Judges 3:13 kjv
And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
Judges 3:13 nkjv
Then he gathered to himself the people of Ammon and Amalek, went and defeated Israel, and took possession of the City of Palms.
Judges 3:13 niv
Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms.
Judges 3:13 esv
He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms.
Judges 3:13 nlt
Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms.
Judges 3 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:15 | But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God... curses shall come upon thee. | Disobedience leads to curses. |
| Deut 28:25 | The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies... thou shalt be removed into all the kingdoms. | Defeat by enemies due to disobedience. |
| Lev 26:17 | I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies... | Divine opposition and defeat for sin. |
| Judg 2:11-15 | And the children of Israel did evil... The anger of the LORD was hot against Israel... | Israel's sin-oppression cycle. |
| Judg 3:7 | And the children of Israel did evil... served Baalim and the groves. | Idolatry preceding oppression. |
| Judg 3:12 | And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon... | God empowers the oppressor due to Israel's sin. |
| Judg 3:14 | And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. | Duration of Eglon's oppression. |
| Isa 10:5 | O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. | God uses foreign nations as instruments of judgment. |
| Hab 1:6 | For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation... | God raising up oppressive nations. |
| Gen 19:30-38 | Origins of Moab and Ammon from Lot. | Ancestry of Moab and Ammon. |
| Deut 23:3-6 | An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD... | Prohibition due to hostility toward Israel. |
| Exod 17:8-16 | Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel... the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. | Amalek's enduring enmity against Israel. |
| Deut 25:17-19 | Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way... blot out the remembrance of Amalek... | Command to eradicate Amalek. |
| 1 Sam 15:2-3 | Go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have... | Saul's command against Amalek, emphasizing their hostility. |
| Deut 34:3 | And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees... | Identifying Jericho as the "city of palm trees." |
| Josh 6:1-27 | Narrative of Jericho's miraculous fall to Israel. | Jericho's symbolic significance as a first conquest. |
| Josh 18:21 | Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho... | Jericho assigned to Benjamin. |
| Judg 1:16 | And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees... | Indicates "city of palm trees" as a known location. |
| Jer 40:15 | For Johanan... thought to slay Gedaliah, that the Ammonites might gather thee to them. | Ammonites known for opportunistic alliances. |
| Ezra 9:1 | The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands... Moabites, and Ammonites... | Mixed marriages and sin with foreign peoples. |
| Neh 13:1-2 | The Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever. | Reinforcement of separation from Ammon and Moab. |
| Rom 13:1 | For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers and powers. |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God... | Divine judgment begins with God's people. |
| Ps 106:40-42 | Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people... they were brought into subjection. | God's anger and Israel's subjection. |
| Psa 107:10-11 | Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; because they rebelled against the words of God... | Bondage as a consequence of rebellion. |
Judges 3 verses
Judges 3 13 Meaning
Judges 3:13 describes King Eglon of Moab's military strength and successful conquest of Israelite territory. He formed a coalition with the Ammonites and Amalekites, invaded the land, defeated the Israelites, and seized control of Jericho, symbolically known as the "city of palm trees." This act marked a period of severe oppression over Israel, serving as a consequence for their disobedience to God.
Judges 3 13 Context
Judges chapter 3 follows the introduction of the cyclical pattern of Israel's apostasy, divine judgment (through foreign oppression), their cry for help, and God's raising up a deliverer. After the peaceful reign following Othniel (Israel's first judge), the people again "did evil in the sight of the LORD" (Judg 3:12), presumably by worshipping Baal and Asherah as described in Judges 2:11-13. As a result, God allowed Eglon, King of Moab, to become mighty against Israel. Verse 13 specifically details this strengthening and the broad alliance Eglon forged, allowing him to launch a successful offensive that humiliated Israel by seizing Jericho. This sets the stage for the narrative of Ehud's unique deliverance of Israel from Moabite oppression in the following verses (Judg 3:15-30). Historically, this period reflects the political fragmentation and spiritual decline of Israel after the conquest under Joshua, highlighting the dangers of syncretism and disobedience in the absence of a strong, unified leadership and devotion to God.
Judges 3 13 Word analysis
- And he gathered unto him: The "he" refers to Eglon, king of Moab, previously identified in Judges 3:12. The Hebrew word for "gathered" is אָסַף (‘asaf), meaning to assemble or collect. It denotes deliberate and strategic action by Eglon to consolidate power and form a formidable alliance. This proactive assembling highlights Eglon's calculated aggression and military planning.
- the children of Ammon: בְּנֵ֥י עַמּ֛וֹן (B’nei Ammon). The Ammonites were descendants of Lot (Gen 19:38), thus kin to Israel, but frequently adversarial. They resided east of the Jordan, often competing with Israel for territory. Their inclusion signifies a wider regional conflict orchestrated by Moab. Their history is one of consistent opposition, underscoring Israel's weakened state allowing such a potent alliance.
- and Amalek: עֲמָלֵ֑ק (Amaleq). The Amalekites were descendants of Esau (Gen 36:12, 16). They were perennial enemies of Israel, notoriously attacking the vulnerable Israelites at Rephidim after the Exodus (Exod 17:8-16). God had declared a perpetual war against Amalek and commanded Israel to "blot out their remembrance" (Deut 25:17-19). Their alliance with Moab here further underscores the depth of animosity and the widespread nature of the threat against a disobedient Israel.
- and went and smote Israel: הִכּ֥וּ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (hiku et Yisrael). The verb "smote" implies a decisive military defeat, not just a skirmish. This indicates Israel's vulnerability and lack of military readiness, a direct consequence of their spiritual departure from God's protection.
- and possessed: וַיִּירְשׁוּ (vayyirshu). This verb signifies taking possession, inheriting, or dispossessing. It indicates that Eglon's forces not only defeated Israel but established dominion and occupation over their territory, making them subservient. This isn't just a raid but an act of conquest and territorial seizure.
- the city of palm trees: עִ֤יר הַתְּמָרִים֙ (‘Ir hatTamarim). This is an ancient name for Jericho. Jericho held profound symbolic significance for Israel as the first city conquered miraculously upon entering Canaan (Josh 6). Its loss to a foreign power due to Israel's sin was a deeply humiliating reversal, signifying the extent of their spiritual decline and God's disciplinary hand. The mention of "palm trees" emphasizes its lushness and strategic value as an oasis and gateway city.
Judges 3 13 Bonus section
The strategic importance of Jericho, the "city of palm trees," lies in its location near a ford across the Jordan River and its status as a vital crossroads. Its recapture by Eglon would have given Moab and its allies control over a crucial entry point into the central part of Israel, enabling deeper incursions and greater oppressive power. For the Israelites, losing Jericho meant the symbolic surrender of a key piece of their inheritance that God had delivered to them miraculously, serving as a powerful, tangible reminder of their forfeited blessings due to covenant infidelity. This specific occupation made it essential for Ehud, the coming deliverer, to reclaim this very city and thus symbolically restore God's rightful authority and Israel's land. The diverse origins of Moab, Ammon, and Amalek (from Lot, Lot, and Esau, respectively) further highlight how widely God could muster instruments of correction against His people when they deviated from His ways.
Judges 3 13 Commentary
Judges 3:13 concisely reveals the consequence of Israel's renewed disobedience. Eglon, King of Moab, serves as God's instrument of judgment, strategically uniting with other historically antagonistic nations—Ammon and Amalek. This formidable alliance highlights the severity of the threat Israel faced when God withdrew His protective hand due to their idolatry and sin. The victory, described as "smiting" and "possessing," indicates not merely a battle, but a thorough subjugation and occupation. The specific target, "the city of palm trees" or Jericho, held deep historical and symbolic value as Israel's miraculous first conquest in the Promised Land. Its recapture by gentile forces underscores the tragic irony and profound spiritual declension of Israel. They had received it by God's supernatural power but lost it through their own rebellion. This verse sets the stage for the eighteen-year servitude under Eglon, underscoring the severity of God's discipline, yet implicitly pointing to His faithfulness to their covenant by preparing for a future deliverance. It demonstrates how disobedience can lead to powerful and even symbolically significant losses.