[1] Now these are the nations which Yahweh left, to prove Israel by them,
even as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan; [2] only
that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them
war, at the least such as before knew nothing of it: [3] [namely], 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 to the
entrance of Hamath. [4] They were [left], to prove Israel by them, to know
whether they would listen to the commandments of Yahweh, which he commanded
their fathers by Moses. [5] The children of Israel lived among the
Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the
Hivites, and the Jebusites: [6] and they took their daughters to be their
wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.
[7] The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh,
and forgot Yahweh their God, and served the Baals and the Asheroth. [8]
Therefore the anger of Yahweh 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. [9] When the children of
Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a savior to the children of
Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb`s younger
brother. [10] The Spirit of Yahweh came on him, and he judged Israel; and
he went out to war, and Yahweh delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of
Mesopotamia into his hand: and his hand prevailed against Cushan-
rishathaim. [11] The land had rest forty years. Othniel the son of Kenaz
died. [12] The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the
sight of Yahweh: and Yahweh strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against
Israel, because they had done that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
[13] He gathered to him the children of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and
struck Israel, and they possessed the city of palm-trees. [14] The children
of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. [15] But when the
children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised them up a savior, Ehud
the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed. The children of Israel
sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. [16] Ehud made him a sword
which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he girded it under his clothing
on his right thigh. [17] He offered the tribute to Eglon king of Moab: now
Eglon was a very fat man. [18] When he had made an end of offering the
tribute, he sent away the people who bore the tribute. [19] But he himself
turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a
secret errand to you, king. He said, Keep silence. All who stood by him
went out from him. [20] Ehud came to him; and he was sitting by himself
alone in the cool upper room. Ehud said, I have a message from God to you.
He arose out of his seat. [21] Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the
sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body: [22] and the haft
also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, for he
didn`t draw the sword out of his body; and it came out behind. [23] Then
Ehud went forth into the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room on
him, and locked them. [24] Now 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. [25] They waited
until they were ashamed; and, behold, he didn`t open 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. [26] Ehud escaped while they
waited, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped to Seirah. [27] It
happened, when he had 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. [28] He said to them, Follow after me;
for Yahweh has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. They
went down after him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites,
and didn`t allow a man to pass over. [29] They struck of Moab at that time
about ten thousand men, every lusty man, and every man of valor; and there
escaped not a man. [30] So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of
Israel. The land had rest eighty years. [31] After him was Shamgar the son
of Anath, who struck of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad:
and he also saved Israel.