Judges 3:13 describes the actions of Eglon, the king of Moab, who oppressed Israel after they had fallen away from God. Let's break down the meaning:
"He gathered the children of Ammon and Amalek to himself;": This means that Eglon formed an alliance with the Ammonites and the Amalekites. These were neighboring peoples who were often hostile to Israel. Ammonites lived to the east of Israel, and Amalekites were nomadic desert dwellers to the south. Eglon essentially built a coalition of forces to strengthen his attack against Israel.
"and he went and struck Israel,": This is a straightforward statement that Eglon, with his combined armies, attacked Israel.
"and they possessed the city of palm trees.": This refers to Jericho. The "city of palm trees" was a common designation for Jericho, due to the abundance of palm trees in the region. "Possessed" means they seized control of Jericho, establishing it as a base or a key territory under their rule.
In summary, this verse is saying that King Eglon of Moab, by forming an alliance with the Ammonites and Amalekites, launched a successful attack on Israel and captured Jericho, thus gaining a significant foothold in the land and establishing their oppressive rule. It sets the stage for the story of Ehud, the judge who God raised up to deliver Israel from Eglon's oppression. The verse highlights the consequences of Israel's disobedience and apostasy.
Judges 3:13 describes the actions of Eglon, the king of Moab, who oppressed Israel after they had fallen away from God. Let's break down the meaning:
"He gathered the children of Ammon and Amalek to himself;": This means that Eglon formed an alliance with the Ammonites and the Amalekites. These were neighboring peoples who were often hostile to Israel. Ammonites lived to the east of Israel, and Amalekites were nomadic desert dwellers to the south. Eglon essentially built a coalition of forces to strengthen his attack against Israel.
"and he went and struck Israel,": This is a straightforward statement that Eglon, with his combined armies, attacked Israel.
"and they possessed the city of palm trees.": This refers to Jericho. The "city of palm trees" was a common designation for Jericho, due to the abundance of palm trees in the region. "Possessed" means they seized control of Jericho, establishing it as a base or a key territory under their rule.
In summary, this verse is saying that King Eglon of Moab, by forming an alliance with the Ammonites and Amalekites, launched a successful attack on Israel and captured Jericho, thus gaining a significant foothold in the land and establishing their oppressive rule. It sets the stage for the story of Ehud, the judge who God raised up to deliver Israel from Eglon's oppression. The verse highlights the consequences of Israel's disobedience and apostasy.
