Judges 3:1 ¶ 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;
Judges 3:2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
Judges 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.
Judges 3:4 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.
This chapter opens with a set up and introduction to Israel’s cycle of sin, judgment and deliverance by God through selected judges as He tries to draw them into a healthy relationship with Him.
We are told that certain nations were left to prove or test Israel’s commitment to keep the commandments of the LORD as declared by Moses since many of this generation had not experienced the wars required to take possession of the land. The LORD intended to teach them war in hopes of making them appreciate what the LORD had given them.
The nations that God intended to use to test Israel were the five lords of the Philistines (the rulers of Gaza, Gath, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron), the Canaanites, the Sidonians (the Phoenicians) and the Hivites that lived in mount Lebanon from Baalhermon to Hamath.
Judges 3:5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
Judges 3:6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
Judges 3:7 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.
Instead of going to war with these nations, the children of Israel chose to accept them as their neighbors; they even allowed intermarriage between their sons and daughters. Worst of all, they chose to serve their false gods—all in direct disobedience to God’s command.
Deuteronomy 7:1–4 “When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it…thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.”
In no uncertain terms, the LORD described Israel’s actions as evil in His sight because they had turned away from Him to serve Baalim and embrace the associated practices of worship enacted in the groves involving sexual immorality.
Judges 3:8 ¶ 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.
Judges 3:9 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.
Judges 3:10 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.
Judges 3:11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
“Mesopotamia” = the land between the two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (today includes the eastern part of Syria and the northern part of Iraq)
The LORD was furious with His people for rejecting Him and blatantly disregarding His every command, so He allowed them to be conquered by the king of Mesopotamia. They were made to serve this king for eight years. As we so often do when we are in despair, they finally cried out to the LORD for help. Isn’t it interesting that it took eight years before they were willing to humble themselves before the LORD and seek His help?
In His mercy the LORD raised up a deliverer in the person of Othniel, Caleb’s younger brother or nephew, depending on how you read it. He had already proven himself as a warrior and leader when he conquered Kirjathsepher.
“The Spirit of the LORD came upon him” – This is a privilege that so many of us take for granted as Christians today. In Old Testament times the Spirit was only given to chosen people for chosen purposes. David feared losing God’s Holy Spirit.
Psalms 51:10–11 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”
The Hebrew for “judged” (v10) includes to “govern…defend…rule.” Empowered by the Holy Spirit as Israel’s defender, Othniel led his people to war against the king of Mesopotamia and defeated him. The land then had rest for forty years, then Othniel died; so that peace lasted for the rest of Othniel’s life.
I decided to do a bit more research on Othniel and found this in Chronicles to support the fact that he was Caleb’s nephew.
1 Chronicles 4:13–15 “And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath. And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen. And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh….”
Principle (as demonstrated throughout scripture): The testimony and leadership of one man can make a powerful difference.
Judges 3:12 ¶ 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.
Judges 3:13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
Judges 3:14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
Judges 3:15 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.
Moab = east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, descendants of Lot
Ammon = northeast of Moab, descendants of Lot
Amalek = south of Moab, descendants of Esau
With Othniel’s influence gone, Israel once again fell into wickedness. So the LORD strengthened Eglon, the king of Moab, to come against Israel. He allied himself with the people of Ammon and Amalek and went to war against Israel. He was successful and took possession of the city of palm trees, a reference to Jericho and its environs.
Deuteronomy 34:3 “…and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees….”
The children of Israel served this king for eighteen years before crying out to the LORD for mercy. (I thought it took them a long time the first time; this time it took ten more years than the first.)
In His mercy, the LORD raised up a delivered in the person of Ehud, a man from the tribe of Benjamin that was left handed. This was not an unusual trait in this tribe.
Judges 20:15–16 “And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword….Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded;”
According to Clarke, the Septuagint translates this as being ambidextrous, or having equal use of both hands. There is also some scripture that supports this trait among the men of Benjamin.
1 Chronicles 12:2 “They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin.”
I know that in some way the LORD gave Ehud the plan he implemented to defeat this king—whether by revelation or just gifting him with the intelligence to formulate it. The plan included deception in connection with presenting Eglon with the tribute required from the people of Israel.
It’s interesting to note that the LORD did not mention empowering Ehud with the Holy Spirit as He did Othniel. I think that is probably because this was more an operation of deception and physical fitness.
Judges 3:16 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.
Judges 3:17 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
Judges 3:18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
Judges 3:19 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.
Judges 3:20 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.
Judges 3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
Judges 3:22 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.
Ehud made a two-edged dagger that was about 18” long. He fixed it under his clothes next to his right thigh and headed out to present Eglon with Israel’s tribute. It is noted that Eglon was a “very fat man.” After offering the king the required tribute, Ehud sent away those who had accompanied him. Clarke offers the following insight: “Presents, tribute, etc., in the eastern countries were offered with very great ceremony; and to make the more parade several persons, ordinarily slaves, sumptuously dressed, and in considerable number, were employed to carry what would not be a burden even to one.”
Ehud evidently headed out like he was leaving as well, but he turned back after reaching the rock quarries by Gilgal. He went back to the king and told him that he had a secret errand to him. The king told him to say no more until he sent away all his attendants. Ehud came before the king in the summer parlor where they were alone and told him that he had a message from God for him. He got up from his seat pulling the dagger from his right thigh with his left hand and thrusting it deep into the king’s belly. It went in so far that the handle was covered by fat as it closed over the blade; Ehud couldn’t even pull it out.
The king must not have known what hit him since there wasn’t even time for him to cry out for help.
“the dirt came out” = He defecated.
Judges 3:23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
Judges 3:24 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.
Judges 3:25 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.
Judges 3:26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
Ehud was able to leave through the porch and lock the doors behind him. When the king’s servants came and saw that the doors were locked, they assumed that Eglon was relieving himself in private. After waiting what seemed an inordinately long time, they finally used a key to open the door and found the king dead on the floor. Meanwhile, Ehud had escaped and gotten past the quarries to find safety in Seirath (in the mountains of Ephraim).
Judges 3:27 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.
Judges 3:28 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.
Judges 3:29 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.
Judges 3:30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
When he got to Seirath, Ehud blew a trumpet to signal the people to join him in battle against the Moabites. Before leading the troops out to fight, he told them that the LORD had given them the victory. The people followed Ehud and took up a position at the natural crossing places of the Jordan River and didn’t allow even one man to cross the river. They killed about 10,000 of Moab’s best warriors. The wording indicates that number included the whole Moabite army.
After defeating Moab, the Israelites had rest for eighty years—twice as long as the previous time of rest.
Judges 3:31 ¶ 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.
We aren’t told of Ehud’s death until the next chapter.
Judges 4:1 “And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.”
The implication is that Ehud was alive for most of the eighty years of rest. It also seems that Shamgar, the next judge or deliverer identified, served during Ehud’s lifetime. Shamgar was raised up to deliver Israel from the Philistines, and he is credited with killing 600 Philistines with an ox goad. JFB describes an ox goad as follows: “This instrument is eight feet long and about six inches in circumference. It is armed at the lesser end with a sharp prong for driving the cattle, and on the other with a small iron paddle for removing the clay which encumbers the plough in working.”
There is a verse in the next chapter that gives a bit more information about the time in which Shamgar served. It was a time when the public highways were not safe to travel, so people sought alternate paths to get from place to place.
Judges 5:6 “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.”
Though there is only one tiny verse that mentions Shamgar, the LORD evidently wanted him recognized as a deliverer of Israel. This just makes me think about the many servants of God throughout history that have served Him so faithfully without any public recognition. The writer of the Hebrews makes reference to many great men and women of faith that could not be named.
Hebrews 11:32–38 “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”
Judges 4:1 ¶ And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
Judges 4:2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
Judges 4:3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
The cycle begins again. Once Ehud died, the children of Israel again rebelled against the LORD and turned to evil. So the LORD “sold” (into slavery is the thought from the Hebrew) them to suffer under Jabin, king of Canaan who reigned in Hazor, about 18 miles northwest of the Sea of Galilee. Sisera was the captain of his army, and he lived in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
The New Bible Commentary offers the following insight about Sisera: “The name Sisera suggests he was the leader of a group of the so–called Sea People who, like the Philistines, had migrated to Palestine by ship from the eastern Aegean. Both the name of Harosheth Haggoyim (‘Harosheth of the [foreign] nations’) and its location (close to the Mediterranean coast near Mt Carmel in northwest Palestine) suggest that it was originally a settlement of these Sea People.”
This time the people suffered 20 years under the rule of this man whose army boasted 900 chariots of iron—a very formidable foe. At some point (not clear when) they began to cry out to the LORD once again for mercy.
Judges 4:4 ¶ And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
Judges 4:5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
It may be surprising to some to note that the next judge the LORD raised up in Israel was a woman named Deborah. She was the wife of Lapidoth and was known as a prophetess—a woman who is recognized as a spokesman for the LORD. This is especially unusual in a culture in which women were considered second-class citizens. The LORD has always held women in high regard. It was His established purpose, however, that men usually hold such positions of leadership. That He chose Deborah at that time I think is a sad commentary since it seems to imply that there was no man worthy of serving the LORD in that position at that time.
Deborah made herself available to the people under a noted palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim. The New Bible Commentary notes that it would have been between 5-12 miles north of Jerusalem. The wording implies to me that Deborah had been serving as a judge for some time before the LORD intervened to deliver Israel from the Canaanites.
Judges 4:6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
Judges 4:7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
One day Deborah sent for Barak, son of Abinoam; it seems that he was the recognized leader of the troops of Israel at that time. Evidently, the LORD had revealed to her a command He had given Barak that he had yet to obey.
When Barak arrived, she asked him point blank if the “LORD God of Israel” had not commanded him to take 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and head toward mount Tabor (at the northern edge of the Jezreel Valley). She also asked if the LORD had not also told him that He would deliver Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and army into the hands of the troops he led.
Her information was specific, and Barak could not deny that what she said was true.
Judges 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
Judges 4:9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
Judges 4:10 ¶ And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
Barak told Deborah that he would only do as the LORD commanded if she would go with him. She immediately agreed to go, but warned him that he would not be honored with the victory; the LORD would destroy Sisera by the hand of a woman instead. So Deborah went with Barak and the troops that the LORD had commanded he take. They went to Kedesh, a place just southwest of the Sea of Galilee.
That Barak wanted to take Deborah shows that he wanted to believe that the LORD would do as He promised, but his faith was weak. Deborah was recognized as the LORD’s spokesman, and he leaned on Deborah’s faith to increase his. Barak responded like so many believers tend to do today. We want the support of strong men and women of faith, not realizing that just stepping out in obedience to God’s word is all that is required for Him to give us the victory. Every true believer is empowered to do great things for the LORD; you don’t have to be a Moses or Joshua or David. You just need to have faith!
In Barak’s defense, this would have been a giant step of faith. It was like David going up against Goliath. It is interesting to note that the writer of the Hebrews mentions Barak by name in the great “hall of faith” chapter. He may have needed extra encouragement to take that step of faith—but he did take it, and God honored him for it.
Hebrews 11:32 “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:”
Judges 4:11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
This verse seems totally unconnected at this point, but it provides foundational information for what is to come. We are told that Heber the Kenite, a relative of Moses by marriage, moved away from the rest of his family to live in the plain of Zaanaim by Kedesh.
Judges 4:12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
Judges 4:13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
When Sisera was told that Barak was leading his troops to mount Tabor, he gathered his people, equipped with the 900 chariots, to meet them at the river of Kishon.
Judges 4:14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
Judges 4:15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
Judges 4:16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.
“discomfited” = put in commotion, disturb, destroy, trouble, vex
Deborah encouraged Barak and told him that the LORD would give him the victory over Sisera and his army that very day. Barak and his 10,000 men then headed out to war. The LORD went before them and “discomfited” Sisera, his chariots, and his men. Sisera ran away, while Barak focused on destroying the chariots and the enemy army. The LORD gave Israel a great victory; not one enemy soldier survived.
It would certainly be interesting to know how the LORD used the army of Israel to destroy those iron chariots that day. I am often reminded as I read through the scripture that “with God nothing is impossible.” (Luke 1:37) When I looked ahead to the next chapter at Deborah’s song, I got the impression that angels were involved.
Judges 5:19–21 “The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon.”
Angels are sometimes referenced in scripture as stars, and the Hebrew includes the idea of a prince (a person).
Judges 4:17 ¶ Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
Judges 4:18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
In his attempt to escape, Sisera came to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite (cf v11). Commentators note, and scriptures affirm, that it was not unusual for wives and husbands to have their own tents. Jael actually went out to meet Sisera and invited him in to her tent. He expected to find safety there since there was peace between Jabin, Sisera’s king, and Heber; so he accepted. The fact that she covered him with a mantle indicates that he had lain down to take a nap.
Judges 4:19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
Judges 4:20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.
Judges 4:21 Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
Judges 4:22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
Sisera asked Jael for a drink of water, and she gave him some milk. I wonder if this was considered an honor.
Sisera then asked Jael to stand at the tent door in case someone came looking for him. If anyone came asking if she had seen a man, she was to say, No. After he had fallen asleep, Jael killed Sisera by taking a tent nail and hammering it into his temple, nailing him to the ground. The NIV Commentary provided some insight: “Women normally did the work of putting up and taking down the tents; so Jael knew how to handle her tools.”
One can’t help but wonder why Jael so quickly determined to kill Sisera. I think the explanation has to be that the LORD put it in her heart.
It should be pointed out that this fulfilled Deborah’s prophecy (v9).
Barak eventually showed up in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. She quickly told him that she could give him the man for whom he was searching. When he went into the tent, he saw Sisera with the nail in his temple.
Guzik included an interesting observation from Spurgeon: “Charles Spurgeon preached a wonderful sermon on this passage titled Sin Slain on how the we can take Sisera as a type of sin, and his master (Jabin) as a type of Satan. He insisted that we should not be content to merely defeat sin, as Barak defeated Sisera in battle; we should not rest until sin is dead. And, just as Jael asked Barak to look at the dead body of Sisera, Spurgeon said we should look at sin slain by the work of Jesus, knowing He has already won the battle. “If you are content merely to conquer your sins and not to kill them, you may depend upon it, it is the mere work of morality — a surface work — and not the work of the Holy Spirit.”
Judges 4:23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
Judges 4:24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
The record notes that God vanquished Jabin the king of Canaan that day by utterly destroying his army. Yes, He used men and women; but it was through His empowerment.
Israel prospered and eventually destroyed king Jabin as well.