What does Judges 3:15 mean?
"But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab." - Judges 3:15
The Book of Judges is a historical and literary work in the Bible that details the period of Israelite history following the conquest of Canaan and preceding the establishment of a monarchy in Israel. The book is characterized by a recurring cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance, as the Israelites repeatedly turn away from God, leading to their oppression by foreign powers, only to be delivered by a series of "judges" whom God raises up to rescue them.
Judges 3:15 in the King James Version reads: "But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man left-handed: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab."
This verse highlights the theme of deliverance and the unexpected ways in which God works to save His people. The Israelites are in a state of oppression under Eglon, the Moabite king, and they cry out to the Lord for deliverance. In response to their cry, God raises up Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. This verse illustrates the faithfulness of God to respond to the pleas of His people and to raise up unlikely saviors to deliver them from their enemies.
The context of Judges 3:15 is set in a tumultuous period of Israelite history, where the Israelites are in a constant cycle of turning away from God and falling into oppression as a result. This verse reflects God's merciful response to the cries of His people, even in the midst of their disobedience. It also highlights the recurring theme of God using unexpected and unassuming individuals to accomplish His purposes.
The symbolism in this verse is seen in the character of Ehud, who is described as "left-handed." In ancient Israelite culture, left-handedness was often seen as a disadvantage or a sign of weakness. However, in this verse, it becomes a symbol of Ehud's uniqueness and the unexpected way in which God chooses to work through him. The use of a left-handed man as a deliverer serves as a reminder that God's ways are not always predictable or conventional, and He often uses the weak and the marginalized to accomplish His purposes.
Furthermore, the act of sending a present to Eglon, the Moabite king, is symbolic of the Israelites' attempt to appease their oppressor and seek favor in his eyes. However, this act ultimately serves as a cover for Ehud's true intention, as he uses the opportunity to assassinate Eglon and lead the Israelites to victory over their enemies. This act of subterfuge and deception is a reminder of God's ability to work through unconventional means to bring about deliverance for His people.
In conclusion, Judges 3:15 conveys the themes of deliverance, faithfulness, and the unexpected ways in which God works in the midst of human weakness and disobedience. The verse illustrates God's response to the cries of His people and His ability to use unlikely individuals to accomplish His purposes. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His willingness to intervene on behalf of His people, even in the midst of their failings.
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Judges 3:15 Artwork
Judges 3:15 - "But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab."
"But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab." - Judges 3:15
Judges 15:3 - "¶ And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure."
Judges 15:15
Judges 9:8-15
John 8:15 - "Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man."
Judges 15:20 - "And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years."
Judges 15:15 - "And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith."
Judges 3:31
Judges 4:15 – "The Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword."
Judges 15:9 - "¶ Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi."
"¶ And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure." - Judges 15:3
Judges 21:15 - "And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel."
Judges 12:15 - "And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites."
Zephaniah 3:3 - "Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow."
Judges 10:3 - "¶ And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years."
"And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years." - Judges 15:20
"Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man." - John 8:15
1 Samuel 24:15 - "The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand."
Judges 3:6 - "And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods."
Judges 18:15 - "And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him."
3:15 The Lord has taken away those who were judging you, he has sent your haters far away: the King of Israel, even the Lord, is among you: you will have no more fear of evil.
Judges 15:8 - "And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam."
Judges 15:16 - "And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men."
Judges 3:11 - "And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died."
Judges 3:14 - "So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years."
Judges 13:3 make the Angel of the Lord male
Judges 3:3 - "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."
Judges 11:15 - "And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:"
Judges 15:7 - "¶ And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease."