Israel’s Apostasy is Described

Judges 3:12–31
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Eglon, king of Moab, with his own people and aided by the Amalekites crossed the Jordan, seized Jericho, and compelled the Jews to pay tribute (vv. 12-13). The Amalekites were nomads of the desert who were fierce fighters. Ehud, a Benjamite, the second judge, took to Eglon a tribute which was probably in the form of agricultural produce (v. 14). He had carefully planned the assassination of the king by sneaking in a 14-inch dagger (vv. 15-16). Pretending to have a secret message from God for the king he aroused the kings’ curiosity and secured a private audience. Ehud approached the king as if to reveal the message but drew the dagger and buried it in the kings’ belly, leaving him to die on the floor (vv. 17-26). Ehud mustered a small army and engaged the Moabites in a surprise attack (vv. 27-30. The result was a great victory for Israel and so devastating was it that for 80 years no enemy wanted to attack them. 

Then the Philistines threatened them from the other direction. God sent Shamgar, the third judge, to deliver His people. This time and did it by killing 600 Philistines with an ox good (v. 31). Then apostasy returned to Israel and the Lord permitted His people to be subjected to Jobin, a Canaanite king. For 20 years Israel was oppressed as Jobin’s 900 chariots were too much for them.

Application

The alliances with idolatrous nations drug Israel into grievous sin. Why did Israel wait until times of emergency to call on the Lord? And why do I neglect the things of God until the hour of crisis?