Ehud. ¹² Again the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so he strengthened Eglon, king of Moab, against Israel because they did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. ¹³ Taking the Ammonites and Amalek as allies, he went and defeated Israel, taking possession of the City of Palms. ¹⁴ So the Israelites served Eglon, king of Moab, for eighteen years.

¹⁵ But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a savior, Ehud, son of Gera, a Benjaminite who was left-handed.^[a] The Israelites would send their tribute to Eglon, king of Moab, by him.

² So the Lord sold them into the power of the Canaanite king, Jabin, who reigned in Hazor. The general of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim.^{(A) 3 (B)}But the Israelites cried out to the Lord; for with his nine hundred iron chariots Jabin harshly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.

⁷ the Lord became angry with Israel and he sold them into the power of the Philistines and the Ammonites.

Chapter 13

The Birth of Samson. ^1 (A)The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, who therefore delivered them into the power of the Philistines for forty years.