"Follow me," he told them, "for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand." So they followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over. “Follow me,” he told themEhud, the judge of Israel, calls the Israelites to action. This phrase signifies leadership and the call to unity among the people of God. In the context of the Judges, leaders were often raised by God to deliver Israel from oppression. This call to follow is reminiscent of other biblical leaders like Moses and Joshua, who also led the people in times of need. It foreshadows the ultimate call to follow Christ, who invites His disciples to follow Him. “for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.”
This statement reflects the belief in divine intervention and the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. The Moabites, descendants of Lot, were often in conflict with Israel. The phrase underscores the recurring theme in Judges of God delivering His people despite their unfaithfulness. It also highlights the sovereignty of God in battles, as seen in other scriptures like 1 Samuel 17:47, where David acknowledges that the battle is the Lord's. So they followed him down
The Israelites respond to Ehud's call, demonstrating trust in his leadership and faith in God's deliverance. This action signifies obedience and courage, essential qualities for God's people. The act of following a leader chosen by God is a recurring theme in the Bible, seen in the followers of Moses, Joshua, and ultimately Jesus Christ. and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab
The fords of the Jordan were strategic locations, as they were the crossing points of the river. Controlling these fords meant cutting off the Moabites' escape and reinforcements. This strategic move reflects the importance of geography in biblical narratives and the tactical wisdom given by God to His leaders. The Jordan River often symbolizes transitions and new beginnings, as seen in the Israelites' crossing into the Promised Land under Joshua. and they did not allow anyone to cross over.
This decisive action ensured the complete victory over the Moabites. It demonstrates the thoroughness of God's deliverance and the importance of obedience to His commands. The phrase also highlights the finality of God's judgment against His enemies, a theme that resonates throughout scripture, pointing to the ultimate victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ. Persons / Places / Events 1. EhudA left-handed judge of Israel who delivered the Israelites from Moabite oppression. He is the central figure in this passage, leading the Israelites to victory. 2. The MoabitesThe enemies of Israel at this time, who had oppressed the Israelites for eighteen years. They were descendants of Lot and often in conflict with Israel. 3. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who is credited with delivering the Moabites into the hands of the Israelites, emphasizing divine intervention. 4. The Fords of the JordanStrategic crossing points of the Jordan River, which the Israelites seized to prevent the Moabites from escaping or receiving reinforcements. 5. The IsraelitesThe people of God, who were oppressed by the Moabites and rallied by Ehud to reclaim their freedom. Teaching Points Divine DeliveranceRecognize that God is the ultimate deliverer. Just as He delivered Israel from the Moabites, He delivers us from our spiritual enemies. Leadership and ObedienceEhud's leadership and the Israelites' obedience to follow him demonstrate the importance of godly leadership and the willingness to act in faith. Strategic ActionThe seizing of the fords shows the importance of strategic thinking and action in fulfilling God's purposes. Faith in ActionThe Israelites' response to Ehud's call to action is a reminder that faith often requires us to step out and take decisive action. God's SovereigntyThe passage underscores God's control over nations and events, encouraging trust in His sovereign plans. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Ehud's leadership inspire you to take action in areas where God is calling you to lead or serve? 2. In what ways can you recognize and seize "strategic fords" in your life where God is calling you to take a stand or make a change? 3. How does the account of Ehud and the Moabites encourage you to trust in God's deliverance in your current struggles? 4. What other biblical accounts of deliverance can you relate to Judges 3:28, and how do they reinforce the theme of God's faithfulness? 5. How can you apply the principle of obedience to godly leadership in your community or church setting today? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 14The crossing of the Red Sea, where God delivered Israel from the Egyptians, parallels the strategic control of the Jordan fords, highlighting God's deliverance. Joshua 3-4The crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land, which signifies God's faithfulness and power in leading His people to victory. 1 Samuel 17David's victory over Goliath, another instance where God delivers Israel from their enemies through an unlikely hero. | A Distinct Message | Spurgeon, Charles Haddon | Judges 3:12-30 | | A Message from God | W. Rudder, D. D. | Judges 3:12-30 | | A Message from God | J. Cumming, D. D. | Judges 3:12-30 | | A Message from God | J. B. C. Murphy, B. A. | Judges 3:12-30 | | A Sermon Upon Keys | John Mitchell. | Judges 3:12-30 | | Application of the Truth | | Judges 3:12-30 | | Effective Preachers Compared to Ehud | John McNeill. | Judges 3:12-30 | | Ehud: Left-Handedness | J. Parker, D. D. | Judges 3:12-30 | | God's Messages | J. P. Millar. | Judges 3:12-30 | | I have a Message from God unto Thee | T. Raffles, D. D. | Judges 3:12-30 | | Lessons from the Death of Eglon | T. De Witt Talmage. | Judges 3:12-30 | | Sin -- Suffering; Penitence and Deliverance Repeated | J. P. Millar. | Judges 3:12-30 | | The Christian Minister Bearing a Message from God to Man | H. S. Plumptre, M. A. | Judges 3:12-30 | | The Gospel Message | D. Johnston, D. D. | Judges 3:12-30 | | The Gospel Message | E. Cooper, M. A. | Judges 3:12-30 | | The Summer Parlour | W.F. Bishop. | Judges 3:12-30 | | Unexpected Perils | S. Baring-Gould, M. A. | Judges 3:12-30 |
People Amalek, Amalekites, Ammonites, Amorites, Anath, Aram, Canaanites, Chushanrishathaim, Chushan-rishathaim, Eglon, Ehud, Gera, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Israelites, Jebusites, Kenaz, Moabites, Othniel, Perizzites, Shamgar, Sidonians, ZidoniansPlaces Canaan, Gilgal, Jordan River, Lebanon, Lebo-hamath, Mesopotamia, Moab, Mount Baal-hermon, SeirahTopics Across, Allow, Allowed, Anyone, Capture, Cross, Crossing-places, Delivered, Didn't, Enemies, Enemy, Follow, Followed, Fords, Hands, Haters, Jordan, Led, Moab, Moabites, Opposite, Ordered, Pass, Passages, Permitted, Possession, Pursue, Seized, Suffered, Taking, TowardsDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 3:28 4260 rivers and streams Judges 3:27-28 5595 trumpet Judges 3:28-30 5572 sword Library Use what You Have
Few people really are and do their best. Nature has blessed a few with great talents and abilities. These persons often become proud, self-centered, and feel themselves to be superior, and for that reason many times they fail to make the proper use of their abilities. How often are they used in a bad or foolish way, so that what might be a blessing to the world fails to be such! There are many others who realize they do not possess these natural gifts. They look upon those who have them, and envy …
Charles Wesley Naylor—Heart TalksGifts and Talents.
"And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him."--Judges iii. 10. We now consider the Holy Spirit's work in bestowing gifts, talents, and abilities upon artisans and professional men. Scripture declares that the special animation and qualification of persons for work assigned to them by God proceed from the Holy Spirit. The construction of the tabernacle required capable workmen, skilful carpenters, goldsmiths, and silversmiths, and masters in the arts of weaving and embroidering. Who will furnish Moses …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit Whether Baptism Should Take Away the Penalties of Sin that Belong to this Life?
Objection 1: It seems that Baptism should take away the penalties of sin that belong to this life. For as the Apostle says (Rom. 5:15), the gift of Christ is farther-reaching than the sin of Adam. But through Adam's sin, as the Apostle says (Rom. 5:12), "death entered into this world," and, consequently, all the other penalties of the present life. Much more, therefore, should man be freed from the penalties of the present life, by the gift of Christ which is received in Baptism. Objection 2: Further, …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica "This Then is the Message which we have Heard of Him, and Declare unto You, that God is Light,"
1 John i. 5.--"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light," &c. The great design of the gospel is to make up the breach of man's joy, and open up the way to the fulness of it, and therefore it is the good news and glad tidings of great joy, the only best message that ever came to the world. Now it shows unto us the channel that this river of gladness and joy runs into, it discovers what is the way of the conveyance of it to the soul, and what are …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Whether the Old Law Enjoined Fitting Precepts Concerning Rulers?
Objection 1: It would seem that the Old Law made unfitting precepts concerning rulers. Because, as the Philosopher says (Polit. iii, 4), "the ordering of the people depends mostly on the chief ruler." But the Law contains no precept relating to the institution of the chief ruler; and yet we find therein prescriptions concerning the inferior rulers: firstly (Ex. 18:21): "Provide out of all the people wise [Vulg.: 'able'] men," etc.; again (Num. 11:16): "Gather unto Me seventy men of the ancients of …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Prophecy of Obadiah.
We need not enter into details regarding the question as to the time when the prophet wrote. By a thorough argumentation, Caspari has proved, that he occupies his right position in the Canon, and hence belongs to the earliest age of written prophecy, i.e., to the time of Jeroboam II. and Uzziah. As bearing conclusively against those who would assign to him a far later date, viz., the time of the exile, there is not only the indirect testimony borne by the place which this prophecy occupies in …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Doctrine of Angels.
I. THEIR EXISTENCE. 1. THE TEACHING OF JESUS. 2. THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES. II. THEIR NATURE. 1. CREATED BEINGS. 2. SPIRITUAL BEINGS. 3. GREAT POWER AND MIGHT. 4. VARIOUS GRADES. 5. THE NUMBER OF ANGELS. III. THE FALL OF ANGELS. 1. TIME AND CAUSE. 2. THE WORK OF FALLEN ANGELS. 3. THE JUDGMENT OF FALLEN ANGELS. IV. THE WORK OF ANGELS. 1. THEIR HEAVENLY MINISTRY. 2. THEIR EARTHLY MINISTRY. a) In Relation to the Believer. b) In Relation to Christ's Second Coming. THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS. We are not …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 3:28 NIVJudges 3:28 NLTJudges 3:28 ESVJudges 3:28 NASBJudges 3:28 KJV
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