迦南餘族

1-2 耶和華為了考驗那些沒有經歷過迦南戰事的以色列人,讓他們學習作戰,就留下了以下各族: 五個非利士王、所有的迦南人、西頓人和住在巴力·黑門山到哈馬口一帶的黎巴嫩山區的希未人。 耶和華留下這幾個外族是要考驗以色列人,看他們是否願意遵從祂藉摩西向他們祖先頒佈的誡命。 以色列人住在這些迦南人、赫人、亞摩利人、比利洗人、希未人和耶布斯人當中, 跟他們通婚,祭拜他們的神明。

士師俄陀聶

以色列人做耶和華視為惡的事,忘記他們的上帝耶和華,祭拜假神巴力和亞舍拉。 耶和華向他們發怒,把他們交在美索不達米亞王古珊·利薩田的手中,受古珊·利薩田統治八年。 他們向耶和華呼求,耶和華就使一位名叫俄陀聶的拯救者興起,他是迦勒弟弟基納斯的兒子。 10 耶和華的靈降在俄陀聶身上,他就做了以色列的士師,領兵出戰。耶和華將美索不達米亞王古珊·利薩田交在他手中,他便戰勝了古珊·利薩田。 11 此後,國內安享太平四十年,直到俄陀聶去世。

士師以笏

12 之後,以色列人又做耶和華視為惡的事,耶和華就使摩押王伊磯倫強盛起來,攻打以色列人。 13 伊磯倫聯合亞捫人和亞瑪力人進攻以色列人,佔據了棕樹城, 14 以色列人受摩押王伊磯倫統治十八年。 15 他們呼求耶和華,耶和華就使一位名叫以笏的拯救者興起。他是便雅憫人基拉的兒子,善用左手。以色列人派他去向摩押王伊磯倫進貢。 16 他造了一把約半米長的兩刃利劍,綁在右腿的衣服裡。 17 他帶著貢物去見肥胖的摩押王伊磯倫。 18 以笏獻上了貢物之後,便和抬貢物的人一起離去。 19 到了吉甲附近雕石神像的地方,他讓抬貢物的人先回去,自己則折回王宮,對王說:「王啊,我有機密稟告。」王就命左右的人迴避,眾人便都退去了。 20 當時王獨自坐在樓上的房間乘涼,以笏近前說:「我有從上帝而來的訊息要稟告。」王站起來的時候, 21 以笏左手拔出藏在右腿上的劍刺進王的肚腹, 22 連劍柄也刺了進去,深深嵌入肥肉。以笏沒有拔劍, 23 便走出房間,把門都關上,鎖好。

24 以笏走後,王的僕人過來,見房門緊鎖,以為王在大解。 25 等了很久,門還沒開,他們很焦急,就拿鑰匙開門,發現他們的主人已經倒斃在地上。

26 他們等待的時候,以笏已經逃走了。他經過雕石神像的地方,逃往西伊拉。 27 到了那裡,他就在以法蓮的山區吹響號角,召集以色列人。眾人跟隨以笏下山, 28 以笏對他們說:「跟我來!耶和華已經把仇敵摩押人交在你們手中了。」於是,眾人跟著他佔領了通往摩押的約旦河各渡口,不許任何人渡河。 29 當時他們殺了約一萬名強悍善戰的摩押勇士,沒有一人逃脫。 30 這樣,以色列人征服了摩押人,國中安享太平八十年。

珊迦

31 以笏之後,亞拿的兒子珊迦拯救了以色列人。他曾用一根趕牛棍殺了六百名非利士人。

These are the nations the Lord left to test(A) all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): the five(B) rulers of the Philistines,(C) all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites(D) living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon(E) to Lebo Hamath.(F) They were left to test(G) the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.

The Israelites lived(H) among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites,(I) Hivites and Jebusites.(J) They took their daughters(K) in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.(L)

Othniel

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord(M) their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.(N) The anger of the Lord burned against Israel so that he sold(O) them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim(P) king of Aram Naharaim,[a](Q) to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. But when they cried out(R) to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer,(S) Othniel(T) son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. 10 The Spirit of the Lord came on him,(U) so that he became Israel’s judge[b] and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim(V) king of Aram(W) into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. 11 So the land had peace(X) for forty years,(Y) until Othniel son of Kenaz(Z) died.

Ehud

12 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord,(AA) and because they did this evil the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab(AB) power over Israel. 13 Getting the Ammonites(AC) and Amalekites(AD) to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms.[c](AE) 14 The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab(AF) for eighteen years.

15 Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer(AG)—Ehud(AH), a left-handed(AI) man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute(AJ) to Eglon king of Moab. 16 Now Ehud(AK) had made a double-edged sword about a cubit[d] long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. 17 He presented the tribute(AL) to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.(AM) 18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it. 19 But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.”

The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left.

20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace[e](AN) and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose(AO) from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword(AP) from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly. 22 Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. 23 Then Ehud went out to the porch[f]; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

24 After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, “He must be relieving himself(AQ) in the inner room of the palace.” 25 They waited to the point of embarrassment,(AR) but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead.

26 While they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the stone images and escaped to Seirah. 27 When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet(AS) in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them.

28 “Follow me,” he ordered, “for the Lord has given Moab,(AT) your enemy, into your hands.(AU)” So they followed him down and took possession of the fords of the Jordan(AV) that led to Moab; they allowed no one to cross over. 29 At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped. 30 That day Moab(AW) was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace(AX) for eighty years.

Shamgar

31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath,(AY) who struck down six hundred(AZ) Philistines(BA) with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 3:8 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
  2. Judges 3:10 Or leader
  3. Judges 3:13 That is, Jericho
  4. Judges 3:16 That is, about 18 inches or about 45 centimeters
  5. Judges 3:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verse 24.
  6. Judges 3:23 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

Las siguientes naciones son las que el Señor dejó a salvo para poner a prueba a todos los israelitas que no habían participado en ninguna de las guerras de Canaán. Lo hizo solamente para que los descendientes de los israelitas, que no habían tenido experiencia en el campo de batalla, aprendieran a combatir. Quedaron los cinco gobernantes de los filisteos, todos los cananeos, los sidonios y heveos que vivían en los montes del Líbano, desde el monte de Baal Hermón hasta Lebó Jamat.[a] Allí los dejó el Señor para poner a prueba a los israelitas, a ver si obedecían sus mandamientos, que él había dado a sus antepasados por medio de Moisés.

Los israelitas vivían entre cananeos, hititas, amorreos, ferezeos, heveos y jebuseos. Se casaron con las hijas de esos pueblos, y a sus propias hijas las casaron con ellos y adoraron a sus dioses.

Otoniel

Los israelitas hicieron lo malo ante los ojos del Señor; se olvidaron del Señor su Dios y adoraron a las imágenes de Baal y de Aserá. El Señor se enfureció contra Israel a tal grado que los entregó en manos de Cusán Risatayin, rey de Aram Najarayin,[b] a quien estuvieron sometidos durante ocho años. Pero clamaron al Señor y él hizo que surgiera un libertador, Otoniel, hijo de Quenaz, hermano menor de Caleb. Y Otoniel liberó a los israelitas. 10 El Espíritu del Señor vino sobre él, y así se convirtió en líder de Israel y salió a la guerra. El Señor entregó a Cusán Risatayin, rey de Aram, en manos de Otoniel, quien prevaleció sobre él. 11 El país tuvo paz durante cuarenta años, hasta que murió Otoniel, hijo de Quenaz.

Aod

12 Una vez más los israelitas hicieron lo malo ante los ojos del Señor. Entonces, por causa del mal que hicieron, el Señor le dio poder sobre ellos a Eglón, rey de Moab. 13 Luego de aliarse con los amonitas y los amalecitas, Eglón fue, atacó a Israel y se apoderó de la Ciudad de las Palmeras.[c] 14 Los israelitas estuvieron sometidos a Eglón, rey de Moab, durante dieciocho años.

15 Los israelitas volvieron a clamar al Señor, y el Señor levantó un libertador: Aod, hijo de Guerá, de la tribu de Benjamín, quien era zurdo. Por medio de él los israelitas enviaron tributo a Eglón, rey de Moab. 16 Aod se había hecho un puñal de doble filo como de un codo[d] de largo, el cual sujetó a su muslo derecho por debajo de la ropa. 17 Le presentó el tributo a Eglón, rey de Moab, que era muy gordo. 18 Cuando Aod terminó de presentárselo, se fue a despedir a los hombres que habían transportado el tributo. 19 Pero luego se regresó desde las imágenes de piedra que estaban cerca de Guilgal y dijo:

—Majestad, tengo un mensaje secreto para usted.

—¡Silencio! —ordenó el rey.

Y todos sus servidores se retiraron de su presencia.

20 Entonces Aod se acercó al rey, que estaba sentado solo en la habitación del piso superior de su palacio de verano,[e] y le dijo:

—Tengo un mensaje de Dios para usted.

Cuando el rey se levantó de su trono, 21 Aod extendió la mano izquierda, sacó el puñal que llevaba en el muslo derecho y se lo clavó al rey en el vientre. 22 La empuñadura se hundió tras la hoja, a tal punto que esta salió por la espalda.[f] Además, Aod no sacó el puñal, ya que este quedó totalmente cubierto por la gordura. 23 Luego de cerrar y atrancar las puertas de la habitación del piso superior, Aod salió por la ventana.[g]

24 Cuando ya Aod se había ido, llegaron los siervos del rey y, al ver atrancadas las puertas de la habitación del piso superior, dijeron: «Tal vez está haciendo sus necesidades[h] en el cuarto interior de la casa». 25 Y tanto esperaron que se sintieron desconcertados. Al ver que el rey no abría las puertas de la habitación, las abrieron con una llave. Allí encontraron a su señor tendido en el piso, ya muerto.

26 Mientras esperaban, Aod se escapó. Pasó junto a las imágenes de piedra y huyó a Seirat. 27 Cuando llegó allí, tocó la trompeta en la región montañosa de Efraín y los israelitas descendieron de la montaña, con él a la cabeza.

28 «Síganme —les ordenó—, porque el Señor ha entregado en manos de ustedes a sus enemigos los moabitas». Bajaron con él y, tomando posesión de los cruces del Jordán que conducían a Moab, no dejaron pasar a nadie. 29 En aquella ocasión derrotaron a unos diez mil moabitas, todos robustos y aguerridos. No escapó ni un solo hombre. 30 Aquel día Moab quedó sometido a Israel, y el país tuvo paz durante ochenta años.

Samgar

31 Después de Aod el siguiente fue Samgar, hijo de Anat, quien derrotó a seiscientos filisteos con una vara para arrear bueyes. También él liberó a Israel.

Footnotes

  1. 3:3 Lebó Jamat. Alt. la entrada de Jamat.
  2. 3:8 Aram Najarayin. Es decir, el noroeste de Mesopotamia.
  3. 3:13 la Ciudad de las Palmeras. Es decir, Jericó.
  4. 3:16 Es decir, aprox. 45 cm de largo.
  5. 3:20 palacio de verano. Frase de difícil traducción.
  6. 3:22 que esta salió por la espalda. Alt. que se le salieron los excrementos.
  7. 3:23 la ventana. Palabra de difícil traducción.
  8. 3:24 haciendo sus necesidades. Lit. cubriéndose los pies.

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

Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;

Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.

And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:

And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves.

Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.

And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

10 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

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

12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.

13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.

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

15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.

16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.

17 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.

18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.

19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.

20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.

21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:

22 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.

23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.

24 When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.

25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.

27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.

28 And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the Lord hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.

29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.

30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.

31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.