Judges 3:7-5:31

In this section, we see the cycle of...

1. Sin
2. Punishment
3. Cry
4. Deliverance

Example #1
Israel sinned by marrying people of differing beliefs (3:6), and serving false gods (3:7). So God became angry and sold Israel to a foreign king (3:8). Then Israel cried out to God (3:9a), so God raised up Othniel to deliver them (3:9b-11).

Example #2
Israel sinned (left vague, 3:12a). So God gave them over to the Moabites for 18 years (3:12b-14). Then Israel cried out to God (3:15a), so God raised up Ehud to deliver them (3:15b-30). We are given more information about Ehud's method of deliverance. He delivered tribute to Eglon (King of Moab), gained private conference with him, and stabbed him to death.

Example #3
Shamgar delivered Israel from the Philistines. We are given very little information about this deliverance (3:31).

Example #4
Israel sinned (left vague, 4:1). So the Lord sold them to Jabin, King of the Canaanites. After 20 years, the Israelites cried to the Lord (4:3). Deborah was a prophetess and was leading Israel at the time (this makes her quite unique among her gender). She sent for Barak to lead Israel's military into war against Jabin, but he refused to go without Deborah. Deborah agreed to go, but warned Jabin that he would not now receive the honor in the victory (a woman would). The Israelites were, indeed, successful, but it was Jael (the wife of Heber the Kenite) who had the honor of killing Sisera (Eglon's military general) by smashing a tent peg through his head. Chapter 5 records the song of victory sung by Deborah and Barak.