And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
When Ehud was dead. The removal of this zealous judge left his infatuated countrymen again without the restraint of religion; because while the southern tribes were enjoying unmolested peace and rest during a protracted period of 80 years (Judges 3:30), the northern districts of the country were grievously oppressed by the residue of the old Canaanites, whom the Israelites had with culpable indifference and sloth permitted to retain their settlements.