃

4The LORD left them to test Israel, to determine if they would keep the LORD's commands He had given their fathers through Moses.

4וַֽיִּהְי֕וּ לְנַסּ֥וֹת בָּ֖ם אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לָדַ֗עַת הֲיִשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־ מִצְוֺ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ צִוָּ֥ה אֶת־ אֲבוֹתָ֖ם בְּיַד־ מֹשֶֽׁה׃

5But they settled among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

5וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יָשְׁב֖וּ בְּקֶ֣רֶב הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑י הַחִתִּ֤י וְהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י וְהַחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃

6The Israelites took their daughters as wives for themselves, gave their own daughters to their sons, and worshiped their gods.

6וַיִּקְח֨וּ אֶת־ בְּנוֹתֵיהֶ֤ם לָהֶם֙ לְנָשִׁ֔ים וְאֶת־ בְּנוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם נָתְנ֣וּ לִבְנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיַּעַבְד֖וּ אֶת־ אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ פ

7The Israelites did what was evil in the LORD's sight; they forgot the LORD their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs.

7וַיַּעֲשׂ֨וּ בְנֵי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶת־ הָרַע֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַֽיִּשְׁכְּח֖וּ אֶת־ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֑ם וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ אֶת־ הַבְּעָלִ֖ים וְאֶת־ הָאֲשֵׁרֽוֹת׃

8The LORD's anger burned against Israel, and He sold them to Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram-naharaim, and the Israelites served him eight years.

8וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֤ף יְהוָה֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַֽיִּמְכְּרֵ֗ם בְּיַד֙ כּוּשַׁ֣ן רִשְׁעָתַ֔יִם מֶ֖לֶךְ אֲרַ֣ם נַהֲרָ֑יִם וַיַּעַבְד֧וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶת־ כּוּשַׁ֥ן רִשְׁעָתַ֖יִם שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה שָׁנִֽים׃

9The Israelites cried out to the LORD. So the LORD raised up Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's youngest brother, as a deliverer to save the Israelites.

9וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־ יְהוָ֔ה וַיָּ֨קֶם יְהוָ֥ה מוֹשִׁ֛יעַ לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וַיּֽוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ם אֵ֚ת עָתְנִיאֵ֣ל בֶּן־ קְנַ֔ז אֲחִ֥י כָלֵ֖ב הַקָּטֹ֥ן מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

10The Spirit of the LORD came on him, and he judged Israel. Othniel went out to battle, and the LORD handed over Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram to him, so that Othniel overpowered him.

10וַתְּהִ֨י עָלָ֥יו רֽוּחַ־ יְהוָה֮ וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֣ט אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיֵּצֵא֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַיִּתֵּ֤ן יְהוָה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ אֶת־ כּוּשַׁ֥ן רִשְׁעָתַ֖יִם מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֑ם וַתָּ֣עָז יָד֔וֹ עַ֖ל כּוּשַׁ֥ן רִשְׁעָתָֽיִם׃

11Then the land was peaceful 40 years, and Othniel son of Kenaz died.

11וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט הָאָ֖רֶץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּ֖מָת עָתְנִיאֵ֥ל בֶּן־ קְנַֽז׃ פ

12The Israelites again did what was evil in the LORD's sight. He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel, because they had done what was evil in the LORD's sight.

12וַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיְחַזֵּ֨ק יְהוָ֜ה אֶת־ עֶגְל֤וֹן מֶֽלֶךְ־ מוֹאָב֙ עַל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֛ל כִּֽי־ עָשׂ֥וּ אֶת־ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

13After Eglon convinced the Ammonites and the Amalekites to join forces with him, he attacked and defeated Israel and took possession of the City of Palms.

13וַיֶּאֱסֹ֣ף אֵלָ֔יו אֶת־ בְּנֵ֥י עַמּ֖וֹן וַעֲמָלֵ֑ק וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּֽירְשׁ֖וּ אֶת־ עִ֥יר הַתְּמָרִֽים׃

14The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab 18 years.

14וַיַּעַבְד֤וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־ עֶגְל֣וֹן מֶֽלֶךְ־ מוֹאָ֔ב שְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָֽה׃ ס

15Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjaminite, as a deliverer for them. The Israelites sent him to Eglon king of Moab with tribute money.

15וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ אֶל־ יְהוָה֒ וַיָּקֶם֩ יְהוָ֨ה לָהֶ֜ם מוֹשִׁ֗יעַ אֶת־ אֵה֤וּד בֶּן־ גֵּרָא֙ בֶּן־ הַיְמִינִ֔י אִ֥ישׁ אִטֵּ֖ר יַד־ יְמִינ֑וֹ וַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּ בְנֵי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל בְּיָדוֹ֙ מִנְחָ֔ה לְעֶגְל֖וֹן מֶ֥לֶךְ מוֹאָֽב׃

16Ehud made himself a double-edged sword 18 inches long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his clothes

16וַיַּעַשׂ֩ ל֨וֹ אֵה֜וּד חֶ֗רֶב וְלָ֛הּ שְׁנֵ֥י פֵי֖וֹת גֹּ֣מֶד אָרְכָּ֑הּ וַיַּחְגֹּ֤ר אוֹתָהּ֙ מִתַּ֣חַת לְמַדָּ֔יו עַ֖ל יֶ֥רֶךְ יְמִינֽוֹ׃

17and brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an extremely fat man.

17וַיַּקְרֵב֙ אֶת־ הַמִּנְחָ֔ה לְעֶגְל֖וֹן מֶ֣לֶךְ מוֹאָ֑ב וְעֶגְל֕וֹן אִ֥ישׁ בָּרִ֖יא מְאֹֽד׃

18When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he dismissed the people who had carried it.

18וַֽיְהִי֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר כִּלָּ֔ה לְהַקְרִ֖יב אֶת־ הַמִּנְחָ֑ה וַיְשַׁלַּח֙ אֶת־ הָעָ֔ם נֹשְׂאֵ֖י הַמִּנְחָֽה׃

19At the carved images near Gilgal he returned and said, "King Eglon, I have a secret message for you." The king called for silence, and all his attendants left him.

19וְה֣וּא שָׁ֗ב מִן־ הַפְּסִילִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶת־ הַגִּלְגָּ֔ל וַיֹּ֕אמֶר דְּבַר־ סֵ֥תֶר לִ֛י אֵלֶ֖יךָ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הָ֔ס וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ מֵֽעָלָ֔יו כָּל־ הָעֹמְדִ֖ים עָלָֽיו׃

20Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in his room upstairs where it was cool. Ehud said, "I have a word from God for you," and the king stood up from his throne.

20וְאֵה֣וּד ׀ בָּ֣א אֵלָ֗יו וְהֽוּא־ יֹ֠שֵׁב בַּעֲלִיַּ֨ת הַמְּקֵרָ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־ לוֹ֙ לְבַדּ֔וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵה֔וּד דְּבַר־ אֱלֹהִ֥ים לִ֖י אֵלֶ֑יךָ וַיָּ֖קָם מֵעַ֥ל הַכִּסֵּֽא׃

21Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon's belly.

21וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֵהוּד֙ אֶת־ יַ֣ד שְׂמֹאל֔וֹ וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־ הַחֶ֔רֶב מֵעַ֖ל יֶ֣רֶךְ יְמִינ֑וֹ וַיִּתְקָעֶ֖הָ בְּבִטְנֽוֹ׃

22Even the handle went in after the blade, and Eglon's fat closed in over it, so that Ehud did not withdraw the sword from his belly. And Eglon's insides came out.

22וַיָּבֹ֨א גַֽם־ הַנִּצָּ֜ב אַחַ֣ר הַלַּ֗הַב וַיִּסְגֹּ֤ר הַחֵ֙לֶב֙ בְּעַ֣ד הַלַּ֔הַב כִּ֣י לֹ֥א שָׁלַ֛ף הַחֶ֖רֶב מִבִּטְנ֑וֹ וַיֵּצֵ֖א הַֽפַּרְשְׁדֹֽנָה׃

23Ehud escaped by way of the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upstairs room behind him.

23וַיֵּצֵ֥א אֵה֖וּד הַֽמִּסְדְּר֑וֹנָה וַיִּסְגֹּ֞ר דַּלְת֧וֹת הָעַלִיָּ֛ה בַּעֲד֖וֹ וְנָעָֽל׃

24Ehud was gone when Eglon's servants came in. They looked and found the doors of the upstairs room locked and thought he was relieving himself in the cool room.

24וְה֤וּא יָצָא֙ וַעֲבָדָ֣יו בָּ֔אוּ וַיִּרְא֕וּ וְהִנֵּ֛ה דַּלְת֥וֹת הָעֲלִיָּ֖ה נְעֻל֑וֹת וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אַ֣ךְ מֵסִ֥יךְ ה֛וּא אֶת־ רַגְלָ֖יו בַּחֲדַ֥ר הַמְּקֵרָֽה׃

25The servants waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upstairs room. So they took the key and opened the doors--and there was their lord lying dead on the floor!

25וַיָּחִ֣ילוּ עַד־ בּ֔וֹשׁ וְהְנֵּ֛ה‪‬‪‬‪‬ אֵינֶ֥נּוּ פֹתֵ֖חַ דַּלְת֣וֹת הָֽעֲלִיָּ֑ה‪‬ וַיִּקְח֤וּ אֶת־ הַמַּפְתֵּ֙חַ֙ וַיִּפְתָּ֔חוּ וְהִנֵּה֙ אֲדֹ֣נֵיהֶ֔ם נֹפֵ֥ל אַ֖רְצָה מֵֽת׃

26Ehud escaped while the servants waited. He crossed over the Jordan near the carved images and reached Seirah.

26וְאֵה֥וּד נִמְלַ֖ט עַ֣ד הִֽתְמַהְמְהָ֑ם וְהוּא֙ עָבַ֣ר אֶת־ הַפְּסִילִ֔ים וַיִּמָּלֵ֖ט הַשְּׂעִירָֽתָה׃

27After he arrived, he sounded the ram's horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hill country, and he became their leader.

27וַיְהִ֣י בְּבוֹא֔וֹ וַיִּתְקַ֥ע בַּשּׁוֹפָ֖ר בְּהַ֣ר אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיֵּרְד֨וּ עִמּ֧וֹ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מִן־ הָהָ֖ר וְה֥וּא לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

28He told them, "Follow me, because the LORD has handed over your enemies, the Moabites, to you." So they followed him, captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over.

28וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ רִדְפ֣וּ אַחֲרַ֔י כִּֽי־ נָתַ֨ן יְהוָ֧ה אֶת־ אֹיְבֵיכֶ֛ם אֶת־ מוֹאָ֖ב בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם וַיֵּרְד֣וּ אַחֲרָ֗יו וַֽיִּלְכְּד֞וּ אֶת־ מַעְבְּר֤וֹת הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ לְמוֹאָ֔ב וְלֹֽא־ נָתְנ֥וּ אִ֖ישׁ לַעֲבֹֽר׃

29At that time they struck down about 10,000 Moabites, all strong and able-bodied men. Not one of them escaped.

29וַיַּכּ֨וּ אֶת־ מוֹאָ֜ב בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא כַּעֲשֶׂ֤רֶת אֲלָפִים֙ אִ֔ישׁ כָּל־ שָׁמֵ֖ן וְכָל־ אִ֣ישׁ חָ֑יִל וְלֹ֥א נִמְלַ֖ט אִֽישׁ׃

30Moab became subject to Israel that day, and the land was peaceful 80 years.

30וַתִּכָּנַ֤ע מוֹאָב֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא תַּ֖חַת יַ֣ד יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט הָאָ֖רֶץ שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃ ס

31After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath became judge. He delivered Israel by striking down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad.

31וְאַחֲרָ֤יו הָיָה֙ שַׁמְגַּ֣ר בֶּן־ עֲנָ֔ת וַיַּ֤ךְ אֶת־ פְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ שֵֽׁשׁ־ מֵא֣וֹת אִ֔ישׁ בְּמַלְמַ֖ד הַבָּקָ֑ר וַיֹּ֥שַׁע גַּם־ ה֖וּא אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס

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