Judges 3:13-14 · Bible study
Judges 3:13-14 Commentary: Eglon’s Occupation of the City of Palms
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does the Moabite king Eglon possess Jericho, the city of palm trees, after Joshua's curse? Commentary on the coalition, conquest, and 18 years of servitude.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Eglon forges a coalition of Israel’s enemies, captures Jericho, and subjects Israel to 18 years of servitude as divine discipline.
- Key words: Gathered (H622), smote (H5221), possessed (H3423), served (H5647), verbs of coalition, conquest, and subjugation.
- Main debate: Whether “city of palm trees” is rebuilt Jericho itself or an unwalled village in the vicinity; both views are represented in the commentaries.
- Theological theme: God’s sovereignty over foreign nations as instruments of judgment; the covenant cycle of sin, oppression, cry, and deliverance.
- Best use: Preaching or teaching on the consequences of persistent sin and the patient hope that God raises deliverers even after long oppression.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
13After enlisting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join forces with him, Eglon attacked and defeated Israel, taking possession of the City of Palms.
14The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.
WEB World English Bible 2000
13He gathered the children of Ammon and Amalek to himself; and he went and struck Israel, and they possessed the city of palm trees.
14The children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
KJV King James Version 1769
13And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
14So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
13And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and smote Israel, and they possessed the city of palm-trees.
14And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
13and he gathereth unto him the Bene-Ammon and Amalek, and goeth and smiteth Israel, and they possess the city of palms;
14and the sons of Israel serve Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
13And he gathered to him the children of Ammon and Amalek and went and smote Israel, and they took possession of the city of palm-trees.
14And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
13And he joined to him the children of Ammon, and Amalec: and he went and overthrew Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
14And the children of Israel served Eglon, king of Moab, eighteen years.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Judges 3:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the “city of palm trees” in verse 13 is Jericho or its immediate vicinity. The Targum, Barnes, Gill, and Keil & Delitzsch all identify it with Jericho. Yet this creates a puzzle: Joshua had burned Jericho and laid it under a curse (Joshua 6:24, 26). How could Eglon possess it? Barnes notes that Jericho “can only have existed at this time as an unwalled village.” Keil & Delitzsch argue that the Israelites had rebuilt the ruins over the sixty years since Joshua but had not fortified it, leaving it vulnerable. Clarke mentions the Targum’s reading and suggests the city might have been in the plain of Jericho or even En-geddi. The alliance of Ammon and Amalek with Moab is read as a hostile coalition typical of the period, Amalek especially appears as a recurring foe (Exodus 17:8; Judges 6:3). The eighteen-year servitude is seen as a severe correction, longer than the eight years under Cushan-Rishathaim (Judges 3:8; Gill).
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Eglon, king of Moab, led a coalition of Ammonites and Amalekites, struck Israel, and occupied the city of palm trees, subjecting Israel to 18 years of servitude.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| City of palm trees = Jericho | All commentators identify the city with Jericho or its vicinity, citing Deuteronomy 34:3 and Judges 1:16. | Whether the actual city was rebuilt as a village (Keil, Barnes) or the phrase refers to the district around the ruined site (Clarke suggests En-geddi as an alternative). |
| God's strengthening of Eglon | God directly strengthened Eglon as a judgment on Israel's evil (Judges 3:12). Both cause and effect are clearly stated. | Some emphasize God's sovereign use of pagan kings without approving their character; others focus on the covenant curse (Leviticus 26) as the mechanism. |
| Eighteen-year servitude | The period is a literal eighteen years of subjection, longer than the earlier Cushan-Rishathaim oppression. | Whether this period is strictly successive to earlier judges or partially overlapping with other regional oppressions; commentators note the chronological challenges in Judges generally. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The city of palm trees is linked to Jericho in Deuteronomy 34:3 and Judges 1:16. Jericho was the first Canaanite city conquered under Joshua, destroyed and cursed so that no one would rebuild it as a fortified city (Joshua 6:24, 26). By the time of the judges, the area had been resettled as an unwalled village or cluster of settlements. Eglon, king of Moab, assembled a coalition including the Ammonites and Amalekites, traditional enemies of Israel (Psalm 83:6, 7). Moab and Ammon were descended from Lot (Genesis 19:37, 38), and Amalek was a perennial desert raider. The coalition struck Israel, probably targeting the Transjordan tribes first (Reuben, Gad, half-Manasseh). Taking “the city of palm trees” gave Eglon a base west of the Jordan, controlling the fords and the route into the hill country. The phrase “they possessed” (יָרַשׁ) indicates not just a raid but continued occupation and control. For eighteen years the Israelites served Eglon, meaning forced labor, tribute, and subjugation. The length of oppression is matched only later by the Philistine and Ammonite pressures (Judges 10:8; 13:1). This extended period underscores a pattern: when Israel abandoned Yahweh, He used foreign powers to discipline them (Leviticus 26:23, 25; Deuteronomy 28:40). The stage is set for the deliverer Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite who would turn the tables on the fat king.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and translations note no significant textual variants for Judges 3:13, 14. The verse is stable across manuscripts and versions, with only minor differences in English renderings (e.g., “smote” vs “attacked”).
Reception History
In the early church, this passage was read as part of the moral and typological pattern of Judges: sin brings oppression, cry brings deliverance. The capture of Jericho by a Moabite king was seen as a vivid reminder that God’s gifts could be lost through unfaithfulness. Reformation-era commentators like Matthew Henry and John Wesley used the eighteen-year servitude to warn against relapsing into sin, noting that the land from which Israel would perish was a good land given by God. Wesley, however, raised the theological tension of how God’s decree and human freedom relate in such judgment narratives. Later interpreters (Keil & Delitzsch, Cambridge Bible) focused on the historical plausibility of an unwalled Jericho being reoccupied. The passage continues to challenge readers with the reality that what God gives, He can also allow to be taken away when His people abandon Him.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s sovereignty in the enemy’s rise. Verse 12 says Yahweh strengthened Eglon. The coalition and occupation are not random; they are God’s response to Israel’s evil. The same Lord who gave Jericho to Joshua now allows it to be taken by Moab.
- The bitter fruit of persistent sin. Eighteen years of servitude, longer than the previous oppression, shows the escalating cost of turning from God. What begins as a small compromise leads to a long season of bondage.
- Hope hidden in the downturn. Even as the text reports the occupation, it quietly points toward deliverance. The same pattern (cry, raise up savior) that worked for Othniel will work again. God’s discipline is not His final word.
Five-point outline
- The alliance of old enemies (Ammon, Amalek, Moab) against Israel.
- The capture of Jericho, the city under a curse, a sign of Israel’s own breach of covenant.
- The length of oppression: eighteen years of serving a foreign king.
- The silence of God during the servitude, no judge, no deliverance, until the people cry out.
- The faithfulness of God to raise up a savior when they finally turn back.
Illustration hooks
- A homeowner neglects a leaky roof; over time the damage spreads until major repairs are needed. The slow accumulation of consequence mirrors how small sins lead to extended oppression.
- A student who cheats on one exam feels clever, but the hidden pattern of dishonesty gradually destroys trust with teachers and peers. The enjoyment of a “city of palms” can turn into a long season of serving the consequences.
- In the workplace, a coalition of competitors can dominate a market, forcing a company to serve their interests for years. The coalition of Eglon, Ammon, and Amalek shows how forces can combine to oppress.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God allow evil to persist for so long? Eighteen years feels like an eternity when you’re under it.
- If God gave Jericho to Israel, how could the enemy take it? Does God’s gift become conditional?
- How do we know when hardship is discipline from God versus just the brokenness of the world? The Judges pattern offers a framework for self-examination.
Leading a Discussion
The passage describes the second cycle of oppression in Judges. After Othniel’s death, Israel again did evil, and God strengthened Eglon, king of Moab, to subdue them. The coalition that struck Israel included Ammonites and Amalekites, old enemies, and they took possession of Jericho, the city of palm trees. For eighteen years the people served a foreign king. This passage sets the stage for the story of Ehud, but it also invites us to consider how God uses even hostile forces to bring His people back to Himself.
Discussion questions
- What does the identification of “the city of palm trees” with Jericho reveal about Israel’s spiritual condition? Why would the place of their greatest victory become the site of their defeat?
- Verse 12 says God “strengthened Eglon” against Israel. How does this shape your understanding of God’s role in world events? Is it unsettling or comforting?
- The coalition includes Moab, Ammon, and Amalek, peoples with long histories of conflict with Israel. Why do you think these specific enemies are named? What does it tell us about the forces arrayed against God’s people?
- The oppression lasted eighteen years. Why do you think the writer emphasizes the length? What might this communicate about the nature of sin’s consequences?
- Compare the eighteen-year servitude to the eight-year one in verse 8. What does the increase suggest about the cycle of sin and discipline?
- In what ways might a believer or a church “serve” a modern-day “Eglon”, becoming subject to forces or systems that were meant to be under God’s rule?
- How does knowing that God raised up a deliverer after the people cried out (verse 15) give hope when you are in a long season of hardship?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 34:3 | and the south, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, to Zoar. |
| Judges 1:16 | The children of the Kenite, Moses’ brother-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and lived with the people. |
| Judges 5:14 | Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim, after you, Benjamin, among your peoples. Governors come down out of Machir. Those who handle the marshal’s staff came out of Zebulun. |
| Psalms 83:6 | The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites; |
| Psalms 83:7 | Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; |
| Leviticus 26:23 | “‘If by these things you won’t be turned back to me, but will walk contrary to me, |
| Leviticus 26:25 | I will bring a sword upon you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant. You will be gathered together within your cities, and I will send the pestilence among you. You will be delivered into the hand of the enemy. |
| Deuteronomy 28:40 | You will have olive trees throughout all your borders, but you won’t anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives will drop off. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that the city of palm trees cannot be Jericho itself, since Jericho lay in ruins until long after this event. He identifies it as a Moabite frontier town in the plain near Jericho, possibly the location later called En-geddi.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the Moabites, Ammonites, and Amalekites repeatedly appear as a united coalition against Israel throughout the book of Judges. He also notes that the city of palm trees, Jericho, was only a small unwalled village at this time, having been destroyed by Joshua and not yet rebuilt.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary highlights that the original Ehud story is a local Benjaminite hero tale, full of fresh, vigorous storytelling. But the later editor expanded it into a national event affecting all Israel, and the mention of Jericho creates a historical puzzle since Joshua had cursed the city.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Judges 3:13 And he gathered vnto him the children of Ammon, and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and they possessed the citie of palme trees. Judges 3:14 So the children of Israel serued Eglon king of Moab eighteene yeeres.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Eglon first struck the Israelite tribes east of the Jordan, then seized the region around Jericho to cut off help from the western tribes. He also observes that the eighteen-year oppression was a harsher punishment than the earlier eight-year servitude, reflecting Israel's deeper relapse into idolatry.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlights that Israel's renewed rebellion is described with a Hebrew idiom meaning they "added to do evil," intensifying their sin. The Moabites easily captured Jericho because the city, though rebuilt, remained unfortified due to Joshua's curse, leaving Israel vulnerable to eighteen years of oppression.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that God deliberately chose a left-handed deliverer, a detail he sees as providential rather than incidental. Ehud's unusual trait let him conceal the dagger on his right thigh, where guards would not expect it, and his claim to have a message from God gave him the king's full attention.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley rejects Matthew Henry's claim that the goodness of God's promised land will intensify the punishment of those who perish. He argues that this reasoning fails under predestination: if some are not elected, they never had a genuine offer, and if all the elect are saved, the grant was never free to the others.