He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is that Eglon, the king of Moab, doesn't just conquer Israel; he gathers two ancient, bitter enemies of Israel—the Ammonites and Amalekites—to do it. This wasn't just a military campaign, but a coalition of nations united by their shared hatred for God's people, signifying a deep spiritual opposition that Israel's disobedience had allowed to fester and grow strong.
He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Israelites have once again fallen into sin, prompting God to raise up Eglon, the king of Moab, to oppress them. Eglon, joined by the Ammonites and Amalekites, invades Israel, first conquering the tribes east of the Jordan River before seizing Jericho and its fertile surrounding lands, thus establishing a stronghold for their oppressive rule.
Why does Israel keep falling into the same traps? This verse reveals a painful pattern, and understanding it is key to grasping God's judgment and mercy.
The story of Israel is often a cycle of sin, suffering, and salvation. In Judges 3:12, we see the familiar refrain: "the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD." This isn't just a one-time mistake; it's a recurring pattern of turning away from God after He has delivered them.
A Cycle of Disobedience
Eglon, the king of Moab, didn't act alone. This verse shows a strategic alliance of Israel's ancient enemies, highlighting a united front against God's people.
The oppression Israel faced wasn't a random attack. King Eglon of Moab successfully rallied other nations who had long-standing animosity toward Israel.
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The Confederacy of Oppression
This united front underscores how Israel's disobedience made them vulnerable to the combined forces of nations hostile to God's purposes.
What does it mean that Israel's enemies 'possessed the city of palm trees'? This wasn't just a territorial gain; it was symbolic and strategic.
The phrase 'city of palm trees' most likely refers to Jericho or its fertile surrounding region. Its possession by Israel's enemies carried significant meaning.
Strategic Importance of Jericho
Therefore, this possession wasn't merely about capturing a city; it was about the enemy desecrating a place of past triumph and establishing a strategic advantage, all due to Israel's unfaithfulness.
The 'city of palm trees' refers to Jericho, a place that had been destroyed by Joshua. Eglon's occupation highlights how ancient enemies exploited Israel's disobedience and God's judgment.
~1400 BC
Amalekites first mentioned
The Amalekites, descendants of Esau, are first mentioned as a people in the region, already established as enemies of Israel's ancestors.
c. 1400-1350 BC
Joshua destroys Jericho
After the conquest of Canaan, Joshua leads the Israelites in the destruction of the city of Jericho, which was then cursed and left uninhabited.
c. 1300-1100 BC
Period of the Judges begins
Following Joshua's death, Israel enters a cycle of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance under various judges, as recorded in the Book of Judges.
c. 1150 BC— this verse
Moabite oppression begins
Israel falls back into sin, and God strengthens Eglon, king of Moab, to oppress them. He forms an alliance with the Ammonites and Amalekites to wage war against Israel.
c. 1150 BC
Eglon captures Jericho's vicinity
Eglon's forces defeat Israel and seize the territory around the former city of Jericho, establishing a strategic stronghold near the Jordan River.
c. 1132 BC
Ehud delivers Israel
After 18 years of oppression, the judge Ehud assassinate Eglon and leads the Israelites in a decisive victory, bringing peace to the land for 80 years.
This passage serves as a warning of the consequences of disobedience, directly paralleling the punishment Israel faced by being subjugated by foreign enemies, as seen in Judges 3:13.
Exodus 17:14This verse prophesies the complete destruction of the Amalekites, highlighting their long-standing animosity towards Israel and their recurring role as oppressors, which is fulfilled in their alliance with Moab against Israel.
Judges 1:16This verse mentions the 'city of palm trees' (Jericho) being inhabited by the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, showing it as a place of significance before Eglon's conquest and offering a point of continuity and contrast.
Genesis 19:37-38This passage traces the lineage of the Ammonites and Moabites back to Lot, establishing their familial, albeit estranged, relationship with Israel and explaining their frequent involvement in conflicts against them.
2 Chronicles 20:1This passage describes a later invasion involving Moabites, Ammonites, and others against Judah, demonstrating a recurring pattern of these nations uniting against God's people that echoes the alliance formed in Judges 3:13.
jfbJudges 3:12-30: "And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD."
Jud 3:12-30. Ehud Slays Eglon.12-14. the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord—The Israelites, deprived of the moral and political influences of Othniel, were not long in following their native bias to idolatry.the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab—The reigning monar…
gillJudges 3:13: "And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees."
And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek,.... Either the Lord gathered them to Eglon, inclined them to enter into a confederacy with him, to assist in the war against Israel; or the king of Moab got them to join with him in it, they being his neighbours, and enemies to Israel, and especially Amalek: and went and smote Israel; first the two t…
What's striking here is that Eglon, the king of Moab, doesn't just conquer Israel; he gathers two ancient, bitter enemies of Israel—the Ammonites and Amalekites—to do it. This wasn't just a military campaign, but a coalition of nations united by their shared hatred for God's people, signifying a deep spiritual opposition that Israel's disobedience had allowed to fester and grow strong.
The Israelites have once again fallen into sin, prompting God to raise up Eglon, the king of Moab, to oppress them. Eglon, joined by the Ammonites and Amalekites, invades Israel, first conquering the tribes east of the Jordan River before seizing Jericho and its fertile surrounding lands, thus establishing a stronghold for their oppressive rule.
The Israelites have once again fallen into sin, prompting God to raise up Eglon, the king of Moab, to oppress them. Eglon, joined by the Ammonites and Amalekites, invades Israel, first conquering the tribes east of the Jordan River before seizing Jericho and its fertile surrounding lands, thus establishing a stronghold for their oppressive rule.
"He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms." — What's striking here is that Eglon, the king of Moab, doesn't just conquer Israel; he gathers two ancient, bitter enemies of Israel—the Ammonites and Amalekites—to do it. This wasn't just a militar…
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Last reviewed October 2026