1 N ow these are the nations which the Lord left, to test Israel by them ( that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan;

Now these are the nations which Yahweh left, to test Israel by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of Canaan;

2 o nly in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly).

only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at least those who knew nothing of it before:

3 T hese nations are: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath.

the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.

4 T hey were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses.

They were left to test Israel by them, to know whether they would listen to Yahweh’s commandments, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.

5 T he sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites;

The children of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

6 a nd they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

They took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.

7 T he sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.

The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and forgot Yahweh their God, and served the Baals and the Asheroth.

8 T hen the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, so that He sold them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. The First Judge Delivers Israel

Therefore Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan Rishathaim eight years.

9 W hen the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to deliver them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

When the children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a savior to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

10 T he Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. When he went out to war, the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand, so that he prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.

The Yahweh’s Spirit came on him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Yahweh delivered Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. His hand prevailed against Cushan Rishathaim.

11 T hen the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

The land had rest forty years, then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

12 N ow the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.

The children of Israel again did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and Yahweh strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight.

13 A nd he gathered to himself the sons of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and defeated Israel, and they possessed the city of the palm trees.

He gathered the children of Ammon and Amalek to himself; and he went and struck Israel, and they possessed the city of palm trees.

14 T he sons of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. Ehud Delivers from Moab

The children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

15 B ut when the sons of Israel cried 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 him to Eglon the king of Moab.

But when the children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a savior for them, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The children of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.

16 E hud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his cloak.

Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he wore it under his clothing on his right thigh.

17 H e presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.

He offered the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.

18 I t came about when he had finished presenting the tribute, that he sent away the people who had carried the tribute.

When he had finished offering the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute.

19 B ut 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.

But he himself turned back from the stone idols that were by Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” The king said, “Keep silence!” All who stood by him left him.

20 E hud 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 came to him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. Ehud said, “I have a message from God to you.” He arose out of his seat.

21 E hud stretched out his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly.

Ehud put out his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body:

22 T he 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.

and the handle also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, for he didn’t draw the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.

23 T hen Ehud went out into the vestibule and shut the doors of the roof chamber behind him, and locked them.

Then Ehud went out onto the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room on him, and locked them.

24 W hen he had gone out, his servants came and looked, and behold, the doors of the roof chamber were locked; and they said, “ He is only relieving himself in the cool room.”

After he had gone, his servants came and saw that the doors of the upper room were locked. They said, “Surely he is covering his feet in the upper room.”

25 T hey waited until they became 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 floor dead.

They waited until they were ashamed; and behold, he didn’t open the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold, their lord had fallen down dead on the floor.

26 N ow Ehud escaped while they were delaying, and he passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.

Ehud escaped while they waited, passed beyond the stone idols, and escaped to Seirah.

27 I t came about when he had arrived, that he 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.

When he had come, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he led them.

28 H e 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 the fords of the Jordan opposite Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross.

He said to them, “Follow me; for Yahweh has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” They followed him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and didn’t allow any man to pass over.

29 T hey struck down at that time about ten thousand Moabites, all robust and valiant men; and no one escaped.

They struck at that time about ten thousand men of Moab, every strong man, and every man of valor. No man escaped.

30 S o Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land was undisturbed for eighty years. Shamgar Delivers from Philistines

So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. Then the land had rest eighty years.

31 A fter him came Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad; and he also saved Israel.

After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad. He also saved Israel.