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

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

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 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 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 left to test Israel, to find out if Israel would obey the Laws the Lord gave 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 people 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 T hey married their daughters. They gave their own daughters to their sons, and they worshiped 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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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

The land had rest forty years, then Othniel the 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.

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 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.

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

The children of Israel served Eglon the 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 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 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 himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he wore it under his clothing on his right thigh.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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

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

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 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 the back way. He closed the doors of the summer room 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 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.”

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

Ehud escaped while they waited, passed beyond the stone idols, 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 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, “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.

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

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