The Skeptics Annotated Bible (226 page)

18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:

22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

3
Now
these are the nations which the LORD left
, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel 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 before knew nothing thereof;

3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath.

4 And they were to 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.

5 And the children of Israel dwelt among
the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:

(3.1-5)
“These are the nations which the LORD left … the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites.”
See note for 1.21-29

6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

(3.7-8) The Israelites do evil (again) in the sight of the Lord, and he sells them (again). (See Judges 2.14, 4.2, 6.1, and 10.7.)

7 And
the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD
, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.

(3.7)
“The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD.”

8 Therefore
the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them
into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years.

(3.8)
“The anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them.”

(3.9-10)
The LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim
After God sold the Israelites, the Israelites cried out to God, so God sent a deliverer—Othniel, Caleb’s little brother. The spirit of the Lord comes upon Othniel and causes him to go to war. Whom did Othiniel go to war with? Chushanrishathaim—the guy that God sold the Israelites to.
God’s 42nd Killing

9 And
when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer
to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even
Othniel
the son of Kenaz,
Caleb’s younger brother.

(3.9)
“When the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer … Othniel … Caleb’s younger brother.”

10 And
the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he
judged Israel, and
went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushan-rishathaim
king of Mesopotamia
into his hand
; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.

(3.10)
“The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he … went to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim … into his hand.”

11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

12 And the
children of Israel did 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.

13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.

14
So the children of Israel served Eglon
the king of Moab
eighteen years
.

(3.12-14)
“The children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel … So the children of Israel served Eglon … eighteen years.”

(3.15-22)
Ehud delivers a message from God
The Israelites cry out to God again. (“Yahweh! Yahweh!) And God raises up a hero for them, a left-handed guy named Ehud, whom God sends to deliver a present: a knife blade in pushed into Eglon’s belly so far that “the dirt came out.”
God’s 43rd Killing