Judges 3-5 - Prayer Tents

Judges 3

The Nations Left in Canaan

3These are the nations that the LORD left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan.H1471H3068H3240H5254H3478H3045H4421H36672He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle.H7535H1755H1121H3478H3045H3925H4421H6440H30453These are the nations: the Philistines (those living under the five Philistine rulers), all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.H2568H5633H6430H3669H6722H2340H3427H2022H3844H2022H1179H935H25744These people were left to test the Israelites—to see whether they would obey the commands the LORD had given to their ancestors through Moses.H5254H3478H3045H8085H4687H3068H6680H1H3027H48725So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites,H1121H3478H3427H7130H3669H2850H567H6522H2340H29836and they intermarried with them. Israelite sons married their daughters, and Israelite daughters were given in marriage to their sons. And the Israelites served their gods.H3947H1323H802H5414H1323H1121H5647H430

Othniel Becomes Israel’s Judge

7The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight. They forgot about the LORD their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles.H1121H3478H6213H7451H5869H3068H7911H3068H430H5647H1168H8428Then the LORD burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim

. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.H639H3068H2734H3478H4376H3027H3573H4428H763H1121H3478H5647H3573H8083H81419But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother, Kenaz.H1121H3478H2199H3068H3068H6965H3467H1121H3478H3467H6274H1121H7073H3612H6996H25110The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel's judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the LORD gave Othniel victory over him.H7307H3068H8199H3478H3318H4421H3068H5414H3573H4428H763H3027H3027H5810H357311So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.H776H8252H705H8141H6274H1121H7073H4191

Ehud Becomes Israel’s Judge

12Once again the Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight, and the LORD gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil.H1121H3478H6213H7451H3254H5869H3068H3068H2388H5700H4428H4124H3478H6213H7451H5869H306813Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms.H622H1121H5983H6002H3212H5221H3478H3423H5892H8558H589914And the Israelites served Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.H1121H3478H5647H5700H4428H4124H8083H6240H814115But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab.H1121H3478H2199H3068H3068H6965H3467H164H1121H1617H1145H376H334H3225H3027H1121H3478H7971H4503H5700H4428H412416So Ehud 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.H164H6213H2719H8147H6366H1574H753H2296H4055H3225H340917He brought the tribute money to Eglon, who was very fat.H7126H4503H5700H4428H4124H5700H3966H1277H37618After delivering the payment, Ehud started home with those who had helped carry the tribute.H3615H7126H4503H7971H5971H5375H450319But when Ehud reached the stone idols near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon 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.H7725H6456H1537H559H5643H1697H4428H559H2013H5975H331820Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you!" As King Eglon rose from his seat,H164H935H3427H4747H5944H164H559H1697H430H6965H367821Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king's belly.H164H7971H8040H3027H3947H2719H3225H3409H8628H99022The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king's fat. So Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king's bowels emptied

.H5325H935H310H3851H2459H5462H1157H3851H8025H2719H990H6574H331823Then Ehud closed and locked the doors of the room and escaped down the latrine

.H164H3318H4528H5462H1817H5944H527424After Ehud 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,H3318H5650H935H7200H1817H5944H5274H559H5526H7272H4747H231525so they waited. But when the king didn't 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.H2342H954H6605H1817H5944H3947H4668H6605H113H5307H4191H77626While the servants were waiting, Ehud escaped, passing the stone idols on his way to Seirah.H164H4422H4102H5674H6456H4422H816727When he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Ehud sounded a call to arms. Then he led a band of Israelites down from the hills.H935H8628H7782H2022H669H1121H3478H3381H2022H644028"Follow me," he said, "for the LORD has given you victory over Moab your enemy." So they followed him. And the Israelites took control of the shallow crossings of the Jordan River across from Moab, preventing anyone from crossing.H559H7291H310H3068H5414H341H4124H3027H3381H310H3920H4569H3383H4124H5414H376H567429They attacked the Moabites and killed about 10,000 of their strongest and most able-bodied warriors. Not one of them escaped.H5221H4124H6256H6235H505H376H8082H376H2428H4422H37630So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.H4124H3665H3117H3027H3478H776H8252H8084H8141

Shamgar Becomes Israel’s Judge

31After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.H310H8044H1121H6067H5221H6430H8337H3967H376H1241H4451H3467H3478

Judges 4

Deborah Becomes Israel’s Judge

4After Ehud's death, the Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight.H1121H3478H3254H6213H7451H5869H3068H164H41912So the LORD turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim.H3068H4376H3027H2985H4428H3667H4427H2674H8269H6635H5516H3427H2800H14713Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help.H1121H3478H6817H3068H8672H3967H7393H1270H6242H8141H2394H3905H1121H34784Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time.H1683H5031H802H3941H8199H3478H62565She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment.H3427H8560H1683H7414H1008H2022H669H1121H3478H5927H49416One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor.H7971H7121H1301H1121H42H6943H559H3068H430H3478H6680H3212H4900H2022H8396H3947H6235H505H376H1121H5321H1121H20747And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin's army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him."H4900H5158H7028H5516H8269H2985H6635H7393H1995H5414H30278Barak told her, "I will go, but only if you go with me."H1301H559H3212H1980H3212H32129"Very well," she replied, "I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the LORD's victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.H559H1980H3212H657H1870H1980H8597H3068H4376H5516H3027H802H1683H6965H3212H1301H694310At Kedesh, Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and 10,000 warriors went up with him. Deborah also went with him.H1301H2199H2074H5321H6943H5927H6235H505H376H7272H1683H592711Now Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses' brother-in-law

Hobab, had moved away from the other members of his tribe and pitched his tent by the oak of Zaanannim near Kedesh.H2268H7017H1121H2246H2859H4872H6504H7017H5186H168H436H6815H694312When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor,H5046H5516H1301H1121H42H5927H2022H839613he called for all 900 of his iron chariots and all of his warriors, and they marched from Harosheth-haggoyim to the Kishon River.H5516H2199H7393H8672H3967H7393H1270H5971H2800H1471H5158H702814Then Deborah said to Barak, "Get ready! This is the day the LORD will give you victory over Sisera, for the LORD is marching ahead of you." So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle.H1683H559H1301H6965H3117H3068H5414H5516H3027H3068H3318H6440H1301H3381H2022H8396H6235H505H376H31015When Barak attacked, the LORD threw Sisera and all his chariots and warriors into a panic. Sisera leaped down from his chariot and escaped on foot.H3068H2000H5516H7393H4264H6310H2719H6440H1301H5516H3381H4818H5127H727216Then Barak chased the chariots and the enemy army all the way to Harosheth-haggoyim, killing all of Sisera's warriors. Not a single one was left alive.H1301H7291H310H7393H4264H2800H1471H4264H5516H5307H6310H2719H259H760417Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber's family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor.H5516H5127H7272H168H3278H802H2268H7017H7965H2985H4428H2674H1004H2268H701718Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come into my tent, sir. Come in. Don't be afraid." So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.H3278H3318H7125H5516H559H5493H113H5493H3372H5493H168H3680H806319"Please give me some water," he said. "I'm thirsty." So she gave him some milk from a leather bag and covered him again.H559H4592H4325H8248H6770H6605H4997H2461H8248H368020"Stand at the door of the tent," he told her. "If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no."H559H5975H6607H168H376H935H7592H559H3426H376H3426H55921But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg in her hand. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died.H3278H2268H802H3947H3489H168H7760H4718H3027H935H3814H8628H3489H7541H6795H776H7290H5774H419122When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. She said, "Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for." So he followed her into the tent and found Sisera lying there dead, with the tent peg through his temple.H1301H7291H5516H3278H3318H7125H559H3212H7200H376H1245H935H5516H5307H4191H3489H754123So on that day Israel saw God defeat Jabin, the Canaanite king.H430H3665H3117H2985H4428H3667H6440H1121H347824And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him.H3027H1121H3478H3212H1980H7186H2985H4428H3667H3772H2985H4428H3667

Judges 5

The Song of Deborah

5On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song.H7891H1683H1301H1121H42H3117H5592"Israel's leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise the LORD!H1288H3068H6544H6546H3478H5971H50683"Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you mighty rulers! For I will sing to the LORD. I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel.H8085H4428H238H7336H7891H3068H2167H3068H430H34784"LORD, when you set out from Seir and marched across the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the cloudy skies poured down rain.H3068H3318H8165H6805H7704H123H776H7493H8064H5197H5645H5197H43255The mountains quaked in the presence of the LORD, the God of Mount Sinai—in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.H2022H5140H6440H3068H5514H6440H3068H430H34786"In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the days of Jael, people avoided the main roads, and travelers stayed on winding pathways.H3117H8044H1121H6067H3117H3278H734H2308H1980H3212H6128H54107There were few people left in the villages of Israel

—until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel.H6520H2308H2308H3478H1683H6965H6965H517H34788When Israel chose new gods, war erupted at the city gates. Yet not a shield or spear could be seen among forty thousand warriors in Israel!H977H2319H430H3901H8179H4043H7420H7200H705H505H34789My heart is with the commanders of Israel, with those who volunteered for war. Praise the LORD!H3820H2710H3478H5068H5971H1288H306810"Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys, you who sit on fancy saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road.H7878H7392H6715H860H3427H4055H1980H187011Listen to the village musicians

gathered at the watering holes. They recount the righteous victories of the LORD and the victories of his villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD marched down to the city gates.H6963H2686H4857H8567H6666H3068H6666H6520H3478H5971H3068H3381H817912"Wake up, Deborah, wake up! Wake up, wake up, and sing a song! Arise, Barak! Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!H5782H5782H1683H5782H5782H1696H7892H6965H1301H7628H7617H1121H4213"Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles. The people of the LORD marched down against mighty warriors.H8300H7287H117H5971H3068H7287H136814They came down from Ephraim—a land that once belonged to the Amalekites; they followed you, Benjamin, with your troops. From Makir the commanders marched down; from Zebulun came those who carry a commander's staff.H669H8328H6002H310H1144H5971H4353H3381H2710H2074H4900H7626H560815The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak. They followed Barak, rushing into the valley. But in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision.H8269H3485H1683H3485H1301H7971H7272H6010H6390H7205H1419H2711H382016Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds—to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks? Yes, in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision.H3427H996H4942H8085H8292H5739H6390H7205H1419H2714H382017Gilead remained east of the Jordan. And why did Dan stay home? Asher sat unmoved at the seashore, remaining in his harbors.H1568H7931H5676H3383H1835H1481H591H836H3427H3220H2348H7931H466418But Zebulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.H2074H5321H5971H2778H5315H4191H4791H770419"The kings of Canaan came and fought, at Taanach near Megiddo's springs, but they carried off no silver treasures.H4428H935H3898H3898H4428H3667H8590H4325H4023H3947H1215H370120The stars fought from heaven. The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.H3898H8064H3556H4546H3898H551621The Kishon River swept them away—that ancient torrent, the Kishon. March on with courage, my soul!H5158H7028H1640H6917H5158H5158H7028H5315H1869H579722Then the horses' hooves hammered the ground, the galloping, galloping of Sisera's mighty steeds.H6119H5483H1986H1726H1726H4723'Let the people of Meroz be cursed,' said the angel of the LORD.'Let them be utterly cursed, because they did not come to help the LORD—to help the LORD against the mighty warriors.'H779H4789H559H4397H3068H779H779H3427H935H5833H3068H5833H3068H136824"Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. May she be blessed above all women who live in tents.H1288H802H3278H802H2268H7017H1288H802H16825Sisera asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a bowl fit for nobles, she brought him yogurt.H7592H4325H5414H2461H7126H2529H117H560226Then with her left hand she reached for a tent peg, and with her right hand for the workman's hammer. She struck Sisera with the hammer, crushing his head. With a shattering blow, she pierced his temples.H7971H3027H3489H3225H6001H1989H1986H5516H4277H7218H4272H2498H754127He sank, he fell, he lay still at her feet. And where he sank, there he died.H7272H3766H5307H7901H7272H3766H5307H834H3766H5307H770328"From the window Sisera's mother looked out. Through the window she watched for his return, saying, 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why don't we hear the sound of chariot wheels?'H517H5516H8259H2474H2980H822H7393H954H935H309H6471H481829"Her wise women answer, and she repeats these words to herself.H2450H8282H6030H7725H56130'They must be dividing the captured plunder—with a woman or two for every man. There will be colorful robes for Sisera, and colorful, embroidered robes for me. Yes, the plunder will include colorful robes embroidered on both sides.'H4672H2505H7998H7218H1397H7356H7361H5516H7998H6648H7998H6648H7553H6648H7553H6677H799831"LORD, may all your enemies die like Sisera! But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!" Then there was peace in the land for forty years.H341H6H3068H157H8121H3318H1369H776H8252H705H8141