1 T hese are the nations the Lord left to test Israel. They were left to test all those who had not fought in any of the wars in Canaan.

Now these are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not previously experienced war in Canaan;

2 S o the children of the people of Israel who had not fought in wars might be taught about war.

It was only that the generations of the Israelites might know and be taught war, at least those who previously knew nothing of it.

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

The remaining nations are: the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt on Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to the entrance of Hamath.

4 T hey were left to test Israel, to find out if Israel would obey the Laws the Lord gave their fathers through Moses.

They were for the testing and proving of Israel to know whether Israel would listen and obey the commandments of the Lord, which He commanded their fathers by Moses.

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

And the Israelites dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites;

6 T hey married their daughters. They gave their own daughters to their sons, and they worshiped their gods.

And they married their daughters and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

7 T he people of Israel did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.

And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.

8 S o the anger of the Lord was against Israel. He sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. The people of Israel worked for Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.

So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the Israelites served Chushan-rishathaim eight years.

9 B ut the people of Israel cried to the Lord. And the Lord gave the people of Israel someone who would save them. He gave them Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

But when the Israelites cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel to deliver them, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

10 T he Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he led Israel. When he went out to war, the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. He was stronger than Cushan-rishathaim.

The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand and his hand prevailed over Chushan-rishathaim.

11 T he land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

And the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.

12 T he people of Israel sinned in the eyes of the Lord again. So the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab strength against Israel, because they had sinned in the eyes of the Lord.

And the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel because they had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

13 E glon gathered together with the people of Ammon and Amalek. They went and won the war against Israel. And they took the city of Jericho.

And gathered to him the men of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and they possessed the City of Palm Trees (Jericho).

14 T he people of Israel worked for Eglon the king of Moab for eighteen years.

And the Israelites served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.

15 B ut when the people of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord gave them someone to save them. He gave them Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent taxes by him to Eglon the king of Moab.

But when the Israelites cried to the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, a Benjamite, a left-handed man; and by him the Israelites sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab.

16 E hud made a sword for himself with two sharp sides, almost as long as an arm. He tied it to the top part of his right leg, under his coat.

Ehud made for himself a sword, a cubit long, which had two edges, and he girded it on his right thigh under his clothing.

17 T hen he brought the taxes to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.

And he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.

18 W hen Ehud had finished paying the taxes, he sent away the people who had carried the taxes.

And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried it.

19 B ut he himself turned around at the stone gods of Gilgal and returned to Eglon, saying, “I have secret news for you, O king.” Eglon said, “Keep quiet.” And all who stood by him went away from him.

He himself went as far as the sculptured stones near Gilgal, and then turned back and came to Eglon and said, I have a secret errand to you, O king. Eglon commanded silence, and all who stood by him went out from him.

20 E hud came to him while Eglon was sitting alone in his summer room. And Ehud said, “I have news from God for you.” The king got up from his seat.

When Ehud had come to him as he was sitting alone in his cool upper apartment, Ehud said, I have a commission from God to execute to you. And the king arose from his seat.

21 E hud put out his left hand, took the sword from his right leg, and pushed it into Eglon’s stomach.

Then Ehud put forth his left hand and took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into Eglon’s belly.

22 T he whole sword went into his stomach and the fat closed over it. For he did not pull the sword out of his stomach. The insides of Eglon’s stomach ran out.

And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed upon the blade, for did not draw the sword out of his belly, and the dirt came out.

23 T hen Ehud went out the back way. He closed the doors of the summer room behind him, and locked them.

Then Ehud went out into the vestibule and shut the doors of the upper room upon and locked them.

24 W hen Ehud had gone out, Eglon’s servants came. They saw that the doors of the summer room were locked. So they said, “He is only resting in there away from the heat.”

When had gone out, servants came. And when they saw the doors of the upper room were locked, they thought, Surely he relieves himself in the closet of the cool chamber.

25 T hey waited until they were afraid because Eglon did not open the doors of the summer room. So they opened the lock and looked in the doors. And they found their owner lying dead on the floor.

They waited a long time until they became embarrassed and uneasy, but when he still did not open the doors of the upper room, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their master fallen to the floor, dead!

26 E hud got away while they were waiting. He passed the stone gods and got away to Seirah.

Ehud escaped while they delayed and passed beyond the sculptured stones (images) and escaped to Seirah.

27 W hen he got there, he blew the horn in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country. Ehud went in front of them.

When he arrived, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down from the hill country, with him at their head.

28 H e said to them, “Go after them. For the Lord has given into your hands the Moabites who hate you.” So they went down after him. They took over the crossing places of the Jordan beside Moab. And they did not let anyone cross.

And he said to them, Follow me, for the Lord has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and permitted not a man to pass over.

29 A t that time they killed about 10, 000 Moabites, all strong men with strength of heart. No one got away.

They slew at that time about 10, 000 Moabites, all strong, courageous men; not a man escaped.

30 S o Moab was crushed under the power of Israel that day. And the land had rest for eighty years.

So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel, and the land had peace and rest for eighty years.

31 A fter Ehud, Shamgar the son of Anath became the leader. He killed 600 Philistines with a stick used to push cattle, and he also saved Israel.

After was Shamgar son of Anath, who slew 600 Philistine men with an oxgoad. He also delivered Israel.