[1]Now these are the nations which ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ left, to prove Israel by them, even as many 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 beforetime knew nothing thereof; [3]Namely, the five lords of Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Zidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entrance of Hamath. [4]And they were there, to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎, which He commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. [5]And the children of Israel dwelt 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]And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎, and forgot ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth. [8]Therefore the anger of ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ was kindled against Israel, and He gave them over into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram-naharaim; and the children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. [9]And when the children of Israel cried unto ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎, ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ raised up a saviour to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. [10]And the spirit of ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ came upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Cushan-rishathaim. [11]And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died. [12]And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎; and ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that which was evil in the sight of ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎. [13]And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and smote Israel, and they possessed the city of palm-trees. [14]And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. [15]But when the children of Israel cried unto ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎, ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ raised them up a saviour, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed; and the children of Israel sent a present by him unto Eglon the king of Moab. [16]And Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh. [17]And he offered the present unto Eglon king of Moab—now Eglon was a very fat man. [18]And when he had made an end of offering the present, he sent away the people that bore the present. [19]But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said: 'I have a secret errand unto thee, O king.' And he said: 'Keep silence.' And all that stood by him went out from him. [20]And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting by himself alone in his cool upper chamber. And Ehud said: 'I have a message from God unto thee.' And he arose out of his seat. [21]And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. [22]And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, for he drew not the sword out of his belly; and it came out behind. [23]Then Ehud went forth into the porch, and shut the doors of the upper chamber upon him, and locked them. [24]Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and, behold, the doors of the upper chamber were locked; and they, said: 'Surely he is covering his feet in the cabinet of the cool chamber.' [25]And they tarried till they were ashamed; and, behold, he opened not the doors of the upper chamber; therefore they took the key, and opened them; and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. [26]And Ehud escaped while they lingered, having passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirah. [27]And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a horn in the hill-country of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the hill-country, and he before them. [28]And he said unto them: 'Follow after me; for ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.' And they went down after him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over. [29]And they smote of Moab at that time about thousand men, every lusty man, and every man of valour; and there escaped not a man. [30]So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. [31]And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who smote of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad; and he also saved Israel.
 
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