aNow these are the nations
which
the LORD
left
, to test
Israel
by them (that is, all
who
had not 1experienced
any
of the wars
of Canaan
;
only in order
that the generations
of the sons
of Israel
might 1be taught
war
, 2those
who
had not 3experienced
it formerly
).
These nations are: the five lords
of the Philistines
and all
the Canaanites
and the Sidonians
and athe Hivites
who lived
in Mount
Lebanon
, from Mount
Baal-hermon
as far
as 1Lebo-hamath
.
They were for 1 atesting Israel
, to find
out if they would 2obey
the commandments
of the LORD
, which
He had commanded
their fathers
3through
Moses
.
aThe sons of Israel
lived
among
the Canaanites
, the Hittites
, the Amorites
, the Perizzites
, the Hivites
, and the Jebusites
;
and athey took their daughters
for themselves as wives
, and gave
their own daughters
to their sons
, and served
their gods
.
The sons of Israel
did
awhat
was evil
in the sight
of the LORD
, and bforgot
the LORD
their God
and cserved
the Baals
and the 1Asheroth
.
Then the anger of the LORD
was kindled
against Israel
, so that He sold
them into the hands
of Cushan-rishathaim
king
of 1Mesopotamia
; and the sons
of Israel
served
Cushan-rishathaim
eight
years
.
When the sons of Israel
cried
to the LORD
, the LORD
raised
up a deliverer
for the sons
of Israel
to deliver
them, aOthniel
the son
of Kenaz
, Caleb's
younger
brother
.
aThe Spirit of the LORD
came
upon him, and he judged
Israel
. When he went
out to war
, the LORD
gave
Cushan-rishathaim
king
of 1Mesopotamia
into his hand
, so that 2he prevailed
over
Cushan-rishathaim
.
Then the land had
rest
forty
years
. And Othniel
the son
of Kenaz
died
.
Now the sons of Israel
again
adid
evil
in the sight
of the LORD
. So bthe LORD
strengthened
Eglon
the king
of Moab
against
Israel
, because
they had done
evil
in the sight
of the LORD
.
And he gathered to himself the sons
of Ammon
and Amalek
; and he went
and 1defeated
Israel
, and they possessed
athe city
of the palm
trees
.
The sons of Israel
served
Eglon
the king
of Moab
eighteen
years
.
But when the sons of Israel
acried
to the LORD
, the LORD
raised
up a deliverer
for them, Ehud
the son
of Gera
, the Benjamite
, a left-handed
man
. And the sons
of Israel
sent
tribute
by 1him to Eglon
the king
of Moab
.
Ehud made
himself a sword
which had two
edges
, a cubit
in length
, and he bound
it on his right
thigh
under
his cloak
.
He presented the tribute
to Eglon
king
of Moab
. Now Eglon
was a very
fat
man
.
It came about when
he had finished
presenting
the tribute
, that he sent
away
the people
who had carried
the tribute
.
But he himself turned
back
from the idols
which
were at Gilgal
, and said
, "I have a secret
message
for you, O king
." And he said
, "Keep
silence
." And all
who attended
him left
him.
Ehud came
to him while he was sitting
alone
in his cool
roof
chamber
. And Ehud
said
, "I have a message
from God
for you." And he arose
from his seat
.
Ehud stretched
out his left
hand
, took
the sword
from his right
thigh
and thrust
it into his belly
.
The handle also
went
in after
the blade
, and the fat
closed
over
the blade
, for he did not draw
the sword
out of his belly
; and the refuse
came
out.
Then Ehud went
out into the vestibule
and shut
the doors
of the roof
chamber
behind
him, and locked
them.
When he had gone out, his servants
came
and looked
, and behold
, the doors
of the roof
chamber
were locked
; and they said
, " aHe is only
1relieving
himself in the cool
room
."
They waited until
they 1became
anxious
; but behold
, he did not open
the doors
of the roof
chamber
. Therefore they took
the key
and opened
them, and behold
, their master
had fallen
to the 2floor
dead
.
Now Ehud escaped
while
they were delaying
, and he passed
by the idols
and escaped
to Seirah
.
It came about when he had arrived
, that ahe blew
the trumpet
in the hill
country
of Ephraim
; and the sons
of Israel
went
down
with him from the hill
country
, and he was in front
of them.
He said to them, "Pursue
them, for the LORD
has given
your enemies
the Moabites
into your hands
." So they went
down
after
him and seized
athe fords
of the Jordan
opposite Moab
, and did not allow
anyone
to cross
.
They struck down
at that time
about ten
thousand
Moabites
, all
robust
and valiant
men
; and no
one
escaped
.
So Moab was subdued
that day
under
the hand
of Israel
. And the land
was undisturbed
for eighty
years
.
After him came
aShamgar
the son
of Anath
, who struck
down
six
hundred
Philistines
with an oxgoad
; and he also
saved
Israel
.