Judges 3:31 - Printer Friendly

ESV: After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.

NIV: After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.

NASB: Now after him came Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck and killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad; and he also saved Israel.

CSB: After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath became judge. He also delivered Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with a cattle prod.

NLT: After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.

The event described in this verse does not fit the typical pattern of the book of Judges. It reads more like a minor episode, and not much detail is provided. However, Shamgar is listed as one of Israel's deliverers during this era. The unique nature of this event suggests that the judges who served in Israel may not have formed a perfect, linear chain. Shamgar, for instance, may well have rescued Israel during the eighty years of peace secured by Ehud (Judges 3:30). That, as well, suggests that the exploits of each judge likely did not cover the entire nation of Israel, but only certain areas.

Shamgar came "after" Ehud in some way, either after the victory over the Moabites or after Ehud's death. Either option is possible. Shamgar is described as the son of Anath. Some scholars suggest certain Egyptian or Canaanite soldiers served under the banner of the goddess of war, known as Anath. In that case, it would mean Shamgar was not an Israelite, but used by God all the same to provide some deliverance to Israel.

The details here are so sparse it's not even clear Shamgar intended to fight on behalf of Israel. He may simply have been used by God to deliver Israel from local oppression. His act, or acts, might have somehow prevented a threat from the Philistines in the north. All the Bible implies is that Shamgar was in the right place and time to obtain victory over 600 Philistines. Whether this was all in a single battle, or over some period, is not clear. Whatever the exact circumstances, Shamgar's success provided deliverance for Israel.

An oxgoad was a long stick used to direct cattle. This was hardly a flimsy object. Oxgoads were typically longer than a person was tall, made of thick wood, with a point on one end and a flat shovel-like blade at the other. These were not as long, sharp, or powerful as a full-fledged spear, but in the right hands it could be a potent weapon.

The more familiar pattern of Judges picks up again in the beginning verses of chapter four.

Judges 3:31 occupies an interesting place in this part of Israel's history. While some of Israel's judges are described over the course of several chapters, this solitary verse covers the entire work of Shamgar. Though he is later mentioned in Deborah's song (Judges 5:6), the Bible says little about him. Likely, his time as a judge overlapped that of Ehud. All we know, for sure, is that he killed several hundred Philistines with a plowman's pole.

God leaves several Canaanite nations in and around the Promised Land to test Israel's reliance on Him. Some live among the people, others are part of unconquered territories. The Israelites immediately ignore God's commands and begin serving other gods. First, the Lord subjects them to Mesopotamia. After eight years, the first judge, Othniel, leads them to victory and peace. Israel again rebels and is conquered by Moab for 18 years. Ehud's brutal assassination of the Moabite king sparks another period of freedom and peace. In a single brief statement, the obscure Shamgar is celebrated for his victory.

After Israel's failure to complete their mission, as described in chapters 1 and 2, chapter 3 begins by describing the idolatrous nations God left intact to test Israel. In the first of many such cycles, the people sin, are conquered, then are rescued by a "judge." This chapter describes the victories of Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar. Chapter 4 mentions the first of the truly famous names among the judges, describing the careers of Deborah and Barak. This is followed in chapter 6, which introduces Gideon.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).