Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The Lord left those nations to test Israel, specifically those who had not known all the wars of Canaan. He allowed them to remain in the land as a challenge for the Israelites, to see if they would obey the commands of the Lord that He had given their ancestors through Moses.

Five lords of the Philistines, along with the Canaanites, Sidonians, and Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon from Mount Baalhermon to the entrance of Hamath, were among the nations left behind. They were meant to test Israel's obedience to God's commands. The children of Israel lived among these nations, intermarrying with them and serving their gods.

The Israelites took their daughters as wives of other men and gave their own daughters in marriage to those sons. In doing so, they served the gods of those men and forgot about the Lord their God. They turned to worship Baal idols under their sacred trees, disobeying the commands of the Lord.

As a result, the anger of the Lord burned fiercely against Israel. He handed them over to King Chushanrishathaim of Mesopotamia, who oppressed them for eight years. The Israelites cried out to the Lord for help, and He raised up Othniel, son of Kenaz, as their deliverer.

The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel, and he went out to war against Chushanrishathaim. The Lord delivered the king into his hand, and Othniel's power prevailed over him. As a result, the land experienced peace for forty years under Othniel's leadership.

However, the Israelites did evil again in God's sight. This time, He empowered King Eglon of Moab against them because they had disobeyed Him. The Israelites served Eglon for eighteen years, but eventually cried out to the Lord for help once more.

He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a Benjamite and left-handed man, to deliver them from Eglon's rule. Ehud made himself a dagger with two edges, which he wore under his clothing on his right thigh. He brought tribute to King Eglon, who was an extremely obese man.

After delivering the tribute, Ehud sent away the men who carried it and approached Eglon alone in his private chamber. Ehud claimed to have a secret message for the king, but only shared it with him after Eglon had arisen from his seat. In that moment, Ehud struck the dagger into the king's belly.

The handle of the dagger went in along with the blade, and the fat closed over it, making it impossible for Ehud to remove it. The servants found their lord lying lifeless on the floor when they entered the inner room, but Ehud had already escaped by then.

He passed beyond the quarries and fled to Seirath, where he blew a trumpet to summon the Israelites from Mount Ephraim. Under his leadership, they went down against the Moabites, taking control of the fords of Jordan. No one was allowed to cross over, and in that battle, about ten thousand strong and capable Moabite warriors were killed.

The victory led to peace for Israel's land under their authority, lasting for eighty years. After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath emerged as a hero who struck down six hundred Philistines with an ox goad. He also delivered Israel from their oppressors.