Judges chapter 3

After reading chapter 3:

*The last chapter told us that Yahweh left some Canaanite nations unconquered to test the Israelites ability to follow his ways as their forefathers did, even though it is clear their forefathers clearly weren't that great at it. However, in this chapter, a parenthetical statement says that Yahweh's purpose for this test was only to teach the the Israelite descendants who were inexperienced in battle, a kind of on-the-job training. In the very next sentence, we are again told Yahweh was testing their obedience to Yahweh's commands given through Moses. Then we are given the names of some people groups who the Israelites fought and/or comingled with. It is a little confusing. Did they fight with the Canaanites and Hivites, or did they live with them and form family alliances?

*Apparently, in spite of the constant admonitions of obedience to Yahweh given to their ancestors, the Israelites completely forgot about Yahweh and served other gods. Yahweh became angry and "sold" them as subjects to the king of Aram Naharaim for 8 years. They cried out to Yahweh (I thought they had forgot him?) and he raised up Othniel, Caleb's younger brother. The spirit of  Yahweh, which had last been manifested in Joshua, inhabited Othniel. So, this isn't even  one whole generation later? Wow! They forgot Yahweh very quickly. Othniel went to war, which apparently is Yahweh's forte, and overpowered the king of Aram. Then the Israelites lived in peace for 40 years, that magical number, until Othniel died.

* Once again, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of Yahweh. Then the King of Moab attacked Israel and made them his subjects for 18 years. The Israelites cried out to Yahweh and he made Ehud, the left handed man, their deliverer. Ehud had made a special sword and concealed it under his clothes. He went to deliver tribute to the king of Moab and told the king he had a secret message. The king sent everyone from the room and Ehud plunged his sword into the king's hugely fat belly. It went in so deep that even the handle was covered by the fat. After Ehud was gone,  the servants found the room locked and thought the king was having a private bathroom moment. They waited a long time, then finally opened the door to find the king dead. Ehud escaped, gathered some Israelites, blocked the crossing of the Jordan, killed ten thousand Moabites, and made Moab subject to them. After that, there was peace for 80 years. (2x40)

*After Ehud came Shamgar, who killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.