Judges 3:13,14 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

City of palm-trees That is, Jericho. Not the city which was demolished, but the territory belonging to it. Here he fixed his camp, for the fertility of that soil, and because of its nearness to the passage over Jordan, which was most commodious both for the conjunction of his own forces, which lay on both sides of Jordan, to prevent the conjunction of the Israelites in Canaan with their brethren beyond Jordan, and to secure his retreat into his own country. Eighteen years The former servitude lasted but eight years; this eighteen; for if smaller troubles do not the work, God will send greater.

Judges 3:13-14

13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.

14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.