First 2 Judges (and a Patriot)

Map of Chapter 3 invaders

The last 3 sermons have set up this series by describing the many sinful ways that Canaanites influenced the Israelites when the Hebrews were supposed to be the influencers.

This week we get into the first 2 cycles of wickedness, despair and deliverance. I want you to listen for the type of people God uses to accomplish His purpose.

The first is a short story with few details.

Transition: The first cycle is a very short story with few details. But we see…

Othniel Outshined a famous Big Brother (Judges 3:7-11)

Judges 3:7–11 ESV:2016

7 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 11 So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Pinnacle of Othniel Story (3:9)

10.3 Othniel (Judges 3:7–11)

a beginning of oppression (3:7–8)

b TURNING POINT: Yahweh intervenes and raises up Othniel, who rescues Israel (3:9)

a′ end of oppression (3:10–11)[i]

Othniel’s Wife: Achsah (Judges 1:11-15)

1. If the name Othniel seems familiar, we met him in v.11 of the first chapter of this book where his wife actually gets more of the attention.

2. Caleb’s daughter (He married his niece)

3. She (1st Judges wife) is contrasted to Samson’s (Last Judge) wife.

a. She supported her husband / Delilah betrayed

b. She asked a question for flourishing / Delilah’s question led to ruin

c. She had a brave, godly father / Delilah’s father was a treacherous pagan

Othniel’s Foe (8b)

1. God’s people had neglected to prioritize the worship of Yahweh. They had forgotten the principle that can be summed up in an Arab proverb, “Do not allow a camel to put his nose under the edge of your tent, for soon you will have a camel in your tent.”

2. Today we may say “give them an inch and they’ll take a mile” or “we’ve started down the slippery slope” to describe the subtle ways that apostasy begins.

3. The Hebrews did not prioritize worship and obedience to God and they found themselves serving Cushan-rishathaim.

4. Just as Osama bin Laden led a military organization that was not a recognized state (al-Qaeda) and Baghdadi led ISIS, Cushan-rishathaim was a leader from Mesopotamia (lit. between the rivers).

5. Just as al-Qaeda and ISIS started in the region currently called Iraq or Syria, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, that is exactly where Israel’s first enemy was produced.

6. He is not attested in archeological history because he was not a formal king of a dynasty. However his tyranny oppressed the Hebrews for 8 years.

God’s Blessing of Othniel (v.10)

1. We don’t have any battle details other than God caused Othniel to prevail.

2. The only credentials Othniel has are 1)YHWH called him and 2) the Lord’s Spirit filled him.

3. As the first Judge, Othniel delivered Israel from enemy, while Samson (the last Judge) delivered Israel to the enemy.

Othniel’s Success (v.11)

1. Caleb was a faithful warrior (even into his old age). But wickedness rose immediately in the next generation.

2. Othniel acted in God’s Spirit and the results lasted 40 years.

3. Back in 1:11 Othniel had experienced military victory against Debir. But he is unknown to the Bible reader before this book.

The successes of a pastor are often measured after he leaves.

4. One of the greatest failures of the Priest Eli (at the end of the Judges) was the wickedness of his sons (1 Sam 2:12ff.)

5. A study of the Kings of Israel and Judah reveals that godly kings often left ungodly sons.

6. This first judge was a good judge, with a good wife and his surrender to God’s prompting yielded a good result.

“in the end the real hero of this story is not Othniel but Yahweh. Yahweh hears the groans of his people, he feels pity toward them, he provides the deliverer, and he achieves the deliverance. This will be the pattern throughout the next twelve chapters.”[ii] [Bock]

Application

1. God can establish justice through an unknown younger brother.

2. Othniel was not as popular as his big brother. I would guess that if 30 minutes ago I asked, “Who was Othniel?” Most of us would have been clueless.

3. God’s will is not dependent upon popularity. How many times does God use unexpected heroes?

a. David was the youngest brother out with the sheep when Samuel went looking for a king.

b. Mary was living in obscure Nazareth when God impregnated her by the Holy Spirit.

c. An unnamed boy with 2 fish and 5 pieces of bread was used by Jesus to feed thousands.

1 Corinthians 1:27 ESV:2016

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

Transition: From younger brother Othniel, we meet left-handed Ehud. If Othniel is a theologians story, Ehud is one that captures the attention of junior high boys with unusual detail.

Ehud overcame a Warrior’s Deficiency (Judges 3:12-30)

Pinnacle of Ehud Story (3:20-22)

Ehud (Judges 3:12–30)

a beginning of oppression (3:12–14)

b Ehud’s first trip down to Jericho (3:15–17)

c Ehud leaves palace after giving Eglon tribute (3:18–19)

d TURNING POINT: Yahweh gives victory (cf. 3:28); Ehud’s “message from God”: he kills the enemy king (3:20–22)

c′ Ehud leaves palace after killing Eglon (3:23–26)

b′ Ehud’s second trip down to Jericho (3:27–28a)

a′ end of oppression (3:28b–30)[iii]

Ehud’s Foe (vv.12-14)

1. Eglon is a play on words

a. Egel was the word for “bull” and this king wanted to portray himself like the attorney from Wichita who prides himself on his advertisement with his bull.

b. But agol was the word for “round”

c. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary indicates that this name Eglon is meant to make fun of the Moabite ruler.

d. “Eglon is portrayed as a fattened calf going to the slaughter. This image of physical obesity is rendered even more vivid in vv. 20–22, with the comment that when Ehud stabbed him”[iv]

2. Moab aligned with Ammonites and Amalekites

a. Moab was to the east of the Dead sea below the Arnon river. They were descendants of Lot through an incestuous relationship with his older daughter. (Gen 19:30-37)

b. Ammon was northeast of Moab and were descendents of Lot through his younger daughter. (Gen 19:38)

c. The Amalekites were Israel’s first enemy after leaving Egypt and they had born a grudge ever since. So when they got an opportunity to stick it to the Israelites, they took it.

3. Jericho (the city of Palms) lay in ruins since Joshua’s day and Ehud apparently build a summer palace there to gloat over Israel’s previous victory.

4. Israel served Cushan-rishathaim for 8 years, but had to deal with Eglon for 18.

Ehud’s Strategy (vv.15-26)

1. Ehud was left-handed. He would use this perceived weakness as his strength.

a. Ironically v.15 identifies him as a Benjaminite. Ben-yamini means “son of the right hand”, but the text says he had “a bound right hand” or translated as “left-handed”

b. Ancient soldiers would bear a shield on their “off” hand and a sword in their strong hand.

c. At this time in history (between the bronze and iron ages), swords were usually sickle shaped with a sharp outer edge for swiping.

d. Archeology reveals the general understanding that most (better) soldiers were right-handed. If they built a ramp on the outside of the city walls, it would be constructed so that defensive shields would be to the outside. This made it easier to defend by exposing the right side of the attackers.

e. Ehud crafted an 18-inch dagger sharpened on both edges and hid it on his right hip where Eglon’s security detail would likely not look.

f. The Moabite is portrayed as fat, dumb and happy; but the Benjaminite is crafty, strategic and skilled.

2. Ehud played to Eglon’s ego by bringing a tribute, then enticed him with a secret message.

3. They go to a private area above the throne room. The dagger goes in deep and the wound produces an aroma that any who have field dressed an animal may recognize.

4. Ehud locks the door and escapes to call others to battle

5. Meanwhile, Eglons soldiers smell the aroma and find the door is locked so they jump to a reasonable conclusion.

The ancient lock would have been a bar that fits into a socket (not unlike some that you may have used in a bathroom stall. Ehud closes the door in a way that causes the bar to fall into the socket and he casually walks away. The key would lift the bar out of the socket so that the door could open.

God’s Blessing of Ehud (vv.27-30)

1. Apparently the story of Ehud’s humiliation of Eglon spreads and gives courage to the Israelites so that they are willing to follow him into battle (v.27)

2. Ehud gives glory to God for the victory and they go into the plains of the Jordan to defeat any Moabites trying to retreat to Moab. (v.28)

3. God gave victory over 10,000 healthy soldiers. (v.29)

4. This battle brought 80 years of peace. (v.30)

Application

1. From all appearances Ehud had a disability because he was not right-handed.

2. Ehud turned his disability into a different-ability. If he couldn’t use his right hand as everybody expected, he could use his other hand (with the element of surprise) to accomplish more than anyone ever thought possible.

3. You may not have boldness to speak in front of people, you may not have a lot of Biblical understanding, you may not be impressive to others. But God can take what you think to be weaknesses and use your faithfulness to show His power in surprising ways.

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV:2016

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Transition: Sometime after Ehud’s battle in v.30 and before his death in 4:1, during the 80 years of peace we are introduced to 1 other unlikely hero.

Shamgar Assisted Ehud’s Peace (Judges 3:31)

Judges 3:31 ESV:2016

31 After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.

Shamgar’s Foe

1. Meanwhile, on the other side of the country…

2. Philistines were coastal peoples. History records their movement from the North moving south to take advantage of the weakened state of the Egyptians.

God’s Blessing of Shamgar

1. Anath was the goddess of war. “Son of Anath” may be a description of a warrior type person.

2. Ancient Hebrew is built on words with 3 consonants. Shamgar is unusual in that it has 4 sh-m-g-r. If we ignore the sh, the MGR would be the root for the word farmer.

3. Add to that his use of an oxgoad. This would have been a pole with a poker on one end and a hoe or spade on the other used to clean the plow and take care of other tasks around an ox.

4. The number 600 was used to refer to a unit of military force.

A Paraphrase

1. I believe what this verse is telling us is that while God was using a left-handed hero to handle the Moabites on the East, He also used a big-ol farm boy on the West to handle a rogue regiment of Philistines.

2. When Israel cried out in distress, God delivered them with unlikely heroes from both sides.

Conclusion:

We live in an era when perceived privilege shapes many expectations of others: “She only excelled because of her privilege” or “He can’t be expected to succeed because he lacks privilege or opportunity.”

Today’s text reminds us that privilege is an excuse and God’s work is not limited to those with privilege. He uses the unknown younger brother, the warrior with the bound right hand, and an ordinary farmer to intervene in the common rebellion of man against God.

99 years ago Myra Brooks Welch wrote a poem that would later be turned into a song and at least 2 short films.

'Twas battered and scarred, And the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while

To waste his time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried, "Who starts the bidding for me?"

"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?" "Two dollars, who makes it three?"

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"

But, No, From the room far back a gray bearded man Came forward and picked up the bow,

Then wiping the dust from the old violin And tightening up the strings,

He played a melody, pure and sweet; As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?" As he held it aloft with its' bow.

"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?" "Two thousand, Who’ll makes it three?"

"Three thousand once, three thousand twice, Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered, But some of them cried,

"We just don't understand." "What changed its' worth?"

Swift came the reply, "The Touch of the Master’s Hand."

If you feel this morning like an old battered violin, think of Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar and remember God can do amazing things with a simple, surrendered believer. He did it in Judges 3 and He can do it in Chase County 2020.

[i] David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis–Malachi (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), 108.

[ii] Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 150.

[iii] David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis–Malachi (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), 109.

[iv] Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 158.