Introduction:
Shamgar is a lesser-known figure in the biblical narrative, yet he plays a significant role as one of the judges of Israel. His account is briefly mentioned in the Book of Judges, where he is recognized for his remarkable feat of delivering Israel from its enemies. Shamgar's account is a testament to God's ability to use unexpected individuals and unconventional means to achieve His purposes.

Biblical Account:
Shamgar is mentioned in Judges 3:31: "After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel." . This single verse encapsulates his contribution to Israel's deliverance during a time of oppression by the Philistines. The brevity of his account does not diminish the significance of his actions, as he is credited with saving Israel through a divinely empowered act of valor.

Historical Context:
Shamgar's time as a judge likely occurred during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by a cyclical pattern of Israel's disobedience, oppression by foreign powers, cries for deliverance, and subsequent rescue by judges raised up by God. The Philistines, a seafaring people known for their military prowess, were one of the primary oppressors of Israel during this era.

Name and Origin:
The name "Shamgar" is of uncertain etymology, and his designation as "son of Anath" has led to various interpretations. Some scholars suggest that "Anath" could refer to a Canaanite deity, indicating a possible non-Israelite origin or influence. However, the biblical text does not provide explicit details about his lineage or background, leaving room for speculation.

Weapon and Feat:
The oxgoad, a long, pointed stick used for driving oxen, was Shamgar's weapon of choice. His use of such an agricultural tool to defeat six hundred Philistines highlights the unconventional nature of his victory. This feat underscores the theme of God empowering individuals to accomplish extraordinary deeds with ordinary means, reminiscent of other biblical figures like David with his sling or Samson with the jawbone of a donkey.

Role as a Judge:
Although the Book of Judges does not provide extensive details about Shamgar's leadership or the duration of his judgeship, his inclusion in the narrative signifies his importance in the history of Israel's deliverance. As a judge, Shamgar served as a military leader and deliverer, raised by God to provide relief from oppression and restore peace to the land.

Theological Significance:
Shamgar's account, though brief, illustrates several key theological themes. It demonstrates God's sovereignty and His ability to deliver His people through unexpected means and individuals. Shamgar's victory with an oxgoad serves as a reminder that God often chooses the humble and the unlikely to fulfill His purposes, emphasizing reliance on divine strength rather than human might.

Legacy:
Shamgar's legacy is preserved in the biblical record as a testament to God's faithfulness in raising up deliverers for His people. His account, though concise, contributes to the larger narrative of the Judges, highlighting the cyclical nature of Israel's history and the need for divine intervention. Shamgar's account encourages believers to trust in God's provision and to recognize that He can use anyone, regardless of their background or resources, to accomplish His will.Shamgar

named a stranger; he is here a stranger

Shamgar

(sword), son of Anath, judge of Israel. When Israel was in a most depressed condition, Shamgar was raised up to be a deliverer. With no arms in his hand but an ox-goad, (Judges 3:31) comp. 1Sam 13:21 He made a desperate assault upon the Philistines, and slew 600 of them. (B.C. about 1290.)

Shamgar

Son of Anath, the third judge of Israel, after Ehud and shortly before Barak, in a time of great insecurity and distress, Jud 3:31 5:6. Scripture only says he defended Israel, and killed six hundred Philistines with an ox-goad. See PLOUGH.

The Philistines from the maritime plain had made incursions into the Hebrew upland for the purposes of plunder, when one of this name, the son of Anath, otherwise unknown, headed a rising for the purpose of freeing the land from this oppression. He repelled the invasion, slaying 600 men with an "ox goad" (q.v.). The goad was a formidable sharpointed instrument, sometimes ten feet long. He was probably contemporary for a time with Deborah and Barak (Judges 3:31; 5:6). SHAMGAR

sham'-gar (shamgar):

1. Biblical Account:

One of the judges, son of Anath (`anath), in whose days, which preceded the time of Deborah (Judges 5:6, 7) and followed those of Ehud, Israel's subjugation was so complete that "the highways were unoccupied, and the travelers walked through byways." The government had become thoroughly disorganized, and apparently, as in the days of Deborah, the people were entirely unprepared for war. Shamgar's improvised weapon with which he helped to "save Israel" is spoken of as an oxgoad. With this he smote of the Philistines 600 men. This is the first mention of the Philistines as troublesome neighbors of the Israelites (Judges 3:31). According to a tradition represented in Josephus (Ant., V, iv, 3), Shamgar died in the year he became judge.

2. Critical Hypotheses:

Several writers have challenged the Biblical account on the following grounds: that in Judges 5 no mention is made of any deliverance; that the name "Shamgar" resembles the name of a Hittite king and the name "Anath" that of a Syrian goddess; that the deed recorded in Judges 3:31 is analogous to that of Samson (Judges 15:15), and that of Shammah, son of Agee (2 Samuel 23:11 f); and lastly, that in a group of Greek manuscripts and other versions this verse is inserted after the account of Samson's exploits. None of these is necessarily inconsistent with the traditional account. Neverthelesss, they have been used as a basis not only for overthrowing the tradition, but also for constructive theories such as that which makes Shamgar a foreign oppressor and not a judge, and even the father of Sisera. There is, of course, no limit to which this kind of interesting speculation cannot lead.

(For a complete account of these views see Moore, "Judges," in ICC, 1895, 104, and same author in Journal of the American Oriental Society, XIX, 2,159-60.)

Ella Davis Isaacs

8044. Shamgar -- an Israelite judge
... Shamgar. 8045 . an Israelite judge. Transliteration: Shamgar Phonetic Spelling:
(sham-gar') Short Definition: Shamgar. ... judge NASB Word Usage Shamgar (2). Shamgar ...
/hebrew/8044.htm - 5k

6067. Anath -- father of Shamgar
... 6066, 6067. Anath. 6068 . father of Shamgar. Transliteration: Anath
Phonetic Spelling: (an-awth') Short Definition: Anath. Word ...
/hebrew/6067.htm - 6k

Use what You Have.
... The old Hebrew farmer Shamgar had only a long ox-goad with which to prod his beasts
in the field. ... Shamgar's neighbors have taken to their heels. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/use what you have.htm

Judges
... The story of Abimelech, eg (ix.), has no such preface or conclusion as these six
have; neither has the notice of Shamgar in iii.31; the preface is also lacking ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/judges.htm

The Power of Little Things.
... This man was preaching one Sabbath morning on Shamgar. He said: "I can
imagine that ... and shouted: 'Shamgar! Shamgar! There are six ...
/.../moody/to the work to the work/chapter vi the power of.htm

Deborah's Song
... Men. In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The highways
were unoccupied, And the travellers walked through byways; The rulers ceased in ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/iv deborahs song.htm

Use what You Have
... The Philistines had taken the Israelites' swords and spears, in fact, swept
the country bare of armor. Shamgar had not much to fight with. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk thirty-eight use what you.htm

Women who Saved a Nation
... Israel's God. "In the days of Anath's son, Shamgar, In Jael's days the roads
were unused, And travellers walked through byways. Leaders ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/women who saved a nation.htm

August 12 Evening
... a man lefthanded. After him was Shamgar, . . . which slew of the Philistines
six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. ...
/.../anonymous/daily light on the daily path/august 12 evening.htm

A Cloud of Witnesses.
... The Apostle does not name Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, and the rest. The Spirit of
the Lord came upon them also. They too were mighty through God. ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xiii a cloud of.htm

The Growth of the Old Testament Prophetic Histories
... In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways ceased
to be used, And travellers walked by round-about paths. ...
/.../the origin and permanent value of the old testament/vi the growth of the.htm

The Lad's Loaves in the Lord's Hands
... to a point of distress as to his truth but what suddenly one came forward, a David
with a sling and a stone, or a Samson with a jawbone, or a Shamgar with an ox ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the lads loaves in the.htm

Shamgar (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SHAMGAR. ...Shamgar's improvised weapon with
which he helped to "save Israel" is spoken of as an oxgoad. ...
/s/shamgar.htm - 9k

Anath (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary An answer; ie, to "prayer", the father of Shamgar,
who was one of the judges of Israel (Judges 3:31). Int. ...
/a/anath.htm - 8k

Goad (2 Occurrences)
... (Hebrews malmad, only in Judges 3: 31), an instrument used by ploughmen for guiding
their oxen. Shamgar slew six hundred Philistines with an ox-goad. ...
/g/goad.htm - 9k

Judges (117 Occurrences)
... 40 " II. Servitude under Eglon of Moab: " Ammon, Amalek 18 " 2. EHUD'S
deliverance, rest 80 " 3. SHAMGAR Unknown. " III. Servitude ...
/j/judges.htm - 81k

Unoccupied (4 Occurrences)
... Judges 5:6 "In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways
were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways. (WEB KJV ASV WBS). ...
/u/unoccupied.htm - 7k

Ox-stick (1 Occurrence)
... Judges 3:31 And after him came Shamgar, the son of Anath, who put to death six hundred
Philistines with an ox-stick; and he was another saviour of Israel. ...
/o/ox-stick.htm - 6k

Ox (197 Occurrences)
... 14:5). Ox goad. Mentioned only in Judges 3:31, the weapon with which Shamgar
(qv) slew six hundred Philistines. "The ploughman still ...
/o/ox.htm - 43k

Ox-goad (2 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who smote of the Philistines
six hundred men with an ox-goad: and he also saved Israel. ...
/o/ox-goad.htm - 7k

Oxgoad (1 Occurrence)
... Judges 3:31 After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck of the Philistines
six hundred men with an oxgoad: and he also saved Israel. ...
/o/oxgoad.htm - 6k

Ja'el (6 Occurrences)
... (DBY RSV). Judges 5:6 "In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of
Ja'el, caravans ceased and travelers kept to the byways. (DBY RSV). ...
/j/ja'el.htm - 8k

Who was Shamgar? | GotQuestions.org

Why were the Philistines and the Israelites always at war? | GotQuestions.org

Questions about Judges | GotQuestions.org

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