Focused Passage

Judges 3:12-18

Testing, Oppression, and the First Deliverers

Judges 3 moves from the LORD's testing of Israel through remaining nations, to Israel's assimilation and idolatry, to the first three deliverances that show both the LORD's mercy and the instability of episodic rescue.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

12Once again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. So He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.

13After enlisting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join forces with him, Eglon attacked and defeated Israel, taking possession of the City of Palms.

14The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.

15And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.

16Now Ehud had made for himself a double-edged sword a cubit long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his cloak

17and brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an obese man.

18After Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he ushered out those who had carried it.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Cross-references

1 Samuel 12:9Classic cross-references 1 Kings 14:22Classic cross-references John 19:11Classic cross-references Judges 2:19Classic cross-references Judges 4:1Classic cross-references

Original words

Once againוַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙H3254Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singulardidלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתH6213Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructevilהָרַ֖עH7451Article | Adjective - masculine singularin the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdcof the LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularSo Heיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker{gave} Eglonעֶגְל֤וֹןH5700Noun - proper - masculine singularkingמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Moabמוֹאָב֙H4124Noun - proper - feminine singularpowerוַיְחַזֵּ֨קH2388Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularoverעַל־H5921PrepositionIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularbecauseעַ֛לH5921Preposition. . .כִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthey had doneעָשׂ֥וּH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerevilהָרַ֖עH7451Article | Adjective - masculine singularin the sightבְּעֵינֵ֥יH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdcof the LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 13

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 34:3Classic cross-references Judges 1:16Classic cross-references Judges 6:3Classic cross-references Judges 5:14Classic cross-references

Original words

After enlisting the Ammonitesבְּנֵ֥יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .עַמּ֖וֹןH5983Noun - proper - masculine singularand Amalekitesוַעֲמָלֵ֑קH6002Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularto join forcesוַיֶּאֱסֹ֣ףH622Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwith himאֵלָ֔יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker[Eglon] attackedוַיֵּ֗לֶךְH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand defeatedוַיַּךְ֙H5221Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singulartaking possession ofוַיִּֽירְשׁ֖וּH3423Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe Cityעִ֥ירH5892Noun - feminine singularof Palmsהַתְּמָרִֽים׃H8558Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

That is, Jericho

Verse 14

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 28:29Classic cross-references Leviticus 26:23Classic cross-references

Original words

The Israelitesבְנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵל֙H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerservedוַיַּעַבְד֤וּH5647Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralEglonעֶגְל֣וֹןH5700Noun - proper - masculine singularkingמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Moabמוֹאָ֔בH4124Noun - proper - feminine singulareighteenשְׁמוֹנֶ֥הH8083Number - feminine singular. . .עֶשְׂרֵ֖הH6240Number - feminine singularyearsשָׁנָֽה׃סH8141Noun - feminine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 12:2Classic cross-references Judges 20:16Classic cross-references Judges 3:9Classic cross-references Psalms 119:66Classic cross-references Psalms 78:34Classic cross-references

Original words

And again [they]בְנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵל֮H3478Noun - proper - masculine singularcried outוַיִּזְעֲק֣וּH2199Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe LORDיְהוָה֒H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand Heיְהוָ֨הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularraised upוַיָּקֶם֩H6965Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularEhudאֵה֤וּדH164Noun - proper - masculine singularsonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Geraגֵּרָא֙H1617Noun - proper - masculine singularבֶּן־בֶּן־H1145Noun - masculine singular constructa left-handedאִטֵּ֖רH334Adjective - masculine singular. . .יַד־H3027Noun - feminine singular construct. . .יְמִינ֑וֹH3225Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularBenjamiteבְנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .הַיְמִינִ֔יH1145Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .אִ֥ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularas their delivererמוֹשִׁ֗יעַH3467Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerSo [they]יִשְׂרָאֵ֤לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularsentוַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralhimבְּיָדוֹ֙H3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularwith tributeמִנְחָ֔הH4503Noun - feminine singularto Eglonלְעֶגְל֖וֹןH5700Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularkingמֶ֥לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Moabמוֹאָֽב׃H4124Noun - proper - feminine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

Hebrews 4:12Classic cross-references Psalms 45:3Classic cross-references Revelation 2:12Classic cross-references

Original words

Now Ehudאֵה֜וּדH164Noun - proper - masculine singularhad madeוַיַּעַשׂ֩H6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularfor himselfל֨וֹPreposition | third person masculine singulara double-edgedשְׁנֵ֥יH8147Number - masculine dual construct. . .פֵי֖וֹתH6366Noun - masculine pluralswordחֶ֗רֶבH2719Noun - feminine singulara cubitגֹּ֣מֶדH1574Noun - masculine singularlongאָרְכָּ֑הּH753Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularHe strappedוַיַּחְגֹּ֤רH2296Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אוֹתָהּ֙H853Direct object marker | third person feminine singularit toעַ֖לH5921Prepositionhis rightיְמִינֽוֹ׃H3225Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularthighיֶ֥רֶךְH3409Noun - feminine singular constructunderמִתַּ֣חַתH8478Preposition-mhis cloakלְמַדָּ֔יוH4055Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

A cubit is approximately 18 inches or 45.7 centimeters.

Verse 17

Cross-references

Ezekiel 34:20Classic cross-references Job 15:27Classic cross-references Jeremiah 5:28Classic cross-references Jeremiah 50:11Classic cross-references Judges 3:29Classic cross-references

Original words

and broughtוַיַּקְרֵב֙H7126Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe tributeהַמִּנְחָ֔הH4503Article | Noun - feminine singularto Eglonלְעֶגְל֖וֹןH5700Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularkingמֶ֣לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Moabמוֹאָ֑בH4124Noun - proper - feminine singularwhoוְעֶגְל֕וֹןH5700Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularwas an obeseמְאֹֽד׃H3966Adverb. . .בָּרִ֖יאH1277Adjective - masculine singularmanאִ֥ישׁH376Noun - masculine singular

Verse 18

Original words

-וַֽיְהִי֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAfterכַּאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeEhud had finishedכִּלָּ֔הH3615Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularpresentingלְהַקְרִ֖יבH7126Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe tributeהַמִּנְחָ֑הH4503Article | Noun - feminine singularhe ushered outוַיְשַׁלַּח֙H7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthoseהָעָ֔םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularwho had carriedנֹשְׂאֵ֖יH5375Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructitהַמִּנְחָֽה׃H4503Article | Noun - feminine singular

Read full chapter context All Judges chapters

<- Judges 2 Judges 3 Judges 4 ->