Judges 3:1-31 The Lord has Othniel Deliver the Israelites

The Lord has Othniel Deliver the Israelites

Judges 3:1-31    The Book of Judges [in Smaller Chunks]

Now, these are the nations [that] the Lord left, to prove, [a.k.a. test,] Israel, by them, [since] many of Israel hadn’t known, [a.k.a. experienced,] all the wars of Canaan. Only the generations of the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel [during the time of those wars] might know [how] to teach them [the skills of] war, [but these] knew nothing [about it.]

[Especially related to, the] 5 [Philistine] lords, & all the: Canaanites, Sidonians & Hivites, [who] dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon, [all the way to] the [entrance] of Hamath. They were to [test] Israel by them, [in order] to know whether they would [pay attention to] the commandments of the Lord, [that] He commanded their [forefathers] by the hand of Moses.

And the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel dwelt among the: Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites & Jebusites. And [the Israelites] took their daughters to be their wives & gave their [Israelite] daughters to their sons [for wives,] & served their gods.

The [people] of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord & [forgot] the Lord their God & served Baalim & the groves. [Deuteronomy 1:2-3 You shall [totally] destroy all the place, [where] the nations [that] you shall possess served their gods: upon the high mountains, hills & under every green tree. And you shall overthrow their altars, break their pillars & burn their groves with fire; And you shall [cut] down the [carved] images of their gods, & destroy the names of them, out of that place.]

Therefore, the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, & He sold [the Israelites] into the hand of [the] king of Mesopotamia, Chushan Rishathaim, & the children [a.k.a. people,] of Israel served Chushan Rishathaim, 8 years.

And when the [people] of Israel cried [out] to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer [for] the [people] of Israel, even Othneil, [Kenaz’] son, [who was] Caleb’s younger brother, who delivered them. The Spirit of the Lord came upon [Othneil] & he judged Israel, & went out to war, & the Lord delivered Cushan Rishathaim, [Mesopotamia's] king, into [Othneil’s hands] & [he] prevailed against Cushan Rishathaim.

The land [of Israel] had rest, [a.k.a. peace,] for 40 years & Othneil died. And the [people] of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, & the Lord strengthened Eglon, [Moab’s] king, against Israel, because [of] the evil they had done in the sight of the Lord.

And [Eglon] gathered the [people] of: Ammon & Amalek & went & [attacked] Israel & [conquered] the City of Palm Trees. So, the [people] of Israel served Eglon, [Moab’s] king, [for] 18 years.

But when the [people] of Israel cried [out] to the Lord, the Lord [God,] raised up a deliverer [for] them, Ehud, [Gera’s] son, a left-handed Benjamite.

And [through Ehud,] the [people] of Israel sent a present to Eglon, [Moab’s] king. But Ehud [had] made [himself] a 2 [sided] dagger, 1 cubit [long;] & he [fastened] it under his [clothing] upon his right thigh.

[Ehud] brought the present [in to] Eglon, the king of Moab, [who] was a very [heavy] man. And when [Ehud finished offering] the present, he sent [out those, who carried] the present.

But [Ehud,] turned himself again, [away] from the quarries that were by Gilgal & said, I have a secret errand [for] you, O king. [The king] said, Keep [silent,] & all [who] stood by him, went out from [the king’s] [parlor.]

And Ehud came [up] to [the king,] & he was sitting down in [the] summer [parlor,] which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God to you & [the king] arose out of his seat. And Ehud [reached out] his left hand & took the dagger from his right thigh & thrust it into [the king’s] belly.

The [handle] also went in after the blade & the [stomach’s] fat closed upon the [dagger's] blade, so that [the king] couldn’t draw the dagger [back] out of his belly; & dirt came out. Then, Ehud went [out] through the porch, & shut the parlor doors [with the king inside] & locked them.

When [Ehud] was gone, [the king’s] servants came. They said, Surely [the king has] covered his feet [& was resting,] in his summer [room,] when they saw that the doors to the [parlor] were locked.

They [waited until] they were ashamed &  [saw,] he [hadn't] opened the parlor doors, therefore, they [got the] key &,[opened [the doors.]  And, [they] [saw,] their [king had] fallen down dead on the [ground.]

And Ehud escaped while they [waited,] & passed beyond the quarries & escaped [into] Seirath. And it [happened,] when [Ehud arrived,] that he blew a trumpet in the Mountain of Ephraim, & the [people] of Israel [followed] him down from the [mountain,] & [Ehud was in front of] them.

[Ehud] said to them, Follow after me, for the Lord has delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hand. And they went down after [Ehud,] & [captured] the fords, [a.k.a. the shallow place that can be walked over,] of [the] Jordan [River] toward Moab & [didn’t allow any] man to [cross] over.

And at that time, they [struck down] about 10,000 [mighty] men of valor of Moab & there [wasn’t] a man [who] escaped. So, Moab was [defeated] that day, under the hand of Israel & the land had rest, [a.k.a. peace,] 80 years. And after [Ehud,] was Shamgar, [Anath’s] son, [who struck down] 600 [Philistine] men with an ox goad, [a.k.a. cattle prod,] & he also delivered Israel.