Judges 3

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 3 of 21

1 And these are the nations which Jehovah left in order to test Israel by them, all who did not know all the wars of Canaan;

2 only that the generations of the sons of Israel might know, to teach them war, only those who did not before know them:

3 five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that lived in Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to the entering of Hamath.

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Chapter Summary

The nations that were left to prove Israel. 6 They commit idolatry. 8 Othniel delivers them from Chushan-rishathaim, 15 Ehud from Eglon, 31 Shamgar from the Philistines.

Key Hebrew Words

נָסָה to test, prove H5254 · TWOT 1373
יָשַׁע to deliver, save H3467 · TWOT 929
רוּחַ Spirit (of Jehovah) H7307 · TWOT 2131a
שָׁפַט to judge H8199 · TWOT 2443
חֶ֫רֶב sword H2719 · TWOT 732a
מִנְחָה present, tribute H4503 · TWOT 1214a

People & Context

Ehud (son of Gera)

Left-handed Benjamite judge who concealed a two-edged sword and assassinated King Eglon of Moab

Eglon

Very fat king of Moab who oppressed Israel eighteen years before Ehud killed him in his roof chamber

Othniel (son of Kenaz)

Caleb's younger brother, raised up as first judge, empowered by the Spirit to defeat Chushan-rishathaim

Chushan-rishathaim

King of Mesopotamia to whom Jehovah sold Israel for eight years until Othniel delivered them

Shamgar (son of Anath)

Judge who struck down six hundred Philistines with an ox goad and delivered Israel

Timeline

The Remaining Nations

The text lists the specific nations left by Jehovah to test Israel and to teach war to the generations that had not known it.

Judges 3:1-4
Intermarriage and Idolatry

The sons of Israel live among the Canaanites, take their daughters as wives, and serve the Baals and Asherahs.

Judges 3:5-7
Subjugation to Mesopotamia

Jehovah's anger burns, and He sells Israel into the hands of Chushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, for eight years.

Judges 3:8

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