| 1 Now these are the nations which Jehovah left, to prove Israel by
them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
2 only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach
them war, at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof:
3 namely, the five lords of the Philistines, and all the
Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon,
from mount Baal-hermon unto the entrance of Hamath. 4 And they were
left, to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken
unto the commandments of Jehovah, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.
5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and
the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites:
6 and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own
daughters to their sons and served their gods.
7 And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of
Jehovah, and forgat Jehovah their God, and served the Baalim and the
Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and
he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the
children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 And when the
children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised up a saviour to the
children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's
younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he judged
Israel; and he went out to war, and Jehovah delivered Cushan-rishathaim king
of Mesopotamia into his hand: and his hand prevailed against
Cushan-rishathaim. 11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the
son of Kenaz died.
12 And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight
of Jehovah: and Jehovah strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel,
because they had done that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. 13 And
he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and smote
Israel, and they possessed the city of palm-trees. 14 And the children of
Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
15 But when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised them
up a saviour, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed. And the
children of Israel sent tribute by him unto Eglon the king of Moab. 16 And
Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he girded
it under his raiment upon his right thigh. 17 And he offered the tribute
unto Eglon king of Moab: now Eglon was a very fat man. 18 And when he had
made an end of offering the tribute, he sent away the people that bare the
tribute. 19 But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by
Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king. And he said, Keep
silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. 20 And Ehud came
unto him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. And
Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right
thigh, and thrust it into his body: 22 and the haft also went in after the
blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, for he drew not the sword out of
his body; and it came out behind. 23 Then Ehud went forth into the porch,
and shut the doors of the upper room upon him, and locked them.
24 Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and, behold,
the doors of the upper room were locked; and they said, Surely he is covering
his feet in the upper chamber. 25 And they tarried till they were ashamed;
and, behold, he opened not the doors of the upper room: therefore they took
the key, and opened them, and, behold, their lord was fallen down
dead on the earth.
26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries,
and escaped unto Seirah. 27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he
blew a trumpet in the hill-country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel
went down with him from the hill-country, and he before them. 28 And he
said unto them, Follow after me; for Jehovah hath delivered your enemies the
Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of
the Jordan against the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over.
29 And they smote of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, every lusty
man, and every man of valor; and there escaped not a man. 30 So Moab was
subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore
years.
31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who smote of the
Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad: and he also saved Israel.
Genesis - Public
Domain
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