1 N ow these are the nations which Yahweh left, to test Israel by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of 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 o nly that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at least those who knew nothing of it before:

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 he 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.

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 by them, to know whether they would listen to Yahweh’s commandments, which he commanded their fathers by 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 children 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 took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.

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

7 T he children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and forgot Yahweh 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 T herefore 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.

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 W hen 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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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

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

And the Israelites served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.

15 B ut 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.

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

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 H e offered the tribute 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 he had finished offering the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute.

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

19 B ut 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.

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; 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.

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, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body:

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

22 a nd 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.

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 onto the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room on him, and locked them.

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

24 A fter 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.”

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 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.

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

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

27 W hen 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.

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, “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.

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

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

30 S o Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. Then the land had rest 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 him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad. He also saved Israel.

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