Judges 3
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1These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan1These are the nations the LORD left in order to test all those in Israel who had experienced none of the wars in Canaan.
2(he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience):2This was to teach the future generations of the Israelites how to fight in battle, especially those who had not fought before.
3the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath.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.
4They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the LORD's commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.4The LORD left them to test Israel, to determine if they would keep the LORD's commands he had given their fathers through Moses.
5The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.5But they settled among the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
6They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.6The Israelites took their daughters as wives for themselves, gave their own daughters to their sons, and worshiped their gods.
7The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.7The Israelites did what was evil in the LORD's sight; they forgot the LORD their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs.
8The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years.8The LORD's anger burned against Israel, and he sold them to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim, and the Israelites served him eight years.
9But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them.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.
10The Spirit of the LORD came on him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him.10The Spirit of the LORD came on him, and he judged Israel. Othniel went out to battle, and the LORD handed over King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram to him, so that Othniel overpowered him.
11So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.11Then the land had peace for forty years, and Othniel son of Kenaz died.
12Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel.12The Israelites again did what was evil in the LORD's sight. He gave King Eglon of Moab power over Israel, because they had done what was evil in the LORD's sight.
13Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms.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.
14The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.14The Israelites served King Eglon of Moab eighteen years.
15Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer--Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.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 with the tribute for King Eglon of Moab.
16Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing.16Ehud made himself a double-edged sword eighteen inches long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his clothes
17He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.17and brought the tribute to King Eglon of Moab, who was an extremely fat man.
18After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it.18When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he dismissed the people who had carried it.
19But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, "Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you." The king said to his attendants, "Leave us!" And they all left.19At the carved images near Gilgal he returned and said, "King Eglon, I have a secret message for you." The king said, "Silence!" and all his attendants left him.
20Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, "I have a message from God for you." As the king rose from his seat,20Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in his upstairs room where it was cool. Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you," and the king stood up from his throne.
21Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king's belly.21Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon's belly.
22Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it.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 the waste came out.
23Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.23Ehud escaped by way of the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upstairs room behind him.
24After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, "He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the palace."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.
25They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead.25The servants waited until they became embarrassed 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!
26While they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the stone images and escaped to Seirah.26Ehud escaped while the servants waited. He passed the Jordan near the carved images and reached Seirah.
27When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them.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.
28"Follow me," he ordered, "for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands." So they followed him down and took possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab; they allowed no one to cross over.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.
29At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped.29At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all stout and able-bodied men. Not one of them escaped.
30That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years.30Moab became subject to Israel that day, and the land had peace for eighty years.
31After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.31After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath became judge. He also delivered Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with a cattle prod.
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The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Judges 2
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