1Now 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 ; 2only that the generations of the children of Israel might know , to teach them war , at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof : 3namely , 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 . 4And 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 . 5And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites , the Hittites , and the Amorites, and the Perizzites , and the Hivites , and the Jebusites : 6and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.
Othniel: The First Judge
7And 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. 8Therefore 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 . 9And 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. 10And 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 . 11And the land had rest forty years . And Othniel the son of Kenaz died .
Ehud: The Left-Handed Deliverer
12And 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 . 13And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek ; and he went and smote Israel , and they possessed the city of palm-trees. 14And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years . 15But 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 . 16And Ehud made him a sword which had two edges , a cubit in length ; and he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh . 17And he offered the tribute unto Eglon king of Moab : now Eglon was a very fat man. 18And when he had made an end of offering the tribute , he sent away the people that bare the tribute . 19But 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 . 20And 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 . 21And Ehud put forth his left hand , and took the sword from his right thigh , and thrust it into his body : 22and 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 . 23Then Ehud went forth into the porch , and shut the doors of the upper room upon him , and locked them . 24Now 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 . 25And 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. 26And Ehud escaped while they tarried , and passed beyond the quarries , and escaped unto Seirah . 27And 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 . 28And 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 . 29And 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 . 30So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel . And the land had rest fourscore years .
Shamgar: A Brief but Impactful Judge
31And 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 .