Shamgar and the Ox Goad – You go to war with the ox goad you have

“Speak softly, and carry a big stick.” – President Theodore Roosevelt

If you don’t remember, sometime around the 12^th or 13^th century BC, some guy named Ehud assassinated Eglon, king of the Moabites, before leading the Israeli forces to a massive victory over the armies of Moab.

The Children of Israel Engage the Moabite Army

Today I think we should remember Shamgar, son of Anath. He was super-famous in his day, but the only reason we know anything about his today is that he helped with the post-assassination slaughter. However, this help isn’t Shamgar’s claim to fame; no sir. Shamgar was famous because once upon a time, he killed 600 Philistine men with an Ox goad.

  

Shamgar Strikes a Pose

An ox goad? WTF is an ox goad?

An ox goad is a stick used by someone to encourage oxen to move. It’s pretty long, so the goader doesn’t get kicked or anything like that, and is pretty sharp so an ox can really feel it.

Ox Goad

Now imagine someone killing 600 people with a sharpened wood pole.

Shamgar and Five of his Victims

THAT’s why Shamgar was famous.

Ref: Judges 3:31 “And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. (King James Version)”