Israels Judges

Judges 3: 1 31
Introduction
In chapter three we watched as Israel rebelled, experienced retribution, repented, and was
restored! This would be an ongoing cycle for this nation, people of God. Beginning in
chapter three we learn of five judges that God rose up to lead His people to freedom and a
times of peace.
The spiritual cycle seen in Israelites as depicted in the Book of Judges is similar to the
spiritual cycle in the lives of Christians as well.
***First, we hear that
I. Trouble Lingered vv. 1 5
These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the
wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not
had previous battle experience): the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians,
and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. They
were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the LORD's commands, which he had
given their forefathers through Moses.
Understanding the Word:
1. Why did God leave certain nations in the Promise Land? _____________________________
2. The thought is that God wanted them to learn how to ______________/__________________.
3. Why was this necessary? _______________________________________________________
4. How does this parallel the Christian life? ___________________________________________
5. Was there another purpose for God leaving these people in Canaan? ___________________
6. Why does God also leave certain things in our lives? _______________________________
***Second, we hear of the
II. Source of Trouble vv. 5 - 7
The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. They
took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals
and the Asherahs.
Understanding the Word:
1. Were the other nations far from the Israelites? _____________________________________
2. Due to their proximity they were _________________ and their ________________________.

3. When that occurred what resulted? _______________________________________________

4. How did God view this? ________________________________________________________
5. To what degree did they turn to other gods? _______________________________________
***Third, we hear of
III. Gods First Judge vv. 8 11
The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of CushanRishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. But when
they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger
brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge
and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who
overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.
Understanding the Word:
1. When that happened what did God do? ____________________________________________
2. How long were the Israelites enslaved? ____________________________________________
3. During their captivity what did they do? ____________________________________________
4. What did God do? ________________________
5. Who was this deliverer? ________________________________________________________
6. What did he do? ________________________________________________________________
7. How was he empowered? ________________________________________________________
8. How long did Israel experience peace? _____________________________________________
***Fourth, we hear of
IV. Gods Second Judge vv. 12 30
Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the LORD
gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon
came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. The Israelites were subject
to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years. Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave
them a delivererEhud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him
with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a foot and a
half long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. He presented the tribute to Eglon
king of Moab, who was a very fat man. After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way the
men who had carried it. At the idols near Gilgal he himself turned back and said, "I have a secret
message for you, O king." The king said, "Quiet!" And all his attendants left him. Ehud then
approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his summer palace and said, "I have
a message from God for you." As the king rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew

the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king's belly. Even the handle sank in after the
blade, which came out his back. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. Then
Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them. After
he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, "He must
be relieving himself in the inner room of the house." They waited to the point of embarrassment, but
when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their
LORD fallen to the floor, dead. While they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the idols and
escaped to Seirah. When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the
Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them. Follow me," he ordered, "for the
LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands." So they followed him down and, taking
possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab, they allowed no one to cross over. At that time
they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not a man escaped. That day
Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years.
Understanding the Word:
1. After Othniel died what happened? _______________________________
2. What did God do? _____________________________________________________________
3. How long were the people under the oppression of this king? ________________________
4. Again the people cried to God and He responded by ________________________________.
5. Ehud was a ________________________.
6. Israel sent him with ____________ to give to ________________________.
7. What was on Ehud mind? ____________________
8. How? _________________________________________________________
9. How is Eglon described? _______________________
10. How did Ehud get a private audience with the king? ________________________________
11. Ehud approached the king saying, ___________________________________________.
12. When he was near Eglon he __________________________________________________.
13. After escaping Ehud rallied Israel _______________________________________________.
14. Ehud _______________, by saying, _________________.
15. He encouraged the people by saying, ________________________________________.
16. Israel defeated Moab that day and killed ________________________.
17. The Land had peace after that for _________________.
18. Moab, Israels masters, became their ____________. (A turn of events and circumstances!)

***Fifth, we hear of
V. Gods Third Judge v. 31
After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.
He too saved Israel.
Understanding the Word:
1. What judge succeeded Ehud? _________________
2. Whom did he fight against? _________________
3. What was noted about this Judge? ___________________________________
4. What resulted from his action? ______________________________________
Closing Thoughts:
1. God said He would punish sin and He does! Neither will He allow sin in our lives. Our
Heavenly Father confronts us about our sin and if we do not correct it He will!
2. God is also faithful in restoring His people. His love and promise causes Him to punish and
then restore those He loves back to Himself! We can attest to this because of Gods dealings
with us. We have experienced His mild & strong correction and His sweet restoration.
3. Just as God raised up different deliverers at different times He continues to rise up
preachers, teachers, and certain people at different times to deliverer and lead His people
back to Him.
Pray