4. These people were left to test the Israelites—to see whether they would obey the commands the lord had given to their ancestors through Moses.
5. So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites,
6. and they intermarried with them. Israelite sons married their daughters, and Israelite daughters were given in marriage to their sons. And the Israelites served their gods.
7. The Israelites did evil in the lord’s sight. They forgot about the lord their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles.
8. Then the lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.
9. But when the people of Israel cried out to the lord for help, the lord raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz.
10. The Spirit of the lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the lord gave Othniel victory over him.
11. So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
12. Once again the Israelites did evil in the lord’s sight, and the lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil.
13. Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms.
14. And the Israelites served Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.
15. But when the people of Israel cried out to the lord for help, the lord again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab.
16. So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing.
17. He brought the tribute money to Eglon, who was very fat.
18. After delivering the payment, Ehud started home with those who had helped carry the tribute.
19. But when Ehud reached the stone idols near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon and said, “I have a secret message for you.”So the king commanded his servants, “Be quiet!” and he sent them all out of the room.
20. Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you!” As King Eglon rose from his seat,
21. Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly.
22. The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king’s fat. So Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king’s bowels emptied.
23. Then Ehud closed and locked the doors of the room and escaped down the latrine.