Judges 3:28 - He said to them, “Follow me; for Yahweh has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” They followed him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and didn’t allow any man to pass over.

Generated Verse: Judges 3:28

What does "Judges 3:28" mean?


This verse from Judges 3:28 is part of the story of Ehud, a left-handed judge of Israel, who delivers his people from the oppression of the Moabites. Let's break down its meaning:

"He said to them, “Follow me; for Yahweh has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.”"
"He": Refers to Ehud, who has just assassinated the Moabite king Eglon.
"Follow me": Ehud is calling the Israelites to arms, leading them into battle.
"Yahweh has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand": This is a crucial point. Ehud attributes the victory to God's intervention. He's telling the Israelites that God is on their side and has already granted them victory. It's a call to action based on faith and divine promise. The assassination of Eglon was a catalyst, but Ehud emphasizes that the ultimate success comes from God.

"They followed him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and didn’t allow any man to pass over."
"They followed him": The Israelites respond to Ehud's call and trust in his leadership and the promise of God.
"Took the fords of the Jordan": The fords are shallow crossing points in the Jordan River. By seizing these strategic locations, the Israelites cut off the Moabites' retreat and prevented reinforcements from crossing into Israelite territory.
"Didn’t allow any man to pass over": This emphasizes the completeness of their victory. They controlled the border, preventing any Moabites from escaping back to Moab. This likely resulted in a massacre of the Moabite forces left stranded in Israel.

In Summary:

The verse depicts a pivotal moment in Ehud's campaign against the Moabites. After Ehud's assassination of Eglon, he rallied the Israelites by proclaiming God's promise of victory. The Israelites, trusting in Ehud's leadership and God's promise, decisively seized the fords of the Jordan River, effectively trapping and defeating the Moabite forces. The verse highlights the importance of faith in God's promises, decisive action, and strategic planning in achieving victory. This decisive action broke the Moabite oppression and gave Israel a period of rest.

This passage illustrates a recurring theme in the Book of Judges: when Israel cries out to God for help, He raises up a deliverer (a judge) to rescue them from their enemies.