Analysis of Judges Chapter 3
The third chapter of the Book of Judges is a significant portion of the Old Testament, providing deeper insight into the cyclical nature of Israel’s relationship with God during the period of the judges. This chapter presents the recurring themes of sin, servitude, supplication, and salvation, encapsulating the dynamic of faith and rebellion among the Israelites. The narrative underscores God’s patience and grace despite Israel’s recurrent disobedience and offers profound lessons on the consequences of straying from divine commandments.
Setting the Context: Testing and Training (Judges 3:1-4)
Verses 1-4 set the stage by explaining that certain nations were left in Canaan to test Israel and teach warfare to the Israelites who had no previous experience in battle:
“These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): 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. They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.” (Judges 3:1-4, NIV)
This passage serves multiple functions:
- Testing Obedience: The presence of these nations acted as a means to test Israel’s commitment to God’s commandments. By facing ongoing temptations and challenges, the Israelites’ loyalty and obedience would be continually assessed.
- Training for Battle: For the generation that had not experienced the conquests of Joshua, these remaining nations provided practical experience in warfare. This training was crucial for their survival and for maintaining the territorial integrity of Israel.
Theologically, this serves as a reminder of God’s sovereignty and his ability to use even adverse circumstances for a divine purpose. It also reflects the human tendency to depart from faithfulness when not constantly reminded of past lessons.
Israel’s Sin and Intermarriage (Judges 3:5-7)
Verses 5-7 reveal the specific disobedience of the Israelites:
“The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.” (Judges 3:5-7, NIV)
These verses highlight two main transgressions:
- Intermarriage: The Israelites’ intermarriage with the surrounding nations was against God’s direct commandments (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Such unions not only risked cultural assimilation but also led to the introduction and acceptance of pagan practices and idol worship.
- Idolatry: Serving the Baals and the Asherahs represented a violation of the first commandment—having no other gods before Yahweh. This aspect underscores the people’s forgetfulness and disloyalty, indicating their spiritual amnesia and moral decline.
The stark declaration that the Israelites “forgot the Lord their God” is a sobering indictment of their spiritual condition. It suggests a willful departure from the covenantal relationship and highlights the danger of neglecting divine instructions.
Servitude under Cushan-Rishathaim (Judges 3:8-11)
In response to their sin, God allows Israel to come under the oppression of Cushan-Rishathaim:
“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. 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. 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. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.” (Judges 3:8-11, NIV)
This section follows the pattern established in Judges, illustrating the cycle of rebellion, retribution, repentance, and rescue:
- Rebellion: The Israelites’ sin initiated the cycle.
- Retribution: God’s anger leads to their subjugation under the foreign king Cushan-Rishathaim, symbolizing divine judgment.
- Repentance: Israel cries out to God in their distress, acknowledging their need for deliverance.
- Rescue: God responds by raising up Othniel as a judge. Empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, Othniel defeats Cushan-Rishathaim, bringing peace for forty years.
Othniel’s victory underscores the role of divine intervention in Israel’s deliverance. His empowerment by the Spirit emphasizes that true leadership and salvation come through God’s strength, not human effort alone.
Servitude under Eglon and Deliverance by Ehud (Judges 3:12-30)
Verses 12 to 30 narrate the story of Israel’s second judge, Ehud:
“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. Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.”
“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. Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.”
“After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it. But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal, he himself went back to Eglon and said, ‘Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.’ The king said to his attendants, ‘Leave us!’ And they all left.”
“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, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly. 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. Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.”
“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.’ 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.”
“While they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the stone images and escaped to Seirah. 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.”
“‘Follow me,’ he ordered, ‘for the Lord has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands.’ So they followed him down and, taking possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab, they allowed no one to cross over. At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped. That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years.” (Judges 3:12-30, NIV)
This narrative is rich with intriguing elements:
- Rebellion and Retribution: Israel’s continuous evil deeds again lead to subjugation, this time under Eglon, the king of Moab. This cycle repeats the pattern and emphasizes the repercussions of disobedience.
- Ehud’s Unconventional Deliverance: Ehud, notable for being left-handed, ingeniously conceals a weapon and assassinates Eglon. The narrative focuses on the unexpected means of deliverance, emphasizing that God’s methods can be surprising and unanticipated.
- Strategic Escape and Victory: Ehud’s escape and subsequent rallying of the Israelites show God’s deliverance is often accompanied by clever strategy and bold action. His success leads to a significant and decisive victory over Moab.
The detailed description of Eglon’s assassination, while graphic, underscores the dramatic nature of God’s deliverance. Ehud’s actions and the ensuing triumph highlight the theme that God can use unlikely individuals to accomplish His purposes.
Shamgar’s Brief Mention (Judges 3:31)
The chapter concludes with a brief mention of Shamgar:
“After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.” (Judges 3:31, NIV)
This single verse packs a powerful message:
- Unexpected Deliverers: Shamgar, who used an oxgoad—a farming tool rather than a conventional weapon—underscores the point that God can deliver His people through unconventional means and unlikely heroes.
- Breaching Boundaries: The mention of the Philistines introduces an enduring enemy of Israel, preluding future conflicts and highlighting the continuous cycle of struggles.
- Brevity and Impact: Despite the short mention, Shamgar’s actions leave a significant impact, illustrating that even brief acts of faithfulness can lead to considerable deliverance.
Concluding Reflections
Judges Chapter 3 encapsulates critical theological and moral lessons through its narrative:
- God’s Sovereignty and Judgment: The cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance underscores both God’s sovereignty in judgment and His merciful provision of deliverance.
- Importance of Faithfulness: The chapter demonstrates the dire consequences of forsaking God’s commandments and highlights the importance of faithfulness to divine directives.
- Divine Empowerment: The successful leaders, like Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar, are empowered by God, emphasizing that true leadership and victory come from divine enablement.
- God’s Use of the Ordinary: The use of everyday individuals and tools—like Ehud’s left-handedness and Shamgar’s oxgoad—illustrates that God can use anyone and anything to achieve His purposes.
Overall, Judges Chapter 3 serves as a microcosm of the larger narrative within the book of Judges, portraying the recurring human failings and God’s relentless grace. It invites readers to reflect on their own spiritual fidelity and reliance on divine strength amidst life’s battles.