1Now these are the nations which יהוה left, to prove Yisra’el by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of Kena’an; 2only that the generations of B’nei Yisra’el might know, to teach them war, at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof; 3namely, the five lords of the P’lishtim, and all the Kana’ani, and the Tzidoni, and the Khivi that dwelt in mount Levanon, from mount Ba’al-hermon unto the entrance of Khamat. 4And they were there, to prove Yisra’el by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the mitzvot of יהוה , which He commanded their fathers by the hand of Moshe. 5And B’nei Yisra’el dwelt among the Kana’ani, the Khiti, and the Amori, and the Peritzi, and the Khivi, and the Yevusi; 6and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
7And B’nei Yisra’el did that which was evil in the sight of יהוה , and forgot יהוה their Elohim, and served the Ba’alim and the Asherot. 8Therefore the anger of יהוה was kindled against Yisra’el, and He gave them over into the hand of Kushan-rishatayim king of Aram-naharayim; and B’nei Yisra’el served Kushan-rishatayim eight years. 9And when B’nei Yisra’el cried unto יהוה , יהוה raised up a savior to B’nei Yisra’el, who saved them, even Otni’el Ben Kenaz, Kalev’s younger brother. 10And the Ru’akh of יהוה came upon him, and he judged Yisra’el; and he went out to war, and יהוה delivered Kushan-rishatayim king of Aram into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Kushan-rishatayim. 11And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
12And B’nei Yisra’el again did that which was evil in the sight of יהוה ; and יהוה strengthened Eglon the king of Mo’av against Yisra’el, because they had done that which was evil in the sight of יהוה . And13 he gathered unto him the children of Amon and Amalek; and he went and smote Yisra’el, and they possessed the city of palm trees. 14And B’nei Yisra’el served Eglon the king of Mo’av eighteen years. 15But when B’nei Yisra’el cried unto יהוה , יהוה raised them up a savior, Ehud Ben Gera, the Benyamini, a man left-handed; and B’nei Yisra’el sent a present by him unto Eglon the king of Mo’av. 16And Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh. 17And he offered the present unto Eglon king of Mo’av, now Eglon was a very fat man. 18And when he had made an end of offering the present, he sent away the people that bore the present. 19But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret errand unto you, O king.” And he said, “Keep silence.” And all that stood by him went out from him. 20And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting by himself alone in his cool upper chamber. And Ehud said, “I have a message from Elohim unto you.” And he arose out of his seat. 21And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. 22And 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. 23Then Ehud went forth into the porch, and shut the doors of the upper chamber upon him, and locked them. 24Now 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.” 25And 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. 26And Ehud escaped while they lingered, having passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirah. 27And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a horn in the hill country of Efrayim, and B’nei Yisra’el went down with him from the hill country, and he before them. 28And he said unto them, “Follow after me; for יהוה has delivered your enemies the Moavim into your hand.” And they went down after him, and took the fords of the Yarden against the Moavim, and suffered not a man to pass over. 29And they smote of Mo’av at that time about ten thousand men, every lusty man, and every man of valor; and there escaped not a man. 30So Mo’av was subdued that day under the hand of Yisra’el. And the land had rest eighty years.
31And after him was Shamgar Ben Anat, who smote of the P’lishtim six hundred men with an ox-goad; and he also saved Yisra’el.
אוְאֵלֶּה הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר הִנִּיחַ יהוה לְנַסּוֹת בָּם אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדְעוּ אֵת כָּל מִלְחֲמוֹת כְּנָעַן. ברַק לְמַעַן דַּעַת דֹּרוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְלַמְּדָם מִלְחָמָה רַק אֲשֶׁר לְפָנִים לֹא יְדָעוּם. גחֲמֵשֶׁת סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וְכָל הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַצִּידֹנִי וְהַחִוִּי יֹשֵׁב הַר הַלְּבָנוֹן מֵהַר בַּעַל חֶרְמוֹן עַד לְבוֹא חֲמָת. דוַיִּהְיוּ לְנַסּוֹת בָּם אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לָדַעַת הֲיִשְׁמְעוּ אֶת מִצְוֹת יהוה אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶת אֲבוֹתָם בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה. הוּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יָשְׁבוּ בְּקֶרֶב הַכְּנַעֲנִי הַחִתִּי וְהָאֱמֹרִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי וְהַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי. ווַיִּקְחוּ אֶת בְּנוֹתֵיהֶם לָהֶם לְנָשִׁים וְאֶת בְּנוֹתֵיהֶם נָתְנוּ לִבְנֵיהֶם; וַיַּעַבְדוּ אֶת אֱלֹהֵיהֶם.
זוַיַּעֲשׂוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יהוה וַיִּשְׁכְּחוּ אֶת יהוה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם; וַיַּעַבְדוּ אֶת הַבְּעָלִים וְאֶת הָאֲשֵׁרוֹת. חוַיִּחַר אַף יהוה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּמְכְּרֵם בְּיַד כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַיִם מֶלֶךְ אֲרַם נַהֲרָיִם; וַיַּעַבְדוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַיִם שְׁמֹנֶה שָׁנִים. טוַיִּזְעֲקוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל יהוה וַיָּקֶם יהוה מוֹשִׁיעַ לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּשִׁיעֵם אֵת עָתְנִיאֵל בֶּן קְנַז אֲחִי כָלֵב הַקָּטֹן מִמֶּנּוּ. יוַתְּהִי עָלָיו רוּחַ יהוה וַיִּשְׁפֹּט אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּצֵא לַמִּלְחָמָה וַיִּתֵּן יהוה בְּיָדוֹ אֶת כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַיִם מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם; וַתָּעָז יָדוֹ עַל כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתָיִם. יאוַתִּשְׁקֹט הָאָרֶץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה; וַיָּמָת עָתְנִיאֵל בֶּן קְנַז.
יבוַיֹּסִפוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יהוה ; וַיְחַזֵּק יהוה אֶת עֶגְלוֹן מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל כִּי עָשׂוּ אֶת הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יהוה . יגוַיֶּאֱסֹף אֵלָיו אֶת בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן וַעֲמָלֵק; וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיַּךְ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּירְשׁוּ אֶת עִיר הַתְּמָרִים. ידוַיַּעַבְדוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת עֶגְלוֹן מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה. טווַיִּזְעֲקוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל יהוה וַיָּקֶם יהוה לָהֶם מוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת אֵהוּד בֶּן גֵּרָא בֶּן הַיְמִינִי אִישׁ אִטֵּר יַד יְמִינוֹ; וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיָדוֹ מִנְחָה לְעֶגְלוֹן מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב. טזוַיַּעַשׂ לוֹ אֵהוּד חֶרֶב וְלָהּ שְׁנֵי פֵיוֹת גֹּמֶד אָרְכָּהּ; וַיַּחְגֹּר אוֹתָהּ מִתַּחַת לְמַדָּיו עַל יֶרֶךְ יְמִינוֹ. יזוַיַּקְרֵב אֶת הַמִּנְחָה לְעֶגְלוֹן מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב; וְעֶגְלוֹן אִישׁ בָּרִיא מְאֹד. יחוַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלָּה לְהַקְרִיב אֶת הַמִּנְחָה; וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת הָעָם נֹשְׂאֵי הַמִּנְחָה. יטוְהוּא שָׁב מִן הַפְּסִילִים אֲשֶׁר אֶת הַגִּלְגָּל וַיֹּאמֶר דְּבַר סֵתֶר לִי אֵלֶיךָ הַמֶּלֶךְ; וַיֹּאמֶר הָס וַיֵּצְאוּ מֵעָלָיו כָּל הָעֹמְדִים עָלָיו. כוְאֵהוּד בָּא אֵלָיו וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב בַּעֲלִיַּת הַמְּקֵרָה אֲשֶׁר לוֹ לְבַדּוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵהוּד דְּבַר אֱלֹהִים לִי אֵלֶיךָ; וַיָּקָם מֵעַל הַכִּסֵּא. כאוַיִּשְׁלַח אֵהוּד אֶת יַד שְׂמֹאלוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת הַחֶרֶב מֵעַל יֶרֶךְ יְמִינוֹ; וַיִּתְקָעֶהָ בְּבִטְנוֹ. כבוַיָּבֹא גַם הַנִּצָּב אַחַר הַלַּהַב וַיִּסְגֹּר הַחֵלֶב בְּעַד הַלַּהַב כִּי לֹא שָׁלַף הַחֶרֶב מִבִּטְנוֹ; וַיֵּצֵא הַפַּרְשְׁדֹנָה. כגוַיֵּצֵא אֵהוּד הַמִּסְדְּרוֹנָה; וַיִּסְגֹּר דַּלְתוֹת הָעֲלִיָּה בַּעֲדוֹ וְנָעָל. כדוְהוּא יָצָא וַעֲבָדָיו בָּאוּ וַיִּרְאוּ וְהִנֵּה דַּלְתוֹת הָעֲלִיָּה נְעֻלוֹת; וַיֹּאמְרוּ אַךְ מֵסִיךְ הוּא אֶת רַגְלָיו בַּחֲדַר הַמְּקֵרָה. כהוַיָּחִילוּ עַד בּוֹשׁ וְהִנֵּה אֵינֶנּוּ פֹתֵחַ דַּלְתוֹת הָעֲלִיָּה; וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת הַמַּפְתֵּחַ וַיִּפְתָּחוּ וְהִנֵּה אֲדֹנֵיהֶם נֹפֵל אַרְצָה מֵת. כווְאֵהוּד נִמְלַט עַד הִתְמַהְמְהָם; וְהוּא עָבַר אֶת הַפְּסִילִים וַיִּמָּלֵט הַשְּׂעִירָתָה. כזוַיְהִי בְּבוֹאוֹ וַיִּתְקַע בַּשּׁוֹפָר בְּהַר אֶפְרָיִם; וַיֵּרְדוּ עִמּוֹ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָהָר וְהוּא לִפְנֵיהֶם. כחוַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם רִדְפוּ אַחֲרַי כִּי נָתַן יהוה אֶת אֹיְבֵיכֶם אֶת מוֹאָב בְּיֶדְכֶם; וַיֵּרְדוּ אַחֲרָיו וַיִּלְכְּדוּ אֶת מַעְבְּרוֹת הַיַּרְדֵּן לְמוֹאָב וְלֹא נָתְנוּ אִישׁ לַעֲבֹר. כטוַיַּכּוּ אֶת מוֹאָב בָּעֵת הַהִיא כַּעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ כָּל שָׁמֵן וְכָל אִישׁ חָיִל; וְלֹא נִמְלַט אִישׁ. לוַתִּכָּנַע מוֹאָב בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא תַּחַת יַד יִשְׂרָאֵל; וַתִּשְׁקֹט הָאָרֶץ שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה.
לאוְאַחֲרָיו הָיָה שַׁמְגַּר בֶּן עֲנָת וַיַּךְ אֶת פְּלִשְׁתִּים שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ בְּמַלְמַד הַבָּקָר; וַיּוֹשַׁע גַּם הוּא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 