aThe sentence structure of vv. 1–2 is uncertain. These are the nations that GOD left in order to test the Israelites who had not known any of the wars of Canaan,
Word-by-Word Analysis
ואלה
42
הגוים
64
אשר
501
הניח
73
יהוה
26
לנסות
546
בם
42
אתישראל
942
את
401
כלאשר
551
לאידעו
121
את
401
כלמלחמות
574
כנען
190
Judges 3:2
Gematria: 3616
רקלמעןדעתדרותבניישראלללמדםמלחמהרקאשרלפניםלאידעום
so that succeeding generations of Israelites might be made to experience war—but only those who had not known the former wars:bformer wars Lit. “them formerly.”
the five principalitiescprincipalities Lit. “lords.” of the Philistines and all the Canaanites, Sidonians, and Hivites who inhabited the hill country of the Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.dLebo-hamath See note at Num. 13.21.
The Israelites did what was offensive to GOD; they ignored the ETERNAL their God and worshiped the Baalim and the Asheroth.eBaalim…Asheroth I.e., the Canaanite god Baal and goddess Asherah, in various manifestations.
GOD became incensed at Israel and surrendered them to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim; and the Israelites were subject to Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.
The Israelites cried out to GOD, and GOD raised a champion for the Israelites to deliver them: Othniel the Kenizzite, a younger kinsmanfkinsman Or “brother.” of Caleb.
The spirit of GOD descended upon him and he became Israel’s chieftain. He went out to war, and GOD delivered King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram into his hands. He prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim,
Word-by-Word Analysis
ותהי
421
עליו
116
רוחיהוה
240
וישפט
405
אתישראל
942
ויצא
107
למלחמה
153
ויתן
466
יהוה
26
בידו
22
אתכושן
777
רשעתים
1020
מלך
90
ארם
241
ותעז
483
ידו
20
על
100
כושן
376
רשעתים
1020
Judges 3:11
Gematria: 3095
ותשקטהארץארבעיםשנהוימתעתניאלבןקנזפ
and the land had peace for forty years.When Othniel the Kenizzite died,
Then the Israelites cried out to GOD, and GOD raised up a champion for them: the Benjaminite Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man. It happened that the Israelites sent tribute to King Eglon of Moab through him.
But he himself returned from Pesilim, near Gilgal, and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.” [Eglon] thereupon commanded, “Silence!” So all those in attendance left his presence;
and when Ehud approached him, he was sitting alone in his cool upper chamber. Ehud said, “I have a message for you from God”; whereupon he rose from his seat.
The fat closed over the blade and the hilt went in after the blade—for he did not pull the dagger out of his belly—and the filthhfilth Meaning of Heb. uncertain. came out.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויבא
19
גםהנצב
190
אחר
209
הלהב
42
ויסגר
279
החלב
45
בעד
76
הלהב
42
כי
30
לא
31
שלף
410
החרב
215
מבטנו
107
ויצא
107
הפרשדנה
644
Judges 3:23
Gematria: 1970
ויצאאהודהמסדרונהויסגרדלתותהעליהבעדוונעל
Stepping out into the vestibule,ivestibule Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Ehud shut the doors of the upper chamber on him and locked them.
After he left, the courtiers returned. When they saw that the doors of the upper chamber were locked, they thought, “He must be relieving himself in the cool chamber.”
They waited a long time; and when he did not open the doors of the chamber, they took the key and opened them—and there their master was lying dead on the floor!
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויחילו
70
עדבוש
382
והנה
66
איננו
117
פתח
488
דלתות
840
העליה
120
ויקחו
130
אתהמפתח
934
ויפתחו
510
והנה
66
אדניהם
110
נפל
160
ארצה
296
מת
440
Judges 3:26
Gematria: 2771
ואהודנמלטעדהתמהמהםוהואעבראתהפסיליםוימלטהשעירתה
But Ehud had made good his escape while they delayed; he had passed Pesilim and escaped to Seirah.
When he got there, he had the ram’s horn sounded through the hill country of Ephraim, and all the Israelites descended with him from the hill country; and he took the lead.
“Follow me closely,” he said, “for GOD has delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hands.” They followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites; they let no one cross.
After him came Shamgar son of Anath,json of Anath Or “the Beth-anathite.” who slew six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too was a champion of Israel.