Judges 3 reveals the first judges and God's deliverers, including Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar. Learn how God delivered Israel through these judges.
The third chapter of Judges introduces the first deliverers raised up by God to rescue Israel from oppression. After the death of Joshua, the nation had fallen into a pattern of disobedience and idolatry. The Lord allowed surrounding nations to test Israel, revealing whether they would keep His commandments or follow the ways of the Canaanites. These tests were not intended to destroy Israel but to prove their faithfulness and to teach them warfare.
The chapter presents a remarkable sequence of deliverances. Othniel, the first judge, delivered Israel from the king of Mesopotamia. Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, assassinated the Moabite king Eglon and led Israel to victory. Shamgar, though only mentioned briefly, killed six hundred Philistines with an ox goad. Each deliverance demonstrated that God could use individuals from diverse backgrounds and with different methods to rescue His people.
The first judges and God's deliverers recorded in Judges 3 reveal a pattern of divine intervention that continues throughout Scripture. God raised up deliverers not because Israel deserved rescue but because of His covenant faithfulness. The judges were flawed individuals who served as instruments of God's mercy. Their stories demonstrate that God works through human weakness to accomplish His purposes. This pattern of divine deliverance points forward to the ultimate deliverer, Jesus Christ, who rescues His people from the power of sin and death.
The Nations Left to Test Israel
The Purpose of the Tests
Judges 3 begins with a statement about the nations the Lord left in the land: "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 3:1). These nations served a specific purpose in God's plan. They were instruments of testing and instruction.
The tests served two purposes. First, they proved whether the Israelites would keep the commandments of the Lord. The new generation had not experienced the conquest of Canaan. They needed to demonstrate their faithfulness in the face of temptation. The presence of the Canaanites would reveal whether the people truly loved and obeyed God.
Second, the tests taught Israel warfare. The text states that the nations were left "only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war" (Judges 3:2). The Israelites needed to learn how to fight. Their failure to drive out the Canaanites meant that they would face ongoing military challenges. The presence of these nations provided opportunities for Israel to develop military skills and dependence on God.
The Nations Named
The text specifically names five nations: "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 entering in of Hamath" (Judges 3:3). These nations represented the most significant challenges to Israel's possession of the land.
The Philistines would become Israel's most persistent enemies, troubling them throughout the period of the judges and into the time of the kings. The Canaanites, Sidonians, and Hivites represented the various peoples who had inhabited the land before Israel's arrival. Their continued presence created ongoing temptation and conflict.
The Lord used these nations to test Israel's loyalty. The text states, "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" (Judges 3:4). The tests revealed the condition of the people's hearts. Unfortunately, the result was failure, as "the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites" (Judges 3:5).
The First Judge: Othniel
The Cycle Begins
The first cycle of disobedience and deliverance begins in 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." The plural Baalim indicates that the people served multiple local manifestations of the Canaanite storm god. The groves refer to the Asherah poles, sacred objects associated with the worship of the fertility goddess.
The consequence of this apostasy was immediate. The Lord's anger burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia. The name Chushan-rishathaim means "Cushan of double wickedness," suggesting the severity of this oppressor. Israel served him for eight years, a period of subjugation that reminded them of their slavery in Egypt.
The text records the people's response: "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 3:9). The cry of the people was not a formal prayer but a desperate plea for help. God heard their cry and responded with compassion.
Othniel's Deliverance
Othniel's background is significant. He was the son of Kenaz and the younger brother of Caleb, the faithful spy who had trusted God when the other spies doubted (Numbers 13:30). Othniel had already demonstrated courage and faith when he captured Kirjath-sepher and received Achsah, Caleb's daughter, as his wife (Joshua 15:16-17).
The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel, empowering him for the task of deliverance. The text states, "And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim" (Judges 3:10). The victory was decisive, and Israel had rest for forty years.
Othniel's story establishes the pattern that will be repeated throughout Judges. The people sin, God sends judgment, the people cry out, God raises a deliverer, and the land has rest. Othniel's faithfulness stands in contrast to the nation's unfaithfulness. His example demonstrates the power of a life wholly devoted to God.
The Second Judge: Ehud
The Oppression of Eglon
The second cycle of disobedience follows the same pattern. After Othniel's death, "the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord" (Judges 3:12). The Lord strengthened Eglon, the king of Moab, against Israel. Eglon formed an alliance with the Ammonites and the Amalekites, attacked Israel, and occupied the city of palm trees, likely Jericho.
Israel served Eglon for eighteen years. This period of oppression was longer than the eight years under Mesopotamia, suggesting that the people's sin had increased. The oppression was severe, but the people's response was the same: "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" (Judges 3:15).
Ehud's background is noteworthy. He was from the tribe of Benjamin, a tribe that had been nearly destroyed in the civil war recorded at the end of Judges. His left-handedness was significant because the Benjamites were known for their left-handed warriors (Judges 20:16). Being left-handed, Ehud would be able to conceal a weapon in a way that his enemies would not expect.
The Assassination of Eglon
Ehud's plan was bold and dangerous. He made a dagger with two edges, about a cubit in length, and bound it under his clothing on his right thigh. He then presented tribute to King Eglon and departed with the men who had brought it. However, Ehud turned back and announced that he had a secret message for the king.
Eglon, a very fat man, rose from his seat to receive the message. The text states that Ehud took the dagger and thrust it into Eglon's belly, so that the handle went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade. Ehud left the dagger in the wound and went out through the porch, locking the doors behind him.
The king's servants did not suspect anything. They assumed their master was relieving himself and waited until they became embarrassed. By the time they unlocked the doors, Ehud had escaped. The assassination was a direct act of divine judgment. The text emphasizes that God delivered the enemy into Ehud's hand, and the victory belonged to the Lord.
The Victory over Moab
After Ehud escaped, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites gathered behind him. He led the people to the fords of the Jordan, cutting off the Moabite escape route. The Israelites killed about ten thousand Moabites, all strong and valiant men, and subdued Moab that day.
The victory was total. The text states, "So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years" (Judges 3:30). This eighty-year period of peace was the longest in the period of the judges, demonstrating the effectiveness of Ehud's deliverance.
Ehud's story demonstrates that God can use unconventional methods to deliver His people. The assassination of Eglon was not a typical military victory, but God worked through Ehud's boldness and cunning. The victory was not achieved through overwhelming military might but through faith and decisive action. Ehud's willingness to take risks for the sake of God's people serves as an example of courageous faith.
The Third Judge: Shamgar
A Brief but Significant Deliverance
Shamgar is mentioned in a single verse: "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" (Judges 3:31). The brevity of the account does not diminish the significance of his deliverance.
Shamgar's name suggests he may have been a foreigner. The name is not typically Hebrew, and the reference to him as "the son of Anath" may indicate a connection to the Canaanite goddess Anath. If Shamgar was a foreigner, his inclusion among the judges demonstrates that God can use anyone, regardless of background, to accomplish His purposes.
The ox goad was a farming implement used to guide oxen while plowing. It was not a conventional weapon. Shamgar's use of an ox goad to kill six hundred Philistines demonstrates that God can work through the most ordinary means. The victory was not dependent on advanced weaponry but on divine empowerment.
The Pattern Continues
Shamgar's deliverance fits the pattern established in Judges 3. The Israelites had sinned, experienced oppression from the Philistines, and cried out to the Lord. God raised up Shamgar to deliver them. The text does not specify a period of rest after Shamgar's victory, but his inclusion in the list of judges indicates that he played a significant role in Israel's history.
The story of Shamgar also anticipates the greater deliverance that would come through Samson. Like Samson, Shamgar fought against the Philistines and achieved victory through unconventional means. The ox goad foreshadows Samson's use of a jawbone to kill a thousand Philistines (Judges 15:15). Both demonstrate that God's power is not dependent on human weapons.
Shamgar's story encourages believers to trust God to work through whatever means He chooses. The deliverance of Israel did not depend on the strength of armies or the quality of weapons. It depended on God's power working through willing individuals. Shamgar's victory reminds us that God can use anyone who is available to be used.
The Pattern of Divine Deliverance
The Role of the Judges
The judges in Judges 3 serve as examples of God's deliverance. Each judge was raised up in response to the people's cry for help. The Spirit of the Lord came upon each deliverer, empowering them for the task. The victories were attributed to the Lord, not to human strength.
Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar represent different aspects of God's deliverance. Othniel was a man of faith who had already demonstrated courage. Ehud was a man of boldness and cunning who used unconventional methods. Shamgar was a man who used ordinary tools to achieve extraordinary results. Together, they demonstrate that God works through diverse individuals and diverse methods.
The judges were not perfect. They were flawed individuals who served as instruments of God's mercy. Their stories are not about their own greatness but about the greatness of God. The deliverance they accomplished was a demonstration of God's power and faithfulness, not of human ability.
The Faithfulness of God
The repeated cycles in Judges 3 reveal the faithfulness of God. Despite Israel's repeated apostasy, the Lord continued to respond to their cries with mercy. He raised up deliverers who rescued His people from oppression. This divine faithfulness was not based on the people's worthiness but on God's covenant promises.
The Lord had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would be their God and the God of their descendants. This covenant commitment remained in effect despite Israel's unfaithfulness. God's mercy was a reflection of His character, not a response to human merit.
The faithfulness of God in Judges 3 points forward to the ultimate expression of divine mercy in Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul writes, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). The deliverance provided by the judges foreshadows the perfect deliverance provided by Christ, who rescues His people from the power of sin and death.
The Limitations of the Judges
While the judges provided deliverance, they could not provide lasting change. The text repeatedly notes that after the judge died, the people returned to their sin. The judges were temporary deliverers who could not break the cycle of disobedience.
The limitations of the judges point to the need for a perfect deliverer. The people needed more than temporary rescue from external oppressors. They needed deliverance from the power of sin that caused them to rebel against God. The judges could defeat enemies, but they could not change hearts.
The ultimate deliverer came in Jesus Christ. He provides not only rescue from external threats but deliverance from sin itself. The apostle Paul writes, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2). Through faith in Christ, believers experience the complete deliverance that the judges only foreshadowed.
Conclusion
Judges chapter 3 introduces the first deliverers raised up by God to rescue Israel from oppression. Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar each demonstrated that God works through human weakness to accomplish His purposes. Their victories were not achieved through military superiority but through divine empowerment. The pattern of sin, judgment, crying out, and deliverance reveals the stubbornness of the human heart and the patience of a faithful God.
The first judges and God's deliverers recorded in Judges 3 demonstrate that God's mercy is greater than human failure. Despite the people's repeated apostasy, the Lord responded to their cries with compassion. He raised up deliverers who rescued His people from their oppressors. This pattern of divine intervention reveals that God is faithful even when His people are unfaithful. The stories of the judges remind us that God can use anyone who is willing to be used, regardless of their background or abilities.
The judges point beyond themselves to the ultimate deliverer, Jesus Christ. They provided temporary rescue from external enemies, but Christ provides permanent deliverance from the power of sin. The cycle of disobedience and deliverance finds its resolution in the gospel. Through faith in Christ, believers experience complete deliverance from the penalty and power of sin. The same God who raised up judges to deliver Israel raises up His Son to deliver all who trust in Him. This is the message of hope that runs throughout Scripture, from the first judges to the final judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was the purpose of the nations left in the land of Canaan?
The nations left in the land served two purposes according to Judges 3:1-2. First, they were sent to test Israel's faithfulness, to see whether the people would keep the commandments of the Lord. Second, they were left to teach the generations of Israel warfare, especially those who had not experienced the conquest of Canaan. The tests revealed the condition of the people's hearts and provided opportunities for them to demonstrate their loyalty to God. Unfortunately, the tests often exposed Israel's weakness and tendency toward idolatry.
2. Who was Othniel and what did he accomplish?
Othniel was the first judge of Israel, the son of Kenaz and the younger brother of Caleb. He had already demonstrated courage and faith when he captured Kirjath-sepher and received Achsah as his wife. When Israel cried out to the Lord after eight years of oppression under Chushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel. He went to war and defeated the oppressor, bringing forty years of peace to the land. Othniel's story establishes the pattern of deliverance that continues throughout the book of Judges.
3. How did Ehud deliver Israel from Moab?
Ehud delivered Israel from Moab through a bold assassination of King Eglon. As a left-handed Benjamite, Ehud concealed a dagger under his clothing and gained access to the king by claiming to have a secret message. He thrust the dagger into Eglon's belly, killing the obese king, and escaped by locking the doors behind him. Ehud then sounded the trumpet, gathered the Israelites, and led them to the fords of the Jordan, where they killed about ten thousand Moabites and subdued Moab. The land had rest for eighty years.
4. What is significant about Shamgar's victory over the Philistines?
Shamgar's victory over the Philistines is significant for several reasons. He killed six hundred Philistines with an ox goad, a farming implement, demonstrating that God can work through ordinary means. His name suggests he may have been a foreigner, showing that God can use anyone regardless of background. His victory also foreshadows the greater deliverance that Samson would later accomplish. The brevity of the account does not diminish the importance of Shamgar's role as a deliverer of Israel.
5. What can believers learn from the first judges in Judges chapter 3?
Believers can learn several important lessons from the first judges in Judges chapter 3. God works through human weakness to accomplish His purposes, using flawed individuals who are willing to be used. God's mercy is greater than human failure, as He responds to the people's cries with compassion despite their repeated apostasy. Genuine repentance must be ongoing, producing lasting change rather than temporary relief. The judges point forward to the ultimate deliverer, Jesus Christ, who provides permanent rescue from the power of sin. Faith and obedience are essential for experiencing God's full blessing.
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