7 The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord , and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth .
8 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel , so that He sold them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia ; and the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years . 9 When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord , the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to deliver them, Othniel the son of Kenaz , Caleb's younger brother . 10 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel . When he went out to war , the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand , so that he prevailed e over Cushan-rishathaim . 11 Then the land had rest forty years . And Othniel the son of Kenaz died .
12 Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord . So the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel , because e they had done evil in the sight of the Lord . 13 And he gathered to himself the sons of Ammon and Amalek ; and he went and defeated Israel , and they possessed the city of the palm trees . 14 The sons of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen e years . 15 But when the sons of Israel cried to the Lord , the Lord raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud the son of Gera , the Benjamite , a left-handed e e man . And the sons of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab . 16 Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges , a cubit in length , and he bound it on his right thigh under his cloak . 17 He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab . Now Eglon was a very fat man . 18 It came about when he had finished presenting the tribute , that he sent away the people who had carried the tribute . 19 But he himself turned back from the idols which were at Gilgal , and said , "I have a secret message for you, O king ." And he said , "Keep silence ." And all who attended him left him. 20 Ehud came to him while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber . And Ehud said , "I have a message from God for you." And he arose from his seat . 21 Ehud stretched out his left hand , took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly . 22 The handle also went in after the blade , and the fat closed over the blade , for he did not draw the sword out of his belly ; and the refuse came out. 23 Then Ehud went out into the vestibule and shut the doors of the roof chamber behind him, and locked them. 24 When he had gone out, his servants came and looked , and behold , the doors of the roof chamber were locked ; and they said , " He is only relieving e himself in the cool room ." 25 They waited until they became anxious ; but behold , he did not open the doors of the roof chamber . Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold , their master had fallen to the floor dead . 26 Now Ehud escaped while they were delaying , and he passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah . 27 It came about when he had arrived , that he blew the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim ; and the sons of Israel went down with him from the hill country , and he was in front of them. 28 He said to them, "Pursue them, for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hands ." So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan opposite Moab , and did not allow anyone to cross . 29 They struck down at that time about ten thousand Moabites , all robust and valiant men ; and no one escaped . 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel . And the land was undisturbed for eighty years .
31 After him came Shamgar the son of Anath , who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad ; and he also saved Israel .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 3:7-31
Commentary on Judges 3:1-7
(Read Judges 3:1-7)
As the Israelites were a type of the church on earth, they were not to be idle and slothful. The Lord was pleased to try them by the remains of the devoted nations they spared. Temptations and trials detect the wickedness of the hearts of sinners; and strengthen he graces of believers in their daily conflict with Satan, sin, and this evil world. They must live in this world, but they are not of it, and are forbidden to conform to it. This marks the difference between the followers of Christ and mere professors. The friendship of the world is more fatal than its enmity; the latter can only kill the body, but the former murders many precious souls.
Commentary on Judges 3:8-11
(Read Judges 3:8-11)
The first judge was Othniel: even in Joshua's time Othniel began to be famous. Soon after Israel's settlement in Canaan their purity began to be corrupted, and their peace disturbed. But affliction makes those cry to God who before would scarcely speak to him. God returned in mercy to them for their deliverance. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel. The Spirit of wisdom and courage to qualify him for the service, and the Spirit of power to excite him to it. He first judged Israel, reproved and reformed them, and then went to war. Let sin at home be conquered, that worst of enemies, then enemies abroad will be more easily dealt with. Thus let Christ be our Judge and Lawgiver, then he will save us.
Commentary on Judges 3:12-30
(Read Judges 3:12-30)
When Israel sins again, God raises up a new oppressor. The Israelites did ill, and the Moabites did worse; yet because God punishes the sins of his own people in this world, Israel is weakened, and Moab strengthened against them. If lesser troubles do not do the work, God will send greater. When Israel prays again, God raises up Ehud. As a judge, or minister of Divine justice, Ehud put to death Eglon, the king of Moab, and thus executed the judgments of God upon him as an enemy to God and Israel. But the law of being subject to principalities and powers in all things lawful, is the rule of our conduct. No such commissions are now given; to pretend to them is to blaspheme God. Notice Ehud's address to Eglon. What message from God but a message of vengeance can a proud rebel expect? Such a message is contained in the word of God; his ministers are boldly to declare it, without fearing the frown, or respecting the persons of sinners. But, blessed be God, they have to deliver a message of mercy and of free salvation; the message of vengeance belongs only to those who neglect the offers of grace. The consequence of this victory was, that the land had rest eighty years. It was a great while for the land to rest; yet what is that to the saints' everlasting rest in the heavenly Canaan.
Commentary on Judges 3:31
(Read Judges 3:31)
The side of the country which lay south-west, was infested by the Philistines. God raised up Shamgar to deliver them; having neither sword nor spear, he took an ox-goad, the instrument next at hand. God can make those serviceable to his glory and to his church's good, whose birth, education, and employment, are mean and obscure. It is no matter what the weapon is, if God directs and strengthens the arm. Often he works by unlikely means, that the excellency of the power may appear to be of God.