Judges 3 29

Judges 3:29 kjv

And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valor; and there escaped not a man.

Judges 3:29 nkjv

And at that time they killed about ten thousand men of Moab, all stout men of valor; not a man escaped.

Judges 3:29 niv

At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped.

Judges 3:29 esv

And they killed at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped.

Judges 3:29 nlt

They attacked the Moabites and killed about 10,000 of their strongest and most able-bodied warriors. Not one of them escaped.

Judges 3 verses

Judges 3 29 Meaning

Judges 3:29 describes the comprehensive and devastating defeat of the Moabite army by the Israelites under Ehud's leadership. After Ehud assassinated King Eglon of Moab, he rallied Israel and led them to cut off the Moabite escape route at the Fords of the Jordan. The resulting battle eradicated approximately ten thousand of Moab's most powerful and capable warriors, ensuring that none of them survived. This total victory broke Moab's oppressive grip on Israel and ushered in an extended period of peace and freedom for the land.

Judges 3 29 Context

Judges 3:29 is situated within the narrative of Ehud, the second major judge described in the Book of Judges. This period followed a cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance, a recurring theme in Judges. For eighteen years, the Israelites had fallen under the oppression of Eglon, the king of Moab, who allied with Ammon and Amalek. When Israel cried out to the Lord, He raised up Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. Ehud ingeniously assassinated King Eglon, sparking the immediate uprising of the Israelites. The strategic brilliance involved seizing the Fords of the Jordan, the primary escape route for the Moabite forces stationed in Israel. This decisive battle at the Fords effectively trapped the Moabite soldiers and allowed the Israelites to achieve this complete and devastating victory. This act of liberation secured an eighty-year period of peace for Israel, illustrating God's faithful response to His people's repentance and cry for help.

Judges 3 29 Word analysis

• And they struck down (וַיַּכּוּ, vayakku): From the Hebrew root נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike, smite, kill." This term implies a forceful and decisive blow, often used in a military context for inflicting heavy casualties or complete defeat. Its perfect tense form, followed by a waw-consecutive, highlights the immediate and direct result of the Israelite charge after cutting off the escape route.
• at that time (בָּעֵת הַהִיא, ba'eht hahi): This phrase emphasizes the immediacy and timing of the battle following Ehud's assassination of Eglon and the Israelite mobilization. It highlights the decisive moment, preventing the Moabites from regrouping or reinforcing.
• about 10,000 men (כַּעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ, ka'aseret alafim ish):
  • about (כַּ, ka): This prefix suggests approximation, but the number is often interpreted as a large, round figure emphasizing the magnitude of the loss. In ancient warfare, such figures signify a decisive and overwhelming defeat.
  • 10,000 (עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים, aseret alafim): The Hebrew eleph (thousand) can sometimes refer to a military unit or clan, but in this context, coupled with "men," it clearly denotes a very large number of individuals, indicating a massive, devastating loss for Moab.
• of Moab (מוֹאָב, mo'av): The descendants of Lot's eldest daughter (Gen 19:37), historically a prominent adversary of Israel (Num 22, Deut 23:3-6). Their defeat here is significant given their long-standing antagonism.
• all strong, able-bodied men (כָּל־חֵל וְכָל־אִישׁ בַּרִיא, kol-chayil vekhol-ish bari):
  • strong (חֵל, chayil): Often translated as "valor," "wealth," "might," or "strength." In a military context, it refers to competent, powerful warriors, indicating the elite forces of the Moabite army. These were not weak or civilian targets, but their most formidable fighters.
  • able-bodied (בַּרִיא, bari): Implies well-fed, healthy, robust, and in prime physical condition for warfare. The combination of chayil and bari underscores that Israel defeated the very best of Moab's military, effectively crippling their capacity for future aggression for generations.
• not one escaped (לֹא־נוּס אִישׁ, lo-nus ish):
  • not one (לֹא־נוּס אִישׁ, lo-nus ish): The Hebrew verb nus means "to flee" or "escape." This absolute statement signifies the completeness and totality of the victory. The Moabite forces were entirely annihilated, preventing any future resurgence from these particular combatants and indicating divine judgment and a comprehensive deliverance.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• And they struck down at that time about 10,000 men of Moab: This phrase immediately conveys the scale and immediacy of the Israelite victory. The focus is on the large number, establishing the magnitude of God's deliverance and the devastating blow to Moabite power, achieved precisely at the opportune moment when Israel had cut off their retreat.
• all strong, able-bodied men: This particular emphasis highlights the strategic impact of the victory. By eliminating Moab's most capable and elite warriors, Israel ensured a prolonged period of security. It signifies not merely a quantitative victory, but a qualitative one, debilitating Moab's military prowess at its very core. It also underscores that Israel, with God's help, was able to defeat the most formidable of their oppressors, not just weak elements.
• not one escaped: This powerful declaration of absolute eradication underlines the completeness of the divine judgment and the thoroughness of the deliverance. It emphasizes that the threat was completely neutralized, leading directly to the 80 years of peace mentioned in the subsequent verse (Jdg 3:30). It removes any possibility of survivors regrouping or carrying word back, confirming a total and definitive victory that broke the enemy's spirit and power.

Judges 3 29 Bonus section

The numerical precision ("about 10,000") emphasizes a massive undertaking for Israel at the time and highlights the thoroughness of God's judgment against the Moabites, who had for 18 years oppressed Israel, serving Chemosh. The Fords of the Jordan were critical choke points, turning an ordinary skirmish into a decisive slaughter by cutting off retreat. The total victory, resulting in 80 years of peace (Jdg 3:30), reflects a fulfillment of God's promise to bless and secure His obedient people. This judgment against Moab also serves as an indirect polemic against their god, Chemosh (see Num 21:29; 1 Kgs 11:7), demonstrating Yahweh's ultimate supremacy as the one true God who delivers His people by decisively defeating their enemies and their pagan deities. The success hinges not on Israel's inherent military strength but on their repentant heart and God's empowering of their chosen deliverer, Ehud, even a "left-handed" man, underscoring that God uses whom He chooses for His purposes.

Judges 3 29 Commentary

Judges 3:29 records a decisive military victory that marked a profound turning point in Israel's history during the period of the Judges. It exemplifies divine intervention in response to Israel's repentance and cry for deliverance. Ehud's cunning and Israel's obedience led to the strategic entrapment and annihilation of Moab's most formidable warriors at the Jordan Fords. The eradication of approximately ten thousand "strong, able-bodied men" signifies a crushing blow, not just in numbers but in quality, effectively neutralizing Moab as a military threat for nearly a century. This thoroughness of God's judgment upon an oppressive nation showcases His commitment to His covenant people. It reinforces the theological message of Judges: when Israel turns to the Lord, He provides complete salvation, demonstrating His sovereignty over nations and His power to grant comprehensive victory even against seemingly insurmountable odds.