Shuphatym (Judges) — 3

The Nations Left in Canaan

1 These are the nations that  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH left in the land to test those Yasharalym who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. 

2 He did this to teach warfare to generations of Yashar'AL who had no experience in battle. 

3 These are the nations: the Philistines (those living under the five Philistine rulers), all the Canaanites, the Sidunians, and the Hibites living in the mountains of Labanun from Mount Baal-harmun to Labu-hamath. 

4 These people were left to test the Yasharalym to see whether they would obey the commands 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH had given to their ancestors through Musha.

5 So the people of Yashar'AL lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amurites, Parizzites, Hibites, and Yabusites, 

6 and they intermarried with them. Yasharalym sons married their daughters, and Yasharalym daughters were given in marriage to their sons, and the Yasharalym served their idols.

Uthnial Becomes Yashar'AL’s Judge

7 The Yasharalym did evil in the sight of  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, they forgot about   𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH their 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, and they served the images of Baal and the Asharah poles. 

8 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH burned with anger against Yashar'AL, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Yasharalym served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.

9 But when the people of Yashar'AL cried out to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH for help,  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Uthnial, the son of Calab’s younger brother, Kanaz. 

10 The Ruach of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH came upon him, and he became Yashar'AL’s judge, he went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH gave Uthnial victory over him. 

11 So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Uthnial son of Kanaz died.

Ahud Becomes Yashar'AL’s Judge

12 Once again the Yasharalym did evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH gave King Aglun of Muab control over Yashar'AL because of their evil. 

13 Aglun enlisted the Ammunites and Amalakites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Yashar'AL, taking possession of Yarichu, the city of palms. 

14 And the Yasharalym served Aglun of Muab for eighteen years.

15 But when the people of Yashar'AL cried out to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH for help,  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH again raised up a rescuer to save them, his name was Ahud son of Gara, a left-handed man of the tribe of Banyamin, the Yasharalym sent Ahud to deliver their tribute money to King Aglun of Muab. 

16 So Ahud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. 

17 He brought the tribute money to Aglun, who was very fat.

18 After delivering the payment, Ahud started home with those who had helped carry the tribute. 

19 But when Ahud reached the stone idols near Gilgal, he turned back, he came to Aglun and said, “I have a secret message for you.” So the king commanded his servants, “Be quiet!” and he sent them all out of the room.

20 Ahud walked over to Aglun, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room, and Ahud said, “I have a message from 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH for you!” As King Aglun rose from his seat, 

21 Ahud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly. 

22 The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king’s fat. So Ahud did not pull out the dagger, and the king’s bowels emptied. 

23 Then Ahud closed and locked the doors of the room and escaped down the latrine.

24 After Ahud was gone, the king’s servants returned and found the doors to the upstairs room locked. They thought he might be using the latrine in the room, 

25 so they waited. But when the king did not come out after a long delay, they became concerned and got a key, and when they opened the doors, they found their master dead on the floor.

26 While the servants were waiting, Ahud escaped, passing the stone idols on his way to Sairah. 

27 When he arrived in the hill country of Aphraim, Ahud sounded a call to arms, then he led a band of Yashar'AL down from the hills.

28 Follow me,” he said, for  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has given you victory over Muab your enemy.” So they followed him, and the Yasharalym took control of the shallow crossings of the Yurdan River across from Muab, preventing anyone from crossing.

29 They attacked the Muabites and killed about ten thousand of their strongest and most able-bodied warriors. Not one of them escaped. 

30 So Muab was conquered by Yashar'AL that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.

Shamgar Becomes Yashar'AL’s Judge

31 After Ahud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Yashar'AL, he once killed six hundred Philistines with an ox goad.