Judges 3

 

וְאֵלֶּה הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר הִנִּיחַ יְהוָה לְנַסּוֹת בָּם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָדְעוּ אֵת כָּל־מִלְחֲמוֹת   3:1

 כְּנָעַן׃

Judg. 3:1   Now these are the nations that the Lord let alone to prove Israel by them, all that did not know any of the wars of Canaan,

רַק לְמַעַן דַּעַת דֹּרוֹת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְלַמְּדָם מִלְחָמָה רַק אֲשֶׁר־לְפָנִים לֹא יְדָעוּם׃   3:2

Judg. 3:2   so that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them of war, only who beforehand did not know them:

חֲמֵשֶׁת סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וְכָל־הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַצִּידֹנִי וְהַחִוִּי יֹשֵׁב הַר הַלְּבָנוֹן מֵהַר בַּעַל חֶרְמוֹן עַד לְבוֹא   3:3

חֲמָת׃

Judg. 3:3   Five of the lords of the Philistines, and all of the Canaanites, and the Zidonians, and the Hivite dwellers of the hill country of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon as far as the entrance of Hamath.

וַיִּהְיוּ לְנַסּוֹת בָּם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל לָדַעַת הֲיִשְׁמְעוּ אֶת־מִצְוֺת יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתָם בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁה׃   3:4

Judg. 3:4   And they were to prove Israel by them to show if they would obey the commandments of the Lord which He commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יָשְׁבוּ בְּקֶרֶב הַכְּנַעֲנִי הַחִתִּי וְהָאֱמֹרִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי וְהַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי׃   3:5

Judg. 3:5   And the children of Israel dwelled in the midst of the Canaanite, the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.

וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת־בְּנוֹתֵיהֶם לָהֶם לְנָשִׁים וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֵיהֶם נָתְנוּ לִבְנֵיהֶם וַיַּעַבְדוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶם׃   3:6

Judg. 3:6   And they took their daughters for themselves for wives, and they gave their daughters to their sons, and they served their gods.

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה וַיִּשְׁכְּחוּ אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וַיַּעַבְדוּ אֶת־הַבְּעָלִים וְאֶת־   3:7

הָאֲשֵׁרוֹת׃

Judg. 3:7   And the children of Israel did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord and they forgot the Lord, their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth.

וַיִּחַר־אַף יְהוָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּמְכְּרֵם בְּיַד כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַיִם מֶלֶךְ אֲרַם נַהֲרָיִם וַיַּעַבְדוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־   3:8

כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַיִם שְׁמֹנֶה שָׁנִים׃

Judg. 3:8   So the “anger” of the Lord was kindled against Israel and He gave them over into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram-niharaim, and the children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.

וַיִּזְעֲקוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהוָה וַיָּקֶם יְהוָה מוֹשִׁיעַ לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיּוֹשִׁיעֵם אֵת עָתְנִיאֵל בֶּן־קְנַז אֲחִי   3:9

כָלֵב הַקָּטֹן מִמֶּנּוּ׃

Judg. 3:9   And the children of Israel cried to the Lord and the Lord raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, and he saved them, namely Othniel son of Kenaz, brother of Caleb, younger than him.

וַתְּהִי עָלָיו רוּחַ־יְהוָה וַיִּשְׁפֹּט אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּצֵא לַמִּלְחָמָה וַיִּתֵּן יְהוָה בְּיָדוֹ אֶת־כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַיִם מֶלֶךְ   3:10

אֲרָם וַתָּעָז יָדוֹ עַל כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתָיִם׃

Judg. 3:10   And the spirit of the Lord was on him and he judged Israel, and he went out to war, and the Lord delivered into his hand Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram, and his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.

וַתִּשְׁקֹט הָאָרֶץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה וַיָּמָת עָתְנִיאֵל בֶּן־קְנַז׃   3:11

Judg. 3:11   And the land had rest forty years, and Othniel son of Kenaz died.

וַיֹּסִפוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה וַיְחַזֵּק יְהוָה אֶת־עֶגְלוֹן מֶלֶךְ־מוֹאָב עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל כִּי־   3:12

עָשׂוּ אֶת־הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה׃

Judg. 3:12   And the children of Israel proceeded to do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, and the Lord strengthened Eglon, king of Moab, against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

וַיֶּאֱסֹף אֵלָיו אֶת־בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן וַעֲמָלֵק וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיַּךְ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּירְשׁוּ אֶת־עִיר הַתְּמָרִים׃   3:13

Judg. 3:13   And he gathered to himself the children of Ammon and of Amalek and he went and smote Israel, and they possessed the city of palm trees.

וַיַּעַבְדוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־עֶגְלוֹן מֶלֶךְ־מוֹאָב שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה׃   3:14

Judg. 3:14   And the children of Israel served Eglon, king of Moab, eighteen years.

וַיִּזְעֲקוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהוָה וַיָּקֶם יְהוָה לָהֶם מוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת־אֵהוּד בֶּן־גֵּרָא בֶּן־הַיְמִינִי אִישׁ אִטֵּר יַד־   3:15

יְמִינוֹ וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיָדוֹ מִנְחָה לְעֶגְלוֹן מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב׃

Judg. 3:15   And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, son of a Benjamite, a right-hand-impaired man, left handed, and the children of Israel sent by his hand an offering of a gift to Eglon, king of Moab.

וַיַּעַשׂ לוֹ אֵהוּד חֶרֶב וְלָהּ שְׁנֵי פֵיוֹת גֹּמֶד אָרְכָּהּ וַיַּחְגֹּר אוֹתָהּ מִתַּחַת לְמַדָּיו עַל יֶרֶךְ יְמִינוֹ׃   3:16

Judg. 3:16   And Ehud made himself a sword, and two edges were to it, a cubit in length, and he girded it under his raiment on the thigh of his right.

וַיַּקְרֵב אֶת־הַמִּנְחָה לְעֶגְלוֹן מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב וְעֶגְלוֹן אִישׁ בָּרִיא מְאֹד׃   3:17

Judg. 3:17   And he offered the gift to Eglon, king of Moab -- now Eglon was a very fat man.

וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלָּה לְהַקְרִיב אֶת־הַמִּנְחָה וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת־הָעָם נֹשְׂאֵי הַמִּנְחָה׃   3:18

Judg. 3:18   And he was about making an end to offering the gift, and he sent away the people, bearers of the gift.

וְהוּא שָׁב מִן־הַפְּסִילִים אֲשֶׁר אֶת־הַגִּלְגָּל וַיֹּאמֶר דְּבַר־סֵתֶר לִי אֵלֶיךָ הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר הָס וַיֵּצְאוּ   3:19

מֵעָלָיו כָּל־הָעֹמְדִים עָלָיו׃

Judg. 3:19   But he returned from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and he said, “I have a secret word to you, O king.”  And he said, “Keep still!”  And all standing by him went out from him.

וְאֵהוּד בָּא אֵלָיו וְהוּא־יֹשֵׁב בַּעֲלִיַּת הַמְּקֵרָה אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ לְבַדּוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵהוּד דְּבַר־אֱלֹהִים לִי אֵלֶיךָ   3:20

וַיָּקָם מֵעַל הַכִּסֵּא׃

Judg. 3:20   And Ehud came in to him, and he sat in the cooling upper chamber that was for him by himself.  And Ehud said, “I have a message of God to you.”  And he rose from off the seat.

וַיִּשְׁלַח אֵהוּד אֶת־יַד שְׂמֹאלוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת־הַחֶרֶב מֵעַל יֶרֶךְ יְמִינוֹ וַיִּתְקָעֶהָ בְּבִטְנוֹ׃   3:21

Judg. 3:21   And Ehud put forth his left hand and took the sword from off his right thigh and thrust it into his belly.

וַיָּבֹא גַם־הַנִּצָּב אַחַר הַלַּהַב וַיִּסְגֹּר הַחֵלֶב בְּעַד הַלַּהַב כִּי לֹא שָׁלַף הַחֶרֶב מִבִּטְנוֹ וַיֵּצֵא הַפַּרְשְׁדֹנָה׃   3:22

Judg. 3:22   And the haft behind the blade also went in and the fat closed in over the blade, for he did not withdraw the sword from his belly and it came out the rear.

וַיֵּצֵא אֵהוּד הַמִּסְדְּרוֹנָה וַיִּסְגֹּר דַּלְתוֹת הָעַלִיָּה בַּעֲדוֹ וְנָעָל׃   3:23

Judg. 3:23   Then Ehud went out to the porch and shut and locked the doors of the upper chamber in on him.

וְהוּא יָצָא וַעֲבָדָיו בָּאוּ וַיִּרְאוּ וְהִנֵּה דַּלְתוֹת הָעֲלִיָּה נְעֻלוֹת וַיֹּאמְרוּ אַךְ מֵסִיךְ הוּא אֶת־רַגְלָיו   3:24

בַּחֲדַר הַמְּקֵרָה׃

Judg. 3:24   Now he was gone and his servants came and they looked, and behold, the doors of the upper chamber were closed, and they said, “Surely he has covered his feet in the cooling chamber.”

וַיָּחִילוּ עַד־בּוֹשׁ וְהִנֵּה אֵינֶנּוּ פֹתֵחַ דַּלְתוֹת הָעֲלִיָּה וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת־הַמַּפְתֵּחַ וַיִּפְתָּחוּ וְהִנֵּה אֲדֹנֵיהֶם נֹפֵל   3:25

אַרְצָה מֵת׃

Judg. 3:25   And they tarried until they were ashamed, yet behold, the doors of the upper chamber were not opened, so they took the key and opened, and behold, their lord was fallen to the ground dead.

וְאֵהוּד נִמְלַט עַד הִתְמַהְמְהָם וְהוּא עָבַר אֶת־הַפְּסִילִים וַיִּמָּלֵט הַשְּׂעִירָתָה׃   3:26

Judg. 3:26   And Ehud escaped during their lingering, and he had passed the quarries and escaped to Seirah.

וַיְהִי בְּבוֹאוֹ וַיִּתְקַע בַּשּׁוֹפָר בְּהַר אֶפְרָיִם וַיֵּרְדוּ עִמּוֹ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן־הָהָר וְהוּא לִפְנֵיהֶם׃   3:27

Judg. 3:27   And it was with his coming that he blew on a horn in the hill country of Ephraim, and the children of Israel from the hill country went down with him, and he was before them.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם רִדְפוּ אַחֲרַי כִּי־נָתַן יְהוָה אֶת־אֹיְבֵיכֶם אֶת־מוֹאָב בְּיֶדְכֶם וַיֵּרְדוּ אַחֲרָיו וַיִּלְכְּדוּ   3:28

אֶת־מַעְבְּרוֹת הַיַּרְדֵּן לְמוֹאָב וְלֹא־נָתְנוּ אִישׁ לַעֲבֹר׃

Judg. 3:28   And he said to them, “Follow after me, for the Lord has delivered your enemies, Moab, into your hands.”  And they went down after him, and they seized the fords of the Jordan to Moab and did not permit a man to cross.

וַיַּכּוּ אֶת־מוֹאָב בָּעֵת הַהִיא כַּעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ כָּל־שָׁמֵן וְכָל־אִישׁ חָיִל וְלֹא נִמְלַט אִישׁ׃   3:29

Judg. 3:29   And they smote Moab at that time, about ten thousand men, all lusty, and every man of valor.  And no man escaped.

וַתִּכָּנַע מוֹאָב בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא תַּחַת יַד יִשְׂרָאֵל וַתִּשְׁקֹט הָאָרֶץ שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה׃   3:30

Judg. 3:30   So Moab was vanquished on that day beneath the hand of Israel, and the land had rest eighty years.

וְאַחֲרָיו הָיָה שַׁמְגַּר בֶּן־עֲנָת וַיַּךְ אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּים שֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹת אִישׁ בְּמַלְמַד הַבָּקָר וַיֹּשַׁע גַּם־הוּא אֶת־   3:31

יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

Judg. 3:31   Then Shamgar son of Anath was after him, and he smote the Philistines, six hundred men, with the goad of an ox, and he also saved Israel.

Well, this understated verse says a lot about Shamgar.  He was quite a warrior, to say the least.

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