New American Standard Bible 2020

Judges 3

Idolatry Leads to Servitude

1Now theseוְאֵ֤לֶּהve.'E.lehH428are the nationsהַגּוֹיִם֙ha.go.YimH1471that the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068leftהִנִּ֣יחַhi.Ni.achH5117,to testלְנַסּ֥וֹתle.na.SotH5254Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478by them (that is,allכָּל־kol-H3605the IsraeliteswhoH834had notexperiencedיָדְע֔וּya.de.'UH3045anyכָּל־kol-H3605of the warsמִלְחֲמ֥וֹתmil.cha.MotH4421of Canaanכְּנָֽעַן׃ke.Na.'anH3667;

2onlyH7534inH4616orderH4616thatH4616the generationsדֹּר֣וֹתdo.RotH1755of the sonsבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478mightbe taughtלְלַמְּדָ֖םle.la.me.DamH3925warמִלְחָמָ֑הmil.cha.MahH4421,thoseH7534whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834had notexperiencedH3045it previouslyלְפָנִ֖יםle.fa.NimH6440).

3These nations are:the fiveחֲמֵ֣שֶׁת׀cha.Me.shetH2568governorsסַרְנֵ֣יsar.NeiH5633of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֗יםfe.lish.TimH6430and allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669and the Sidoniansוְהַצִּ֣ידֹנִ֔יve.ha.Tzi.do.NiH6722, andthe Hivitesוְהַ֣חִוִּ֔יve.Ha.chi.ViH2340who livedיֹשֵׁ֖בyo.ShevH3427on Mountהַ֣רharH2022Lebanonהַלְּבָנ֑וֹןha.le.va.NonH3844,from Mountמֵהַר֙me.HarH2022Baal-hermonH1179as farעַ֖ד'adH5704asLebo-hamathלְב֥וֹאle.Vo'H935.

4They were left totestלְנַסּ֥וֹתle.na.SotH5254Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478by them, to findH3045outH3045if they wouldobeyהֲיִשְׁמְעוּ֙ha.yish.me.'UH8085the commandmentsמִצְוֹ֣תmitz.VotH4687of the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834He had commandedצִוָּ֥הtzi.VahH6680their fathersאֲבוֹתָ֖ם'a.vo.TamH1throughבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027Mosesמֹשֶֽׁה׃mo.ShehH4872.

5The sonsוּבְנֵ֣יu.ve.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478livedיָשְׁב֖וּya.she.VuH3427amongבְּקֶ֣רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130the Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑יha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669,the Hittitesהַחִתִּ֤יha.chi.TiH2850,the Amoritesוְהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ve.ha.'e.mo.RiH567,the Perizzitesוְהַפְּרִזִּ֔יve.hap.pe.ri.ZiH6522,the Hivitesוְהַחִוִּ֖יve.ha.chi.ViH2340,and the Jebusitesוְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃ve.hay.vu.SiH2983;

6andthey tookוַיִּקְח֨וּvai.yik.ChuH3947their daughtersבְּנוֹתֵיהֶ֤םbe.no.tei.HemH1323for themselves as wivesלְנָשִׁ֔יםle.na.ShimH802,and gaveנָתְנ֣וּna.te.NuH5414their own daughtersבְּנוֹתֵיהֶ֖םbe.no.tei.HemH1323to their sonsלִבְנֵיהֶ֑םliv.nei.HemH1121,and servedוַיַּעַבְד֖וּvai.ya.'av.DuH5647their godsאֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ פ'e.lo.hei.HemH430.

7So the sonsבְנֵי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֤לYis.ra.'ElH3478didוַיַּעֲשׂ֨וּvai.ya.'a.SuH6213whatH7451wasH7451evilהָרַע֙ha.Ra'H7451in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068, and theyforgotוַֽיִּשְׁכְּח֖וּvai.yish.ke.ChuH7911the Lordיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068their Godאֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֑ם'e.lo.hei.HemH430andservedוַיַּעַבְד֥וּvai.ya.'av.DuH5647the Baalsהַבְּעָלִ֖יםha.be.'a.LimH1168and theAsherothהָאֲשֵׁרֽוֹת׃ha.'a.she.RotH842.

8Then the angerאַ֤ף'afH639of the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068was kindledוַיִּֽחַר־vai.yi.char-H2734against Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,so that He soldוַֽיִּמְכְּרֵ֗םvai.yim.ke.RemH4376them into the handבְּיַד֙be.YadH3027of Cushan-rishathaimH3573,kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428ofMesopotamiaH763;and the sonsבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElH3478servedוַיַּעַבְד֧וּvai.ya.'av.DuH5647Cushan-rishathaimH3573for eightשְׁמֹנֶ֥הshe.mo.NehH8083yearsשָׁנִֽים׃sha.NimH8141.

The First Judge Frees Israel

9But the sonsבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478criedH2199outH2199to the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,and the Lordיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068raisedH6965upH6965a delivererH3467for the sonsלִבְנֵ֥יliv.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478to setH3467them freeH3467,Othnielעָתְנִיאֵ֣ל'a.te.ni.'ElH6274the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Kenazקְנַ֔זke.NazH7073,Caleb’sכָלֵ֖בkha.LevH3612youngerהַקָּטֹ֥ן מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ha.ka.Ton mi.Me.nuH6996 H4480brotherאֲחִ֥י'a.ChiH251.

10Andthe Spiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307of the Lordיְהוָה֮Yah.wehH3068cameוַתְּהִ֨יva.te.HiH1961upon him, and he judgedוַיִּשְׁפֹּ֣טvai.yish.PotH8199Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֒Yis.ra.'ElH3478.When he wentוַיֵּצֵא֙vai.ye.Tze'H3318to warלַמִּלְחָמָ֔הla.mil.cha.MahH4421,the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068handedבְּיָד֔וֹbe.ya.DoH5414 H3027overH5414to him Cushan-rishathaimH3573kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428ofMesopotamiaH763, so thathe prevailedוַתָּ֣עָז יָד֔וֹva.Ta.'oz ya.DoH5810 H3027overH5921Cushan-rishathaimH3573.

11Then the landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776wasH8252atH8252restH8252for fortyאַרְבָּעִ֣ים'ar.ba.'ImH705yearsשָׁנָ֑הsha.NahH8141.And Othnielעָתְנִיאֵ֥ל'a.te.ni.'ElH6274the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Kenazקְנַֽז׃ פke.NazH7073diedוַיָּ֖מָתvai.Ya.motH4191.

12Now the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478againוַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙vai.yo.Si.fuH3254didלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213evilהָרַ֖עha.Ra'H7451in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of the Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068. Sothe Lordיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068strengthenedוַיְחַזֵּ֨קvay.cha.ZekH2388Eglonעֶגְל֤וֹןeg.LonH5700the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Moabמוֹאָב֙mo.'AvH4124againstעַל־'al-H5921Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,becauseעַ֛ל כִּֽי־'al ki-H5921 H3588they had doneעָשׂ֥וּ'a.SuH6213evilהָרַ֖עha.Ra'H7451in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of the Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

13And he gatheredוַיֶּאֱסֹ֣ףvai.ye.'e.SofH622to himself the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Ammonעַמּ֖וֹןa.MonH5983and Amalekוַעֲמָלֵ֑קva.'a.ma.LekH6002;and he wentוַיֵּ֗לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980anddefeatedוַיַּךְ֙vai.yaKhH5221Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and they tookH3423possessionוַיִּֽירְשׁ֖וּvai.yi.re.ShuH3423ofthe cityH5892of the palmH8558treesH8558.

14And the sonsבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478servedוַיַּעַבְד֤וּvai.ya.'av.DuH5647Eglonעֶגְל֣וֹןeg.LonH5700the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124for eighteenשְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה עֶשְׂרֵ֖הshe.mo.Neh 'es.RehH8083 H6240yearsשָׁנָֽה׃ סsha.NahH8141.

Ehud Kills Eglon

15But when the sonsבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֮Yis.ra.'ElH3478criedH2199outH2199to the Lordיְהוָה֒Yah.wehH3068,the Lordיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068raisedH6965upH6965a delivererמוֹשִׁ֗יעַmo.Shi.a'H3467for them, Ehudאֵה֤וּד'e.HudH164the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Geraגֵּרָא֙ge.Ra'H1617,the BenjaminiteH1145,a left-handedאִטֵּ֖ר יְמִינ֑וֹ'i.Ter ye.mi.NoH334 H3225 H3027manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376.And the sonsבְנֵי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֤לYis.ra.'ElH3478sentוַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּvai.yish.le.ChuH7971tributeמִנְחָ֔הmin.ChahH4503byhim to Eglonלְעֶגְל֖וֹןle.'eg.LonH5700the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Moabמוֹאָֽב׃mo.'AvH4124.

16Now Ehudאֵה֜וּד'e.HudH164madeוַיַּעַשׂ֩vai.ya.'AsH6213himself a swordחֶ֗רֶבChe.revH2719which had twoשְׁנֵ֥יshe.NeiH8147edgesH6310,a cubitגֹּ֣מֶדGo.medH1574in lengthאָרְכָּ֑הּ'a.re.KahH753,and he strappedוַיַּחְגֹּ֤רvai.yach.GorH2296it on his rightיְמִינֽוֹ׃ye.mi.NoH3225thighיֶ֥רֶךְYe.rekhH3409underמִתַּ֣חַתmi.Ta.chatH8478his cloakלְמַדָּ֔יוle.ma.DavH4055.

17Then he presentedוַיַּקְרֵב֙vai.yak.RevH7126the tributeהַמִּנְחָ֔הha.min.ChahH4503to Eglonלְעֶגְל֖וֹןle.'eg.LonH5700kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Moabמוֹאָ֑בmo.'AvH4124.Now Eglonוְעֶגְל֕וֹןve.'eg.LonH5700was a veryמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966fatבָּרִ֖יאba.Ri'H1277manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376.

18And it cameH1961aboutH1961,whenH3512he had finishedכִּלָּ֔הki.LahH3615presentingלְהַקְרִ֖יבle.hak.RivH7126the tributeהַמִּנְחָ֑הha.min.ChahH4503, that EhudsentH7971awayוַיְשַׁלַּח֙vay.sha.LachH7971the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971who had carriedנֹשְׂאֵ֖יno.se.'EiH5375the tributeהַמִּנְחָֽה׃ha.min.ChahH4503.

19But he himselfוְה֣וּאve.Hu'H1931turnedH7725backH7725from the idolsהַפְּסִילִים֙ha.pe.si.LimH6456whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834were at Gilgalהַגִּלְגָּ֔לha.gil.GalH1537,and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I have a secretסֵ֥תֶרSe.terH5643messageדְּבַר־de.var-H1697for you, O kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428.” And the kingsaidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Silenceהָ֔סHasH2013!”And allכָּל־kol-H3605who were attendingהָעֹמְדִ֖יםha.'o.me.DimH5975him leftוַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙vai.ye.tze.'UH3318him.

20Then Ehudוְאֵה֣וּד׀ve.'e.HudH164cameבָּ֣אba'H935to him while he was sittingיֹ֠שֵׁבYo.shevH3427in his coolהַמְּקֵרָ֤הha.me.ke.RahH4747roofבַּעֲלִיַּ֨תba.'a.li.YatH5944chamberH5944aloneלְבַדּ֔וֹle.va.DoH905.And Ehudאֵה֔וּד'e.HudH164saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I have a messageדְּבַר־de.var-H1697from Godאֱלֹהִ֥ים'E.lo.HimH430for you.” And he gotH6965upH6965from his seatהַכִּסֵּֽא׃ha.ki.Se'H3678.

21Then Ehudאֵהוּד֙'e.HudH164reachedH7971outH7971with his leftH8040handH8040and tookוַיִּקַּח֙vai.yi.KachH3947the swordהַחֶ֔רֶבha.Che.revH2719from his rightיְמִינ֑וֹye.mi.NoH3225thighיֶ֣רֶךְYe.rekhH3409,and thrustוַיִּתְקָעֶ֖הָvai.yit.ka.'E.haH8628it into his bellyבְּבִטְנֽוֹ׃be.vit.NoH990.

22The hiltהַנִּצָּ֜בha.ni.TzavH5325of the swordalsoגַֽם־gam-H1571wentH935inH935afterאַחַ֣ר'a.CharH310the bladeהַלַּ֗הַבha.La.havH3851,and the fatהַחֵ֙לֶב֙ha.Che.levH2459closedוַיִּסְגֹּ֤רvai.yis.GorH5462overH5704the bladeהַלַּ֔הַבha.La.havH3851becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588he did not pullH8025the swordהַחֶ֖רֶבha.Che.revH2719outH8025of his bellyמִבִּטְנ֑וֹmi.bit.NoH990; andthe refuseהַֽפַּרְשְׁדֹֽנָה׃Ha.par.she.Do.nahH6574cameH3318outH3318.

23Then Ehudאֵה֖וּד'e.HudH164wentH3318outH3318into thevestibuleהַֽמִּסְדְּר֑וֹנָהha.mis.de.Ro.nahH4528,and shutוַיִּסְגֹּ֞רvai.yis.GorH5462the doorsדַּלְת֧וֹתdal.TotH1817of the roofהָעַלִיָּ֛הha.'a.li.YahH5944chamberH5944behindבַּעֲד֖וֹba.'a.DoH1157him, and lockedוְנָעָֽל׃ve.na.'AlH5274them.

24When he had leftיָצָא֙ya.Tza'H3318,the king’s servantsוַעֲבָדָ֣יוva.'a.va.DavH5650cameבָּ֔אוּBa.'uH935and lookedוַיִּרְא֕וּvai.yir.'UH7200,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֛הve.hi.NehH2009,the doorsדַּלְת֥וֹתdal.TotH1817of the roofהָעֲלִיָּ֖הha.'a.li.YahH5944chamberH5944were lockedנְעֻל֑וֹתne.'u.LotH5274;and they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, “Undoubtedlyאַ֣ךְ'akhH389he isrelievingמֵסִ֥יךְ רַגְלָ֖יוme.Sikh rag.LavH5526 H7272himself in the coolהַמְּקֵרָֽה׃ha.me.ke.RahH4747roomבַּחֲדַ֥רba.cha.DarH2315.”

25So they waitedH3176untilעַד־'ad-H5704it would have beenH954shamefulH954to wait longer;but beholdוְהִנֵּ֛הve.hi.NehH2009,he did not openפֹתֵ֖חַfo.Te.achH6605the doorsדַּלְת֣וֹתdal.TotH1817of the roofהָֽעֲלִיָּ֑הha.'a.li.YahH5944chamberH5944.So they tookוַיִּקְח֤וּvai.yik.ChuH3947the keyהַמַּפְתֵּ֙חַ֙ha.maf.Te.achH4668and openedוַיִּפְתָּ֔חוּvai.yif.Ta.chuH6605them,and beholdוְהִנֵּה֙ve.hi.NehH2009,their masterאֲדֹ֣נֵיהֶ֔ם'a.Do.nei.HemH113had fallenנֹפֵ֥לno.FelH5307to thefloorאַ֖רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776deadמֵֽת׃MetH4191.

26Now Ehudוְאֵה֥וּדve.'e.HudH164escapedנִמְלַ֖טnim.LatH4422whileעַ֣ד'adH5704they were hesitatingהִֽתְמַהְמְהָ֑םhit.mah.me.HamH4102,and he passedH5674byH5674the idolsהַפְּסִילִ֔יםha.pe.si.LimH6456and escapedוַיִּמָּלֵ֖טvai.yi.ma.LetH4422to Seirahהַשְּׂעִירָֽתָה׃ha.se.'i.Ra.tahH8167.

27Andwhen he arrivedבְּבוֹא֔וֹbe.vo.'OH935,he blewוַיִּתְקַ֥עvai.yit.Ka'H8628the trumpetבַּשּׁוֹפָ֖רba.sho.FarH7782in the hillבְּהַ֣רbe.HarH2022countryהָהָ֖רha.HarH2022of Ephraimאֶפְרָ֑יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669;and the sonsבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElH3478wentH3381downוַיֵּרְד֨וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381with him from the hillH2022countryH2022, and he wasleadingלִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃lif.nei.HemH6440them.

28Then he saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Pursueרִדְפ֣וּ אַחֲרַ֔יrid.Fu 'a.cha.RaiH7291 H310them,for the Lordיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068has handedבְּיֶדְכֶ֑םbe.yed.KhemH5414 H3027your enemiesH340the Moabitesמוֹאָ֖בmo.'AvH4124overH5414to you.” So they wentH3381downוַיֵּרְד֣וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381afterאַחֲרָ֗יו'a.cha.RavH310him and tookH3920controlH3920ofthe crossingH4569placesH4569of the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּן֙hai.yar.DenH3383opposite Moabלְמוֹאָ֔בle.mo.'AvH4124,and did not allowH5414anyoneאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376to crossלַעֲבֹֽר׃la.'a.VorH5674.

29They struckH5221andH5221killedH5221about tenכַּעֲשֶׂ֤רֶתka.'a.Se.retH6235thousandאֲלָפִים֙'a.la.FimH505Moabitesמוֹאָ֜בmo.'AvH4124at that timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256,allH3605robustשָׁמֵ֖ןsha.MenH8082and valiantחָ֑יִלCha.yilH2428menH376;and noוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808oneH376escapedנִמְלַ֖טnim.LatH4422.

30So Moabמוֹאָב֙mo.'AvH4124was subduedוַתִּכָּנַ֤עva.ti.ka.Na'H3665that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117underתַּ֖חַתTa.chatH8478the handיַ֣דyadH3027of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478.And the landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776wasH8252atH8252restH8252for eightyשְׁמוֹנִ֥יםshe.mo.NimH8084yearsשָׁנָֽה׃ סsha.NahH8141.

Shamgar Saves Israel

31Now afterוְאַחֲרָ֤יוve.'a.cha.RavH310him cameהָיָה֙ha.YahH1961Shamgarשַׁמְגַּ֣רsham.GarH8044the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Anathעֲנָ֔ת'a.NatH6067,who struckH5221andH5221killedH5221sixשֵֽׁשׁ־shesh-H8337hundredמֵא֣וֹתme.'otH3967Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙pe.lish.TimH6430with anoxgoadבְּמַלְמַ֖דbe.mal.MadH4451;and he alsoגַּם־gam-H1571savedוַיֹּ֥שַׁעvai.Yo.sha'H3467Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סYis.ra.'ElH3478.

Idolatry Leads to Servitude

The First Judge Frees Israel

Ehud Kills Eglon

Shamgar Saves Israel

Commentaries on Judges 3