Judges 3
New Living Translation
The Nations Left in Canaan
3 These are the nations that the Lord left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. 2 He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle. 3 These are the nations: the Philistines (those living under the five Philistine rulers), all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath. 4 These people were left to test the Israelites—to see whether they would obey the commands the Lord had given to their ancestors through Moses.
5 So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, 6 and they intermarried with them. Israelite sons married their daughters, and Israelite daughters were given in marriage to their sons. And the Israelites served their gods.
Othniel Becomes Israel’s Judge
7 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They forgot about the Lord their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles. 8 Then the Lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim.[a] And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.
9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz. 10 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the Lord gave Othniel victory over him. 11 So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
Ehud Becomes Israel’s Judge
12 Once again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, and the Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil. 13 Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms. 14 And the Israelites served Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.
15 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab. 16 So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot[b] long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. 17 He brought the tribute money to Eglon, who was very fat.
18 After delivering the payment, Ehud started home with those who had helped carry the tribute. 19 But when Ehud reached the stone idols near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon and said, “I have a secret message for you.”
So the king commanded his servants, “Be quiet!” and he sent them all out of the room.
20 Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you!” As King Eglon rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly. 22 The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king’s fat. So Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king’s bowels emptied.[c] 23 Then Ehud closed and locked the doors of the room and escaped down the latrine.[d]
24 After Ehud was gone, the king’s servants returned and found the doors to the upstairs room locked. They thought he might be using the latrine in the room, 25 so they waited. But when the king didn’t come out after a long delay, they became concerned and got a key. And when they opened the doors, they found their master dead on the floor.
26 While the servants were waiting, Ehud escaped, passing the stone idols on his way to Seirah. 27 When he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Ehud sounded a call to arms. Then he led a band of Israelites down from the hills.
28 “Follow me,” he said, “for the Lord has given you victory over Moab your enemy.” So they followed him. And the Israelites took control of the shallow crossings of the Jordan River across from Moab, preventing anyone from crossing.
29 They attacked the Moabites and killed about 10,000 of their strongest and most able-bodied warriors. Not one of them escaped. 30 So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.
Shamgar Becomes Israel’s Judge
31 After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.
Footnotes
- 3:8 Aram-naharaim means “Aram of the two rivers,” thought to have been located between the Euphrates and Balih Rivers in northwestern Mesopotamia.
- 3:16 Hebrew gomed, the length of which is uncertain.
- 3:22 Or and it came out behind.
- 3:23 Or and went out through the porch; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
Jueces 3
Biblia del Jubileo
3 ¶ Estos, pues, son los gentiles que dejó el SEÑOR para probar con ellos a Israel, a todos aquellos que no habían conocido todas las guerras de Canaán;
2 solamente los dejó para que el linaje de los hijos de Israel conociera, y para enseñarlos en la guerra, solamente a los que antes no la habían conocido:
3 Cinco cardinales de los filisteos, y todos los cananeos, y los sidonios, y los heveos que habitaban en el monte Líbano, desde el monte de Baal-hermón hasta llegar a Hamat.
4 Estos, pues, fueron dejados para probar por ellos a Israel, para saber si escucharían los mandamientos del SEÑOR, que él había mandado a sus padres por mano de Moisés.
5 Y como los hijos de Israel habitaban entre los cananeos, heteos, amorreos, ferezeos, heveos, y jebuseos,
6 tomaron de sus hijas por mujeres, y dieron sus hijas a los hijos de ellos, y sirvieron a sus dioses.
7 Hicieron, pues, los hijos de Israel lo malo ante los ojos del SEÑOR; y olvidados del SEÑOR su Dios, sirvieron a los baales, y a los bosques.
8 ¶ Y la saña del SEÑOR se encendió contra Israel, y los vendió en manos de Cusan-risataim rey de Mesopotamia; y sirvieron los hijos de Israel a Cusan-risataim ocho años.
9 Y clamaron los hijos de Israel al SEÑOR; y el SEÑOR despertó un salvador a los hijos de Israel y los libró; es a saber, a Otoniel hijo de Cenaz, hermano menor de Caleb.
10 Y el Espíritu del SEÑOR vino sobre él, y juzgó a Israel, y salió a la batalla, y el SEÑOR entregó en su mano a Cusan-risataim, rey de Siria, y prevaleció su mano contra Cusan-risataim.
11 Y reposó la tierra cuarenta años; y murió Otoniel, hijo de Cenaz.
12 ¶ Y volvieron los hijos de Israel a hacer lo malo ante los ojos del SEÑOR; y el SEÑOR esforzó a Eglón rey de Moab contra Israel, por cuanto habían hecho lo malo ante los ojos del SEÑOR.
13 Y juntó consigo a los hijos de Amón y de Amalec, y fue, e hirió a Israel, y tomó la ciudad de las palmas.
14 Y sirvieron los hijos de Israel a Eglón rey de los moabitas dieciocho años.
15 Y clamaron los hijos de Israel al SEÑOR; y el SEÑOR les despertó un salvador, a Aod, hijo de Gera, hijo de Jemini, {o Benjamín} el cual tenía cerrada la mano derecha {era zurdo}. Y los hijos de Israel enviaron con él un presente a Eglón rey de Moab.
16 Y Aod se había hecho un cuchillo de dos filos, de un codo de largo; y se lo ciñó debajo de sus vestidos sobre su muslo derecho.
17 Y le ofreció el presente a Eglón rey de Moab; y era Eglón hombre muy grueso.
18 Y luego que acabó de ofrecer el presente, despidió al pueblo que lo había traído.
19 Mas él se volvió desde los ídolos que están en Gilgal, y dijo: Rey, una palabra secreta tengo que decirte. El entonces dijo: Calla. Y salieron de delante de él todos los que estaban con él.
20 Y se llegó Aod a él, el cual estaba sentado solo en una sala de verano. Y Aod dijo: Tengo palabra de Dios para ti. El entonces se levantó de la silla.
21 Mas Aod estiró su mano izquierda, y tomó el cuchillo de su lado derecho, y se lo metió por el vientre;
22 de tal manera que la empuñadura entró también tras la hoja, y la grosura encerró la hoja, que él no sacó el cuchillo de su vientre; y salió el estiércol.
23 Y saliendo Aod al patio, cerró tras sí las puertas de la sala con la llave.
24 Y salido él, vinieron sus esclavos, los cuales viendo las puertas de la sala cerradas, dijeron: Por ventura él cubre sus pies en la sala de verano.
25 Y habiendo esperado hasta estar confusos, pues él no abría las puertas de la sala, tomaron la llave y abrieron; y he aquí su señor caído en tierra muerto.
26 Mas entre tanto que ellos se detuvieron, Aod se escapó, y pasando los ídolos, se salvó en Seirat.
27 Y entrando, tocó el shofar en el monte de Efraín, y los hijos de Israel descendieron con él del monte, y él iba delante de ellos.
28 Entonces él les dijo: Seguidme, porque el SEÑOR ha entregado vuestros enemigos los moabitas en vuestras manos. Y descendieron en pos de él, y tomaron los vados del Jordán a Moab, y no dejaron pasar a ninguno.
29 Y en aquel tiempo hirieron de los moabitas como diez mil hombres, todos gruesos y todos hombres de guerra; no escapó varón.
30 Y Moab fue sujetado aquel día bajo la mano de Israel; y reposó la tierra ochenta años.
31 ¶ Después de él fue Samgar hijo de Anat, el cual hirió a seiscientos hombres de los filisteos con una aguijada de bueyes; y él también salvó a Israel.
Judges 3
King James Version
3 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;
2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
3 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.
4 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.
5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
Judges 3
New King James Version
The Nations Remaining in the Land
3 Now these are (A)the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not [a]known any of the wars in Canaan 2 (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), 3 namely, (B)five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. 4 And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to [b]know whether they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
5 (C)Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 6 And (D)they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods.
Othniel
7 So the children of Israel did (E)evil in the sight of the Lord. They (F)forgot the Lord their God, and served the Baals and [c]Asherahs. 8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He (G)sold them into the hand of (H)Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years. 9 When the children of Israel (I)cried out to the Lord, the Lord (J)raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: (K)Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 (L)The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim. 11 So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
Ehud
12 (M)And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord strengthened (N)Eglon king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord. 13 Then he gathered to himself the people of Ammon and (O)Amalek, went and [d]defeated Israel, and took possession of (P)the City of Palms. 14 So the children of Israel (Q)served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.
15 But when the children of Israel (R)cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a (S)left-handed man. By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab. 16 Now Ehud made himself a dagger (it was double-edged and a cubit in length) and fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh. 17 So he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.) 18 And when he had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried the tribute. 19 But he himself turned back (T)from the [e]stone images that were at Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.”
He said, “Keep silence!” And all who attended him went out from him.
20 So Ehud came to him (now he was sitting upstairs in his cool private chamber). Then Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” So he arose from his seat. 21 Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. 22 Even the [f]hilt went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly; and his entrails came out. 23 Then Ehud went out through the porch and shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.
24 When he had gone out, [g]Eglon’s servants came to look, and to their surprise, the doors of the upper room were locked. So they said, “He is probably (U)attending[h] to his needs in the cool chamber.” 25 So they waited till they were (V)embarrassed, and still he had not opened the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them. And there was their master, fallen dead on the floor.
26 But Ehud had escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the [i]stone images and escaped to Seirah. 27 And it happened, when he arrived, that (W)he blew the trumpet in the (X)mountains of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mountains; and [j]he led them. 28 Then he said to them, “Follow me, for (Y)the Lord has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him, seized the (Z)fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over. 29 And at that time they killed about ten thousand men of Moab, all stout men of valor; not a man escaped. 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And (AA)the land had rest for eighty years.
Shamgar
31 After him was (AB)Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines (AC)with an ox goad; (AD)and he also delivered (AE)Israel.
Footnotes
- Judges 3:1 experienced
- Judges 3:4 find out
- Judges 3:7 Name or symbol for Canaanite goddesses
- Judges 3:13 struck
- Judges 3:19 Tg. quarries
- Judges 3:22 handle
- Judges 3:24 Lit. his
- Judges 3:24 Lit. covering his feet
- Judges 3:26 Tg. quarries
- Judges 3:27 Lit. he went before them
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblia del Jubileo 2000 (JUS) © 2000, 2001, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2020 by Ransom Press International
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
