What does Judges 3:8 mean?

This sounds very familiar to what was written in the previous chapter (Judges 2:11–15). This time, a specific oppressor is described. God's anger burns for Israel's betrayal of Him by serving other gods (Judges 3:7). In response, God sets out to harm them as He said He would.

The Lord sells His people into the hands of the Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, also known as Aram Naharaim. This king reigned over the Arameans. Their large territory began north of the Sea of Galilee and extended far into the north. Bible scholars speculate on what ruler in the history of this region this king might be, but he remains something of a mystery. His empire must have been quite strong to control Canaan from that far north for eight years. Centuries later, the prophet Habakkuk would refer to "Cushan" when speaking of Israel disrupting the peace of the Canaanites after the exodus (Habakkuk 3:7).

During those eight years, the people of Israel were slaves to his kingdom, likely alongside the other Canaanite peoples of the land. This does not mean the people were in literal, personal chains or held as prisoners. Rather, it would mean their nation was occupied and controlled by the foreign nation.