Judges 3 8

Judges 3:8 kjv

Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.

Judges 3:8 nkjv

Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years.

Judges 3:8 niv

The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years.

Judges 3:8 esv

Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.

Judges 3:8 nlt

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.

Judges 3 verses

Judges 3 8 Meaning

The verse states that because of Israel's disobedience and idolatry, the anger of the LORD burned intensely against them. Consequently, He handed them over, or "sold them," into the power of Cushan-Rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia, resulting in the children of Israel serving this foreign ruler for a period of eight years in oppressive servitude.

Judges 3 8 Context

Judges 3:8 marks the initiation of the first full cycle of sin, judgment, and deliverance in the book of Judges. Following an introduction to the post-Joshua generations and the LORD's reason for leaving remnant nations (Judg 2:6-3:6), the narrative explicitly states Israel's moral and spiritual failure in verse 7: they "did evil in the sight of the LORD and forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs." Verse 8 then directly follows this account of apostasy, demonstrating God's immediate and righteous response. Historically, Israel failed to fully conquer Canaan and intermarried with the surrounding peoples, leading to syncretism and idolatry. Cushan-Rishathaim of Mesopotamia represents a distant yet powerful threat, signifying that Israel's disobedience could bring judgment from unexpected quarters, transcending mere local conflicts and demonstrating the universal reach of God's righteous discipline.

Judges 3 8 Word analysis

• Therefore: Connects the consequence (oppression) directly to Israel's prior actions described in Judges 3:7 (forgetting the LORD, serving Baals). It highlights a causal relationship, establishing that God's judgment is not arbitrary but a righteous response to sin.
• the anger (אַף - aph) of the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH):
  • אַף (aph): Literally "nose" or "nostril," but idiomatically refers to intense, often fuming wrath. It signifies deep displeasure and active indignation.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): The personal, covenant name of God. This specifies that the anger originates from Israel's own faithful God, emphasizing that His wrath is righteous and just, a response to their covenant infidelity, not the capricious rage of pagan deities. It underscores that they sinned against the very One who redeemed them.
• was hot (חָרָה - charah): Means to glow, to burn, or to be kindled. This intensifies the meaning of "anger," conveying that God's wrath was ignited and burning fiercely, indicating active and severe displeasure.
• against Israel: Highlights the specific target of God's wrath – His own chosen people – due to their rebellion against His covenant. This shows divine discipline specifically applied to those in a covenant relationship.
• and he sold them (וַיִּמְכְּרֵם - vayyimkəreim from מָכַר - makar):
  • מָכַר (makar): To sell. Here, it is a theological metaphor, not a commercial transaction. It signifies a divine judicial act of delivering or surrendering Israel into the power of another. God actively, sovereignly withdrew His protection and delivered them over, treating them as if they had forfeited their status as His special possession due to their spiritual adultery.
• into the hand (בְּיַד - bəyad): Signifies control, power, and authority. To be delivered into someone's hand means to be subjected to their rule and power.
• of Cushan-Rishathaim (כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתָיִם - Kushan Rish'athayim): His name might mean "Cushan of Double Wickedness" or "Cushan the wicked," potentially an appellative title reflecting his oppressive nature from Israel's perspective. Regardless of the precise etymology, he is depicted as a tool in God's hand for disciplinary judgment.
• king of Mesopotamia (מֶלֶךְ אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם - meleḵ Aram Naharayim):
  • אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם (Aram Naharayim): Literally "Aram of the two rivers," generally referring to the region between the Tigris and Euphrates, specifically Upper Mesopotamia. This designates a formidable and perhaps geographically distant foreign power, illustrating that God's disciplinary hand could reach far and wide.
• and the children of Israel served (וַיַּעַבְדוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - vayyaʿavdu benei Yisrael from עָבַד - avad):
  • עָבַד (avad): To work, to serve, to be enslaved, or to worship. Here, it explicitly means to be forced into servitude and oppressive labor, echoing their former bondage in Egypt and highlighting the reversal of their liberation.
• Cushan-Rishathaim eight years: Specifies the duration of the oppression. This is a limited period of suffering, emphasizing that the affliction is disciplinary, not annihilatory, and designed to lead to repentance before deliverance.

Words-group analysis:

• "Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel": This phrase directly attributes the suffering to divine wrath, which is rooted in God's covenant loyalty and His justice. It establishes a theological cause-and-effect for Israel's historical trials, connecting sin with inevitable consequence from the covenant-keeping God.
• "and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia": This passage clarifies that foreign oppression is not accidental but orchestrated by God as a means of discipline. God, in His sovereignty, uses even a powerful, wicked foreign king as an instrument for His purposes, demonstrating His ultimate control over nations and history. The "selling" highlights Israel's lost status of divine protection due to their covenant infidelity.
• "and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years": This conveys the harsh reality and tangible effect of God's judgment – physical servitude. The specified duration, "eight years," reinforces that the discipline is purposeful and time-limited, designed to bring Israel to repentance and a longing for liberation, thus setting the stage for the next phase of the Judges cycle.

Judges 3 8 Bonus section

• The recurring phrase "the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel" (Judg 2:14, 3:8, 10:7) functions as a theological signal, marking God's righteous and active judgment against covenant infidelity across various cycles in the Book of Judges.
• While Cushan-Rishathaim is presented as the first major oppressor in the Judges narrative cycles, some scholarly perspectives suggest "Cushan of Double Wickedness" might be an epithet given by the narrator to highlight his character, emphasizing the nature of the trial Israel endured under him.
• The emphasis on God selling Israel establishes His absolute sovereignty. The "transaction" isn't for gain, but a legal transfer due to broken terms of their covenant relationship. It speaks of a temporary forfeiture of divine protection rather than an abandonment.
• This verse directly sets up the need for a deliverer, preparing the reader for the subsequent narrative of Othniel's raising up in Judges 3:9, illustrating the 'cry to the LORD' element of the Judges cycle.

Judges 3 8 Commentary

Judges 3:8 is a foundational verse for understanding the recurring pattern of judgment and deliverance throughout the book of Judges. It illustrates God's immediate and fervent response to Israel's deliberate sin of idolatry. The "hot anger" of the LORD signifies not a human temper tantrum, but a righteous, holy indignation against the betrayal of His covenant people. God "selling" them into servitude is a potent metaphor, indicating a deliberate act of divine justice. He withdrew His protective hand and delivered them to be disciplined by an external oppressor, in this case, Cushan-Rishathaim from distant Mesopotamia. This demonstrates God's sovereign use of even wicked foreign kings as His instruments. The eight years of oppression served as a painful, protracted period of chastisement, specifically designed to humble His people and provoke them to repentance and a cry for deliverance. This verse starkly portrays the gravity of forsaking God and His commandments, and how divine discipline aims to restore the covenant relationship, echoing the warnings of the Torah regarding the consequences of disobedience.