1These are the nations the LORD left to test the Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan. 2(He did this to teach the younger generations, that knew nothing of war.) 3He left these five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as the entrance of Hamath. 4They were left to test Israel, to see whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had given to their fathers by Moses. 5And so the Israelites dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites: 6And they took their daughters for their sons’ wives, and gave their daughters to the Canaanites’ sons, and served their gods.

7And the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, forgot the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the idols. 8Therefore the anger of the LORD burned hot against Israel, and He turned them over to Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram (Mesopotamia); and the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years. 9And when the Israelites cried to the LORD, He raised up a deliverer for the Israelites, Othniel, son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who rescued them. 10And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge, and went out to war; and the LORD turned Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram, over to Othniel; who overpowered Cushan-rishathaim. 11And then the land had rest for forty years until Othniel, son of Kenaz, died.

12And the Israelites again did evil in the eyes of the LORD; and the LORD gave Eglon, king of Moab, power over Israel, because of the evil they did in His eyes. 13And Eglon got the Ammonites and Amalek to join him, and attacked Israel, and captured the City of Palms. 14So the Israelites served Eglon, king of Moab, for eighteen years.

15But when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud, son of Gera, a Benjamite, a left-handed man; and the Israelites sent him to deliver their tribute money to Eglon, king of Moab. 16But Ehud made him a two-edged dagger a cubit in length; and he strapped it under his clothing upon his right thigh. 17And he presented the tribute money to Eglon, king of Moab; and Eglon was a very fat man. 18And after he had delivered the tribute money, he sent the men who had carried it on ahead. 19But when Ehud reached the quarries by Gilgal, he turned back and said to Eglon, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And the king said to his attendants, “Give us some privacy.” And all who stood by went out from him. 20Then Ehud approached him; and he was sitting alone in his summer parlor. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God to you.” And as the king arose out of his seat, 21Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly: 22And even the hilt of the dagger went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade; and his entrails came out. 23Then Ehud left through the porch, and shut and locked the doors of the parlor behind him. 24When he had gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that the doors of the parlor were locked, they said, “He must be using the latrine in his summer chamber.” 25And they waited until they became worried. And when the king failed to open the doors of the parlor; they took a key, and opened the doors and, behold, their king was dead on the floor. 26And Ehud fled while they delayed, passed beyond the quarries, and escaped to Seirah. 27And when he reached the hill country of Ephraim, he blew a trumpet and the Israelites came to him, and he led them from the hills.

28And he said to them, “Follow me; for the LORD has delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hand.” So they followed him, and took possession of the fords of the Jordan across from Moab, and allowed no one to cross over. 29And at that time they slew about ten thousand strong and vigorous Moabite men - not a man escaped. 30So Moab was made subject to Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

31And after Ehud, came Shamgar, son of Anath, who killed six hundred Philistines with an ox-goad: and he also rescued Israel.