Hear Jesus Now

Judges 3

King James Version. Select any verse to read its meaning, context and application.

  1. 1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
  2. 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof. New International Version (NIV): (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): English Standard Version (ESV): It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before.
  3. 3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath." New International Version (NIV): "The five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath." English Standard Version (ESV): "These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath.
  4. 4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
  5. 5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: New International Version (NIV): The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. English Standard Version (ESV): So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
  6. 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. New International Version (NIV): They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. English Standard Version (ESV): And their daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods.
  7. 7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves. New International Version (NIV): The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. English Standard Version (ESV): And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.
  8. 8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. New International Version (NIV): The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. English Standard Version (ESV): Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.
  9. 9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother." New International Version (NIV): "But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them." English Standard Version (ESV): "But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
  10. 10 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim. New International Version (NIV): The Spirit of the Lord came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. English Standard Version (ESV): The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.
  11. 11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
  12. 12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. New International Version (NIV): Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil, the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. English Standard Version (ESV): And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD.
  13. 13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. New International Version (NIV): Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. English Standard Version (ESV): He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms.
  14. 14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. New International Version (NIV): The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years. English Standard Version (ESV): And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
  15. 15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. New International Version (NIV): Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. English Standard Version (ESV): Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.
  16. 16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. New International Version (NIV): Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. English Standard Version (ESV): And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his clothes.
  17. 17 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. New International Version (NIV): He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man. English Standard Version (ESV): And he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.
  18. 18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
  19. 19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
  20. 20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. New International Version (NIV): Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, "I have a message from God for you." As the king rose from his seat, English Standard Version (ESV): And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." And he arose from his seat.
  21. 21 But Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.
  22. 22 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. New International Version (NIV): Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. English Standard Version (ESV): And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out.
  23. 23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
  24. 24 When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. New International Version (NIV): After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, “He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the palace.” English Standard Version (ESV): When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.
  25. 25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. New International Version (NIV): They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead. English Standard Version (ESV): And they waited till they were embarrassed. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor.
  26. 26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
  27. 27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. New International Version (NIV): When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them. English Standard Version (ESV): When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was their leader.
  28. 28 And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. New International Version (NIV): "Follow me," he ordered, "for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands." So they followed him down and took possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab; they allowed no one to cross over. English Standard Version (ESV): And he said to them, "Follow after me, for the LORD has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand." So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and did not allow anyone to pass over.
  29. 29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man. New International Version (NIV): At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped. English Standard Version (ESV): And they killed at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped.
  30. 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
  31. 31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. New International Version (NIV): After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel. English Standard Version (ESV): After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.