📖 Judges — Chapter 3 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Judges 3:1 Now these are Rthe 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 Rmight know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
Judges 3:3 Namely, Rfive 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 Rto 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 3:5 And the children of Israel Rdwelt 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 Rdid evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
Judges 3:8 Therefore the anger of the LORD Rwas hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of TMesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
Judges 3:9 And when the children of Israel Rcried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a Tdeliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
Judges 3:10 And Rthe Spirit of the LORD Tcame upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of TMesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
Judges 3:11 And Rthe land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
Judges 3:12 And the children of Israel Rdid 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 RAmmon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
Judges 3:14 So the children of Israel Rserved Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
Judges 3:15 But when the children of Israel Rcried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, Ta Benjamite, a man Tlefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
Judges 3:16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had Rtwo 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 Ra 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 RTquarries 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 RTa 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 Rthrust 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 Tthe dirt came out.
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 RTcovereth 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.
Judges 3:27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that Rhe 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, RFollow 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 RTlusty, 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. RAnd the land had rest fourscore years.
Judges 3:31 And after him was RShamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 3:1–11 — Testing and Othniel's deliverance
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The nations left in the land test Israel's obedience. Israel intermingles in worship, forgets the LORD, and suffers eight years of servitude. When the people cry to God, he raises Othniel, upon whom the Spirit of the LORD comes.
Key Truth: The LORD hears Israel's cry and provides a deliverer despite its unfaithfulness.
Check What You Remember
1. How many years did Israel serve Chushanrishathaim? (Judges 3:8)
Find it in Judges 3:8 (KJV).
2. Who was the first deliverer named in this chapter? (Judges 3:9)
Find it in Judges 3:9 (KJV).
3. How long did the land rest after Othniel's victory? (Judges 3:11)
Find it in Judges 3:11 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 3:12–26 — Ehud and Eglon
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Israel again does evil and serves Moab for eighteen years. The LORD raises the left-handed Benjamite Ehud. His encounter with Eglon ends in the king's death, and Ehud escapes while the servants delay. The narrative describes a particular wartime deliverance, not a general authorization for deception or killing.
Key Truth: Read the difficult details within this account of oppression and deliverance.
Check What You Remember
1. Who was the king of Moab? (Judges 3:12)
Find it in Judges 3:12 (KJV).
2. How many years did Israel serve Eglon? (Judges 3:14)
Find it in Judges 3:14 (KJV).
3. Which hand is specifically associated with Ehud? (Judges 3:15)
Find it in Judges 3:15 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 3:27–31 — Moab subdued and Shamgar remembered
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ehud summons Israel with a trumpet and secures the Jordan crossings. Moab is subdued, followed by eighty years of rest. A brief notice records Shamgar's deliverance with an ox goad.
Key Truth: The book names different deliverers while repeatedly crediting the LORD for rescue.
Check What You Remember
1. What did Ehud blow to gather Israel? (Judges 3:27)
Find it in Judges 3:27 (KJV).
2. How long did the land rest after Moab was subdued? (Judges 3:30)
Find it in Judges 3:30 (KJV).
3. What implement did Shamgar use? (Judges 3:31)
Find it in Judges 3:31 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Judges 2:16 — The earlier overview explains why these deliverers appear.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Compare the repeated cry, deliverance, and rest in this chapter. What does the repetition help you notice about Israel and the LORD?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What two purposes are stated for the nations left in the land?
2. How does intermarriage connect with worship in the account?
3. What accompanies Othniel’s judging and warfare?
4. How does Ehud turn his escape into Israel’s action?
5. To whom does Ehud attribute the coming victory over Moab?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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