What does Judges 3:30 mean?
This verse brings the repeated pattern of the book of Judges (Judges 2:16–19) back to its starting place. In this cycle, Israel begins in a right relationship with God, and in state of freedom and peace. The judge whom God used to save Israel dies. Lacking that influence, the people turn from God into sin and idolatry. So, the Lord allows another foreign nation to oppress them. The Israelites eventually cry out to the Lord for help. He sends a new judge to save them. Peace is restored until that judge dies. Then the pattern is repeated once more.Through Ehud's leadership (Judges 3:14–15), God freed Israel from the rule of the Moabites (Judges 3:26–29) and returned peace and security to Israel. This time, the Israelites remained unconquered and at peace in the land for eighty years, suggesting that Ehud enjoyed a long life. Eighty years may have indicated the passing of two generations. Often, it is children or grandchildren of those who have been powerfully rescued by God who stop being faithful to the Lord and bring on a new round of judgment by their sinfulness.