Judges 3

A catalogue of heathen people which God left in Canaan to prove Israel verse 1&c. Israel falling off from God is delivered up into the hand of the king of Mesopotamia 5 from whose tyranny is being delivered by Othiniel they relapse into former wickedness an dare punished and oppressed by Eglon king of the Moabites 9 from whom God delivereth by Judge Ebud 15 as also afterward from the Philistine by Judges Samgar 31.

1. Now these are the heathen which the Lord least remaining to teach Israel by them [see above chapter 2 verse 22] these [viz. Israelites] that knew not of all the wars of Canaan [that is which before in Joshua’s life time where come against the Canaanites.]

2. Only that the generations [that is the posterity] of the children of Israel might know them [viz. the wars of Canaan whereof is spoken in the following verse]that he [viz. the Lord]might teach them the war [who not only commanded these wars against the Canaanites but likewise had promised his divine conduct assistance and victory viz. if they should steadfastly cleave and adhere unto him but no contrary if they should forsake him in which they should experience in the manifold and grievous miseries which those wars do produce] at the lest of those that before knew nothing thereof.

3. The princes of the Philistines [see Joshua 13:3 and below chapter 16.5 or rulers governors commanders others governments Lordship ruling offices [and all the Canaanites and Sidonians and the Heavites dwelling in the mountain of Libanon [lying on the northern borders of Canaan very famous and often mentioned in the holy scripture] from the mountain Baal Hermon [situate on east end of the mount Libanon northwards from Basan see 1 Chronicles 5:23 mount Hermon was in the west end of Libanon by Zida see Deuteronomy 3:9 and 4.48] until where they come to Hamath[situate on the northern border of Canaan]

4. These then were to tempt Israel by them [as above chapter 2.22] that it might be known [that is it might be manifest or made to appear see Deuteronomy 8 on verse 2] whether they would hearken to the commandments of the LORD which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses [that is ministry of Moses.]

5. Now when the children of Israel dwealt in the midst of the Canaanites of the Heathites and of the Amorites and of the Perezites and of the Heavites and of the Jebusites.

6. Then they took their daughters to wives and gave their daughters unto their sons and they served their gods.

7. And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord and they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baalims and the Groves [understand consecrated idolatrous woods and trees which were planted and ordained for the honor of the heathenish idols or the groove gods so called because they were worshipped in thick dark groove and under goodly high trees after the heathen manner.]

8. Then the anger of the Lord kindled against Israel and he sold them into the hand of Cuscham rischataim[see above chapter 2 on verse 14] king of Mesopotamia [Heb. Aram Kaharaim that is Syria of the two rivers so is Mesopotamia called in the Greek for the same cause or reason see Genesis on verse 10 below verse 10 it is only called that is Syria of the two rivers so is Mesopotamia called in Greek for the same cause or reason see Genesis 24 on verse 10is called Aram that is Syria] the children of Israel served Cuschan Rischataim eight years.

9. So the children f Israel cried unto the Lord and the Lord raised up to the children of Israel deliverer who deliverer them Otheniel the son of Kenaz [see above chapter 2 on verse 16] the brother of Caleb who was younger that he.

10. And the spirit of the Lord [understand the spirit of the of the fortitude courage wisdom government &c. working and producing in him that which was needful for theexecuting of this calling compare below chapter 6 on verse 34 and 11.29] was upon him and he judged Israel [see above chapter 2 on verse 16] and went forth to battle and the Lord delivered Cuschan Rischataim the King of Syria [Heb. Aram see on verse 8] into his hand so that his hand waxed strong against Cuschan Rishacim [that is he grew too strong for this king he over powered him.]

11. Then was the land quiet then Othiniel the son of Kenaz died.

12. But the children of Israel went on to do that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord then the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of the Moabites against Israel [that is he gave him power and victory against Israel for the punishment of their sins] because they did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

13. And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and the Amalekites and he went forth and smote Israel and they took the palm city [that is Jericho see Deuteronomy 34:3 and above chapter 1 on verse 16] a possession.

14. And the children of Israel serve Eglon the king of the Moabites eighteen years.

15. Then the children of Israel cried unto the Lord then the Lord raised them up and delivered Ehud the son of Gera the son of Jemini [that is a Benjamite as below chapter 19.16] a man that was left handed or whose right hand was shut or locked up on or of his right hand compare below chapter 20.16 it is remarkable that it is pleased God to deliver these people by this man who in the judgment of man might seem to be most unfit for the business see below verse 31] and the children of Israel sent by his hand a present unto Eglon king of the Moabites.

16. And Ebud made him a sword which had two edges [Heb. that hath two mouths that is it cut on both sides or was two edged or two ways cutting] the length whereof was an ell or cubit and he girded it under his garments on his right hip.

17. And he brought that present unto Eglon the king of the Moabites now Eglon was a very fat man.

18. And it came to pass when he had made an end of the delivering that present then he conducted [otherwise dismissed] the people which carried that present.

19. But he himself turned again from the carved images that were by Gilgal [or hewen Graven &c. these might be reared up by the idolatrous Israelites or the Moabites at or by Gilgal because Israel at their first entrance into Canaan were there circumcised in which respect the same was accounted an holy place otherwise of the quarries of the place out of which the stones were hewen and digged applying this to the stones that were erected by Joshua at the command of God for a memorial of their miraculous passage through Jordan Joshua 4:20] and said I have secret thing or errand unto thee O king who said keep silence [viz. until the standers by be gone forth] and al that stood about him went forth from him.

20. And Ehud came in unto him, where he was sitting in a cool upper room (or parlour), [Heb. an upper room of cooling; i.e. a summer- parlour, serving to cool a man against the heat of the summer] which he had for himself alone; [Oth. he now sat in a cool upper-parlour, which was for him, or, which he had:] and Ehud said; I have a word of God unto thee: then he rose up from the seat.[Although he (being an Idolater) esteemed his Idols more then he did the God of Israel, yet notwithstanding he would shew his reverence and respect unto his word, or Ambassadour]

21. Then Ehud stretched forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right hip, and thrust it into his belly.

22. That even the hilt entred in after the blade, and the fat closed about the blade, (for he did not pull the sword out of his belly) [As being not able, for the reason mentioned in the fore-going words] and the dirt (or excrements) came out. [Otherwise, it came out of the fundament, viz the blade or the sword]

23. Then Ehud went forth toward the porch, and shut the door of the upper-parlour close before himself, [Oth. before, or, upon him, viz. King Eglon] and put (it) into the lock. [or, bolted it.]

24. When he was gone forth, his [viz. Eglons] servants came, and looked, and behold, the doors of the upper parlour were put into the lock: and they said; certainly, he covereth his feet in the cooling-chamber. [thus the going to stool, or easing of nature, is exprest in modest terms, in Scripture, because in sitting down, or bending the body, they covered their upper garment, 1 Sam.24.4.]

25. Now when they had tarried till they were ashamed, behold, he [viz. Eglon] opened not the parlour; then they took the key, and opened (it), and behold, their Lord lay dead on the ground. [or, was fallen dead on the ground. [Or, was fallen dead on the ground. Then Hebrew word indeed for the most part signifieth, to fall, but it is also in many places translated to lie down. See Deut.21.v.1. Below chap.4.22. and 5.27. And 7.12. 1 Sam.31.8.]

26. And Ehud escaped, while they [viz. the servants of the dead King] tarried: for he passed by the carved images, [see above on ver.19.] and escaped unto Sehirath. [Understand not the mountains of Seir, or of the Edomites, but a place lying at, or upon mount Ephraim, as may be gathered from the following verse]

27. And it came to pass when he was come, that he blew with the trumpet [i.e. caused to blow chapter 6.34, &c.] on mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he himself before their face.

28. And he said unto them, follow after me, [Or, pursue after, follow behind me] for the LORD hath delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hand: and they went down after him, and took the ferries of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered no man to pass over.

29. And they smote (of) the Moabites at that times, about ten thousand men, all sat [i.e. corpulent, strong, well-set, the ablest and fittest men for battle, or rich, ones] and all warlike men, so that not a man escaped.

30. So Moab was that day subdued under the hand of Israel: and the land was quiet for some years.

31. Now after him was Samgar, [To wit, Judge, deliverer] a son of Anath, he smote (of) the Philistines, six hundred men, with an Ox goad, [The Hebrew word cometh from teaching, and signifieth such a Raff, Cudgel, or rod, that hath prickles on it, serving to teach Oxen to go onward when they are a plowing. Hereby is set forth the meanness and baseness of the means, which notwithstanding were so blessed by the Lord, that a great number of well armed men were not able to subsist against the same: as David felled down Goliath with his sling: compare 1 Cor.1 28. And see above v. 15. and below chapter 15 15, & c.] So be also delivered Israel.