Judges 3:31

Sham-gar Delivers Israel Judges 3:31

31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel,

13.

Who was Shamgar? Judges 3:31

Shamgar was of the tribe of Benjamin, We are not told that he was of the family of Ehud, but since he was from the same tribe, it is apparent that the leadership of Israel in this era centered in this tribe. Nothing much is recorded of his career. We are not told how long he prevailed as a judge, and this has led many to believe that his judgeship is a part of the eighty years mentioned in Judges 3:30. It is not said that Ehud judged for eighty years, but that the land had rest fourscore years. Probably the deliverance wrought by Ehud began an era of peace which continued through the time of Shamgar, The most outstanding deed performed by Shamgar was his killing six hundred Philistines, using an ox goad as his weapon. The enemy of this time was the Philistines, who lived on the west border of Palestine, thus indicating Israel was beset not only by those living across the Jordan, such as Moab and Ammon, but also by the Philistines on the west and others in different directions. Whenever the people weakened themselves by their sins, their enemies on all sides oppressed them.

14.

In what time was this slaying? Judges 3:31

It was probably in the springtime when oxen were plowing in the field since an ox goad was the weapon mentioned. Warfare was waged in what seems to us today a very peculiar way. Kings would not go to battle in the wintertime, even though winter weather was not particularly cold. Wintertime brought many rains, and it was not a time for living in the fields. After the rainy season ended along towards the spring equinox, the kings would go to battle against each other. Such must have been the time when Ehud brought this deliverance.

15.

In what part of the land did this take place? Judges 3:31

The Philistines lived along the west coast of Israel's borders, and the slaying no doubt occurred there. No place is mentioned, of course, to identify the field of battle; but Shamgar's deliverance was evidently an attempt to extend the territory possessed by the Israelites. The maritime plain which was occupied by the Philistines was very fertile, and it would have meant a great deal to Israel to be able to till the fields there. Since there is no particular mention of a conquest on the part of the Philistines, it seems better to think of this battle as having occurred in the western territory.