1 Now these are the nations which Jehovah 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 beforetime knew nothing thereof: 3 namely, the 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 entrance of Hamath. 4 And they were left, to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah, which he commanded their fathers by Moses. 5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites: 6 and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.

7 And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and forgat Jehovah their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 And when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised up a saviour to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Jehovah delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand: and his hand prevailed against Cushan-rishathaim. 11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

12 And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and Jehovah strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. 13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and smote Israel, and they possessed the city of palm-trees. 14 And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

15 But when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised them up a saviour, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed. And the children of Israel sent tribute by him unto Eglon the king of Moab. 16 And Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh. 17 And he offered the tribute unto Eglon king of Moab: now Eglon was a very fat man. 18 And when he had made an end of offering the tribute, he sent away the people that bare the tribute. 19 But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king. And he said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. 20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. 21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body: 22 and the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, for he drew not the sword out of his body; and it came out behind. 23 Then Ehud went forth into the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room upon him, and locked them.

24 Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and, behold, the doors of the upper room were locked; and they said, Surely he is covering his feet in the upper chamber. 25 And they tarried till they were ashamed; and, behold, he opened not the doors of the upper room: therefore they took the key, and opened them; and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirah. 27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the hill-country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel went down with him from the hill-country, and he before them. 28 And he said unto them, Follow after me; for Jehovah hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over. 29 And they smote of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, every lusty man, and every man of valor; and there escaped not a man. 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.

31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who smote of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad: and he also saved Israel.

1 Estas são as nações que Jeová deixou, para por elas provar a Israel, isto é, a quantos não tiveram experiência de todas as guerras de Canaã.

2 Isto fez tão-somente para que as gerações dos filhos de Israel tivessem experiência de guerra, sendo nela instruídos unicamente os que dantes não tinham essa experiência.

3 Estas são os cinco régulos dos filisteus, e todos os cananeus, e os sidônios, e os heveus que habitavam no monte Líbano, desde o monte Baal-Hermom até a entrada de Hamate.

4 Estes serviram para provar a Israel, a fim de saber se eles obedeceriam aos mandamentos de Jeová, que ele ordenou aos seus pais por intermédio de Moisés.

5 Os filhos de Israel habitaram no meio dos cananeus, dos heteus, dos amorreus, dos ferezeus, dos heveus e dos jebuseus.

6 Tomaram por mulheres as filhas deles, deram suas filhas aos filhos dos mesmos, e serviram aos seus deuses.

7 Os filhos de Israel fizeram o mal à vista de Jeová, e esqueceram-se de Jeová seu Deus, servindo os baalins e as aserotes.

8 Pelo que se acendeu a ira de Jeová contra Israel, e os entregou nas mãos de Cusã-Risataim, rei de Mesopotâmia; os filhos de Israel serviram a Cusã-Risataim oito anos.

9 Quando os filhos de Israel clamaram a Jeová, suscitou-lhes ele um salvador que os livrou, a saber, Otniel filho de Quenaz, irmão mais moço de Calebe.

10 O espírito de Jeová veio sobre ele, e ele julgou a Israel; saiu a pelejar, e Jeová entregou-lhe nas mãos a Cusã-Risataim, rei de Mesopotâmia, contra o qual prevaleceu a sua mão.

11 A terra teve descanso quarenta anos. Otniel, filho de Quenaz, morreu.

12 Então tornaram os filhos de Israel a fazer o mal à vista de Jeová; e Jeová fortaleceu a Eglom, rei de Moabe, contra Israel, porque haviam feito o mal à sua vista.

13 Eglom, unindo a si os filhos de Amom e de Amaleque, foi-se e feriu a Israel. Apoderaram-se da cidade das palmeiras,

14 e os filhos de Israel serviram a Eglom, rei de Moabe, dezoito anos.

15 Mas, quando os filhos de Israel clamaram a Jeová, suscitou-lhes ele um salvador, Eúde, filho de Gera, benjamita, homem canhoto. Por ele enviaram os filhos de Israel tributo a Eglom, rei de Moabe.

16 Eúde, fazendo para si um punhal de dois gumes, dum côvado de comprido, cingiu-o debaixo do vestido à sua coxa direita.

17 Apresentou o tributo a Eglom, rei de Moabe: ora Eglom era em extremo gordo.

18 Eúde despediu a gente que trouxera o tributo, depois de o ter apresentado.

19 Porém ele mesmo voltou das pedras esculpidas que estavam junto a Gilgal, e disse: Tenho que dizer-te, ó rei, uma palavra em segredo. Disse o rei: Silêncio! Todos os que lhe assistiam, saíram da sua presença.

20 Eúde entrou a ele, e o rei estava sentado inteiramente a sós na sua sala de verão. Disse Eúde: Tenho que dizer-te uma palavra da parte de Deus. O rei levantou-se logo da sua cadeira.

21 Então Eúde, estendendo a mão esquerda, tirou o punhal de sobre a coxa direita, e lho cravou no ventre.

22 O cabo também entrou após a folha, e a gordura fechou-se sobre ela, porque não tirou do ventre o punhal. Saíram as fezes.

23 Eúde, saindo ao pórtico, cerrou sobre ele as portas da sala, e trancou-as.

24 Depois de ter ele saído, vieram os servos do rei. Olharam, e eis que as portas da sala estavam trancadas. Disseram: Sem dúvida ele está aliviando o ventre na privada do seu quarto.

25 Esperaram até que viram que estavam enganados, pois que não abriu as portas da sala; portanto, tomaram a chave e as abriram. Eis que o seu senhor estava estendido morto em terra.

26 Eúde escapou enquanto se demoravam e, tendo passado pelas pedras esculpidas, foi para Seirá.

27 Depois de ter chegado, tocou na trombeta o alarme na região montanhosa de Efraim, e os filhos de Israel, com ele à frente, desceram dali.

28 Disse-lhes: Segui-me, porque Jeová vos entregou nas mãos os vossos inimigos, os moabitas. Desceram após ele, apoderaram-se dos vaus do Jordão contra os moabitas, e não deixaram passar nem um só homem.

29 Naquele tempo feriram dos moabitas uns dez mil homens, cada um deles robusto e valente; e não escapou nem sequer um.

30 Assim foi subjugado Moabe naquele dia debaixo da mão de Israel. A terra teve descanso oitenta anos.

31 Depois dele foi Sangar, filho de Anate, que matou a seiscentos homens dos filisteus com uma aguilhada de boi: também ele livrou a Israel.