Judges 3

Judges 3:1

3:1-4 The nations that were left as a trial to Israel are listed in verse 3: five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mt. Lebanon. Now the first cycle begins: sin (vv. 5-7); servitude (v. 8); supplication (v. 9a); salvation (vv. 9b-11). 3:5, 6 Six of the seven pagan nations among whom the Israelites lived are given. To the nations listed in verse 3, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites are added here.The seventh was the Girgashites (Jos_3:10; Jos_24:11). Dr. Cohen pinpoints the beginning of each downward cycle concisely: The Israelites ignored the warning of Moses (Deu_7:3f.) and intermarried with the natives, the consequence being the adoption of their seductive cults.

Judges 3:7

II. THE TIMES OF THE JUDGES (3:716:31)A. Othniel (3:7-11)3:7, 8 The people did evil in the sight of the Lord by marrying the heathen and then worshiping their idols. Impurity and immorality (v. 6) lead to idolatry (v. 7). God had warned them earlier of the grave consequences of mingling with the inhabitants of Canaan. They were a holy people and must remain separate from defilement if they would know the blessing of God (Deu_7:3-6). God punished Israel by delivering the nation into the hand of Chushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, for eight years. His name means Cush, man of double wickedness. 3:9-11 In response to the penitent cry of His people, the LORD then raised up . . . Othniel, a nephew of Caleb, to deliver them from their enemy and to usher in forty years of peace. Othniel (lion of God) had previously taken Kirjath Sepher (city of the book), turning it into Debir (a living oracle). This is what faith does with God’s Word.

Judges 3:12

B. Ehud (3:12-30)3:12-14 In the second cycle, Israel was subjugated by Eglon, the king of Moab, for eighteen years. 3:15-30 The military leader whom God gave to Israel at this time was Ehud, . . . a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. He was commissioned by the people to take a gift as tribute to King Eglon. He also hid a double-edged . . . dagger . . . under his clothes. After the gift had been delivered, the king probably felt at ease concerning the attitude of his Jewish subjects. Then Ehud asked for a private audience to discuss a secret message. When all the attendants had been sent away, Ehud assassinated the king and fled. By the time the deed was discovered, Ehud had assembled the men of Israel, marched against Moab, and killed about ten thousand retreating soldiers. Israel then enjoyed rest for eighty years. When meditation (Gera, v. 15) gives birth to praise (Ehud), the world ruler (Eglon), is doomed by the sharp, two-edged sword (the Bible), even when the Word is used by a left-handed man. Othniel was from Judah, the mightiest tribe in Israel. Ehud was from Benjamin, now the smallest tribe. God can use the great or the small to gain the victory, since the power is from Him anyway. Men are simply the agents of deliverance, not the originators of it.

Judges 3:31

C. Shamgar (3:31)3:31 Only one verse is devoted to this judge. He slew six hundred men of the Philistines with an oxgoad (a sharp, pointed instrument used to prod oxen). This is another of the instances in Judges where God used a “weak thing” to accomplish a mighty victory. A pilgrim (Shamgar) wielding the Word of God (oxgoadsee Ecc_12:11) can put to rout wanderers (Philistines) among God’s people.

CHART OF THE JUDGES-63OppressorMeaning or TypeYears of OppressionDelivererMeaningYears of RestRef-63Chushan-Rishathaim King of MesopotamiaCushman of double wickedness Self-exaltation, pride8OthnielLion of God (The power of God)403:7-11-63Eglon King of MoabCircle Worldly profession18EhudMajesty803:12-30-63PhilistinesWanderers among God’s people or carnal religionShamgarStranger or pilgrim3:31-63Jabin

King of Hazor in Canaan Commander-in-Chief SiseraUnderstanding or human intellect Settlement

Battle array Meaning unknown20Deborah

BarakHoneybee

Lightning404:15:31-63MidianitesContention, strife, the world7Gideon (Jerub-baal)

Abimelech a Usurper Tola JairThe cutter down Let Baal plead for himself or Baal-fighter My father was king A worm Light-giver40

3

23 226:18:35

9:1-57

10:1, 2 10:3-5-63AmmonitesRationalism or false doctrine18Jephthah

Ibzan

Elon

AbdonHe will open

Meaning uncertain Meaning uncertain Service6

7

10

810:612:7

12:8-15-63PhilistinesCarnal religion40SamsonLittle sun2013:116:31